Tim Tebow: How Broncos Star Will Perform in Each Game This Season

It took a little longer than most fans would have liked, but Denver Broncos head coach John Fox finally came to the conclusion that Tim Tebow is a better option at quarterback than Kyle Orton.

At least, so it would seem. Fox pulled Orton in the third quarter of today's 29-24 loss to the San Diego Chargers, and the next thing you knew Tebow was under center. He had his struggles, but he did collect a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter, and nearly collected a third that would have won the game.

Because this move was in the making ever since the start of the regular season (and before), I think it's safe to assume that Tebow is going to be Fox's guy for the rest of the season. Tebow is the only quarterback the Broncos have under contract beyond this season, so they may as well give him a chance to take the job and make it his own.

Given the circumstances, I daresay it's crystal ball time. Let's take a look to the future and see if we can't determine how Tebow will perform in each of Denver's remaining games.

Week 7 at Miami Dolphins

The Broncos have a bye in Week 6, so Tebow's first start of the 2011 season will come in Week 7 against the Miami Dolphins.

As we are all already well aware, the Dolphins are awful. In fact, they're one of the only teams in the league that is more awful than Denver.

To boot, the Dolphins have not been very effective against the pass this season. Two quarterbacks have thrown for more than 300 yards against Miami, and the Dolphins have given up nine touchdown passes while intercepting just two passes.

So things could be worse for Tebow. With a little extra time to prepare thanks to the bye week, I think he'll end up having a solid game, thereby solidifying himself as a better option than Orton.

Projection: 15-of-30, 220 yards, one TD, one INT; nine carries, 60 yards.

Week 8 vs. Detroit Lions

In Week 8, Tebow and the Broncos will come up against one of the league's best teams in the Detroit Lions. In all likelihood, the Broncos are looking at an L.

Unfortunately, Tebow is also going to be looking at a rough afternoon. The Lions have the nastiest pass rusher in the league in Ndamukong Suh, and he is going to be flanked by rookie defensive tackle Nick Fairley.

These two are going to get after Tebow. Even when he escapes their clutches, he will have to put up with a defense that has picked off seven passes and allowed just five touchdowns through the air.

Yeah, it's going to be a hard day's night. Don't be surprised if Brady Quinn makes a cameo appearance.

Projection: 13-for-28, 140 yards, two INTs; eight carries, 50 yards, one TD.

Week 9 at Oakland Raiders

When the Broncos visit the Raiders in Week 9, Tebow will be returning to the scene of his first career NFL start.

While not great, that start went reasonably well, as Tebow completed 50 percent of his passes and scored on a 40-yard touchdown run. The Raiders defense hasn't changed much since the last time Tebow faced it, so he could be in for more of the same.

And personally, I think he will do even better. Tebow has the goods to elude Oakland's beastly pass rush, and the Raiders secondary often creates holes that even Tebow will be able to exploit.

Projection: 19-of-27, 240 yards, one TD; 10 carries, 80 yards, one TD.

Week 10 at Kansas City Chiefs

After Oakland, the Broncos will head to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs.

Injuries have taken a huge toll on Kansas City's roster, but the Chiefs have shown impressive resiliency in the last two weeks. They've won two in a row, and they just don't look as hopeless as they did when they were 0-3.

The good news for Tebow is that the Chiefs have been very generous to opposing quarterbacks this season. Shoot, even Curtis Painter was able to rack up 277 yards and a pair of touchdowns against them. If Painter can beat the Chiefs, I assume Tebow can too.

Projection: 22-of-31, 300 yards, two TDs, one INT; five carries, 30 yards, one TD.

Week 11 vs. New York Jets

In Week 11, the Broncos will take a break from AFC West foes to host Rex Ryan's New York Jets.

If there is one thing we know about the Jets at this point, it's that their defense does have cracks in it. They can be beaten on the ground, and savvy quarterbacks will find the holes in the Jets' pass defense.

