NFL Power Rankings: Has Tim Tebow Improved Denver Broncos' Stock?

The promise of improvement is far different from the fulfillment of that promise, and that's why I have the Denver Broncos dropping a spot in the power rankings despite quarterback Tim Tebow carrying the team to the brink of a come-from-behind win over the San Diego Chargers in Week 5.

The benching of Kyle Orton and the apparent ascendancy of Tebow does not strike me as a move a team on the mend would make. Instead, it reeks of desperation. Obviously, Orton is not the answer, but it's hard to see Tebow solving Denver's problems either.

One of the major problems plaguing the Broncos this season is their inability to win close games. All five of their games have been decided by less than a touchdown, and four of those they lost. While Tebow pulled together a series of drives that could have ended with a Denver win on Sunday, he ultimately failed.

And it's not very inspiring that he did so after completing just four passes in 10 attempts. He made plays with his legs, and handed the ball off to hot-handed running back Willis McGahee, both of which benefited his team. But as a starter going forward, I'm not entirely convinced Tebow will be much of an improvement over Orton.

The Broncos head into their much-needed bye week with a lot of work to do. How they emerge from it will ultimately dictate if the move to Tebow is truly helpful to the team's bottom line. But for now, more questions remain than answers, and with their fourth loss on the season, I cannot help but drop them a spot in my power rankings.

NFL Power Rankings, Week 6*
 
1. Green Bay Packers
2. Detroit Lions
3. New Orleans Saints
4. New England Patriots
5. San Francisco 49ers
6. Oakland Raiders
7. Baltimore Ravens
8. Buffalo Bills
9. San Diego Chargers
10. Pittsburgh Steelers
11. Houston Texans
12. Tennessee Titans
13. Washington Redskins
14. Cincinnati Bengals
15. Atlanta Falcons
16. New York Jets
17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
18. New York Giants
19. Chicago Bears
20. Dallas Cowboys
21. Cleveland Browns
22. Kansas City Chiefs
23. Philadelphia Eagles
24. Seattle Seahawks
25. Carolina Panthers
26. Denver Broncos
27. Jacksonville Jaguars
28. Arizona Cardinals
29. Minnesota Vikings
30. Indianapolis Colts
31. Miami Dolphins
32. St. Louis Rams

*Subject to change depending upon outcome of Monday night's Bears-Lions game