Denver Broncos: Why Every Fan Should Mark January 1st on Their Calendars

It's Week 7 of the 2009 NFL season.

The Denver Broncos are 6-0 and Kyle Orton is a big reason why, having thrown for over 1,400 yards and nine touchdowns, with only one interception.

Fast-forward to the beginning of the 2011 season. Twenty-three starts and a 5-18 record later, Orton is still the starter, but with fans calling for backup Tim Tebow to take over.

A 1-3 record later and Tebow is installed as the new starter.

He gets off to a rocky start, going 1-2 in his first three games, including a 45-10 pounding at the hands of the Detroit Lions who return both a Tebow fumble and interception for touchdowns.

Since then, Tebow has managed to lead the Broncos to three straight wins, despite going 21-of-49 for just 297 yards and three touchdowns in those three games.

For the Broncos front office, they ignored the stats and focused on the wins, a decision they proved to be true when they released Orton this week.

Earlier today, the Kansas City Chiefs, division rival of the Broncos, picked him up off of waivers, making him a likely candidate to be the starting quarterback for the remainder of the season.

Which brings us to the now-meaningful final game of the season for both of these teams: a Week 17 showdown in Denver between Tebow and the Broncos, and now, Orton and the Chiefs.

Will Orton prove he was the better man all along, or will Tebow finally get his critics off his back?

If this does not get people in Denver amped up, nothing will.