The trouble is that I'm just not so sure Tebow can be called "savvy" quite yet. He's definitely gritty, but overcoming the Jets' defense requires brains more than anything else.

It also requires staying away from Darrelle Revis. Hopefully, Tebow knows that. If not, he'll find out.

Projection: 15-of-33, 160 yards, one TD, two INTs; 10 carries, 50 yards.

Week 12 at San Diego Chargers

In Week 12, the Broncos will be hoping to avenge Sunday's loss to the Chargers. But this time, the battle will be in San Diego.

In one start and one relief appearance, Tebow has compiled some semi-decent numbers against the Chargers. The catch is that he has yet to play a regular season game in San Diego, which can be a tough place to play.

Don't get me wrong, Tebow could have a good game against the Chargers in Week 12, but because Tom Brady is the only quarterback who has really outperformed San Diego's D, I think they should be able to handle Tebow.

Projection: 15-of-26, 165 yards, one TD, two INTs; 11 carries, 90 yards.

Week 13 at Minnesota Vikings

In Week 13, the Broncos will go from sunny San Diego to Minnesota, which I hear is not-so-sunny in December.

Not that this will effect Tebow's abilities, of course. For that matter, I'm not entirely sure the Vikings defense will effect Tebow's abilities all that much. So far this year, the only quarterback who hasn't played well against the Vikings is Kevin Kolb.

I chalk that up to the fact that Kolb just isn't very good. I expect Tebow to succeed where he failed... and where everyone else succeeded.

Projection: 19-of-27, 260 yards, two TDs; seven carries, 50 yards, one TD.

Week 14 vs. Chicago Bears

By the time the Bears come calling in Week 14, odds are their playoff chances are going to be hanging by a thread. They're already behind the Lions and the Green Bay Packers in the NFC North, and both of them look like they're in it for the long haul.

As such, I don't think the Bears are going to be in the mood to lose when they take on the Broncos. Their defense is nowhere near as strong as we're accustomed to, but it's still dangerous. I expect them to give Tebow a tough time.

Yes, Cam Newton did show us all that a dual-threat QB can have success against the Bears, but as backwards as it may sound, we shouldn't be comparing Tebow to Newton just yet.

Projection: 16-for-24, 200 yards, one TD, one INT; 10 carries, 70 yards.

Week 15 vs. New England Patriots

Just so we're all clear, the Broncos are not going to beat the New England Patriots in Week 15. It could happen, but it won't.

The bright side is that Tebow and the rest of the Broncos offense should be in for a good game against the Pats. It remains to be seen if their defense will improve along the way like it did last season, but what we've seen so far is hardly encouraging.

Case in point: Chad Henne threw for over 400 yards against the Pats. He added another 59 yards and a touchdown on the ground against them.

If Tebow shoots for those numbers, he might just get them.

Projection: 23-of-38, 320 yards, two TDs, two INTs; eight carries, 70 yards, one TD.

Week 16 at Buffalo Bills

It's going to be interesting to see where the Bills are at when the Broncos come calling in Week 16. If they stay at their current pace, they're likely going to be battling the Patriots for the AFC East title.

Because of that, the Bills won't be taking it easy against the Broncos. After all, a win could mean the difference between home-field advantage in the playoffs and a mere wild card berth.

One thing we know about the Bills is that their defense is going to give up yardage. The trade-off is that those yards typically come with a few turnovers, and you have to think this trend will hold against Tebow. Accuracy is not, and may never be, his forte.

Projection: 19-of-30, 240 yards, two TDs, three INTs; nine carries, 80 yards.

Week 17 vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Last but not least, Tebow and the Broncos will take on the Chiefs. Again.

I already have Tebow putting up a good performance against the Chiefs in Week 10, but I think he'll put up an even better performance against them in Week 17. The Chiefs are likely to be in full "Suck4Luck" mode, and Tebow will be looking to head into the offseason on a high note.

That's when things are going to get truly interesting.

Projection: 24-of-34, 330 yards, two TDs; nine carries, 90 yards, one TD.