Raiders vs. Broncos: Why Denver Should Have Given Backup QBs a Chance

The Denver Broncos lost to their division rival, the Oakland Raiders, 23-20, in a very sloppy Monday Night Football game, which should have featured a backup quarterback or two.  

The Raiders won their first season opener in over eight years, but it wasn't pretty. There were 25 total penalties called, and a lot of them were mental errors that came on crucial plays. 

It was a messy game from both teams, and for some reason the Broncos decided not to switch things up. 

New head coach John Fox loves to run the ball, but his team was extremely unsuccessful in this area, and when starting quarterback Kyle Orton had a hard time consistently making good throws, many wondered if we would see who the No. 2 quarterback truly is. 

Fox has been adamant about having backup quarterbacks and no real No. 2 on the depth chart, but since Orton was 11-for-23 with an interception and only three points in the first half, perhaps Denver needed to make some adjustments to the game plan. 

It wouldn't have mattered who came out to replace Orton, just as along as Brady Quinn or Tim Tebow had a shot at some playing time.

Of course, Broncos' fans would rather have Tebow, which Fox must have been trying to avoid. 

After a couple of sideline shots with Tebow wearing a giant jacket, it was pretty evident that Quinn had to be No. 2 on the depth chart, and if that's the case he should have been given the opportunity to prove himself. 

Nothing was working for the Broncos last night, which is exactly why you give other guys a chance to see if they can make a difference. 

Obviously Fox has a problem with who the true No. 2 quarterback is or maybe it's just that he wants to avoid the media harassing him for naming Tebow No. 3. 

Either way, he's going to have problems leading up to Week 2 because of Denver's awful performance on Monday night. 

It wouldn't have hurt anything to give Quinn or Tebow a series or two. At least be innovative and creative near the goal line. After all, that's what Tebow is really good for. 

Orton isn't a great goal line quarterback, and when his run game is having no success, it would have been a smart move to let Tebow try to pound his way into the end zone—anything to do to put six on the board instead of consistently kicking field goals.

Does Fox even have a goal line Tebow package? Because if he doesn't then there is no point of having Tebow on the team.

Either cut him or trade him because if Fox has no plans to at least use Tebow's skills near the goal line then he is a waste of a roster space for Denver.

The Raiders defensive front was on point Monday night, but I guarantee Tebow could have made something happen from five yards out.

Would that mean that he should start at quarterback? No, not really, but it would have proven that Fox knows what Tebow is best at.

Clearly he doesn't know what he has in Tebow; a speedy fullback with a very strong arm.

He may not be the most accurate guy out there, but he's a great running quarterback, and in a goal line situation you want him on the field. If nothing else, he's at least a decoy to help you put points on the board. 

I give Orton credit for starting the third quarter a little better because after Eric Decker's punt return for a touchdown the Broncos gained some life back, but Orton couldn't put the ball in the end zone from the start of the game, and that's why his backups should have been given a chance to prove their worth.