I was ignominiously disappointed with a loss to the Chiefs Sunday but I have lusted after the playoffs for five years, i.e., all of my professional life, and I readily accept and am pleased with this playoff appearance in 2011.

After a lockout, I honestly didn't know what to expect although my orange and blue Kool-Aid drunkenness led me to surmise 10 wins could be a ceiling.

This didn't happen, obviously, but I think Tim Tebow has made more progress in the interim than anyone could have reasonably expected although his early success has caused expectations to rapidly percolate.

This is not a bad thing, as in Louisville head men's basketball coach Rick Pitino's book, "Success Is a Choice," my fellow Italian (one more sexually aggressive than I am) stated pressure is not a negative, it is up to us to give it that stigma or treat it as a positive.

For Tebow's long-term progression, I am glad he is meeting some adversity, for it will make him stronger in the long run and if he CAPITALIZES (see what I did there) on the learning opportunities and continues to study and work hard, he'll wade through this and prove to be a legitimate NFL-caliber signal-caller yet.

Of course, hitting some interim routes is a good start, I concede that.

As for our present circumstances, I have overcome my initial frustration about backing into the playoffs, realizing that the experience we gain from the postseason, regardless of what happens against Pittsburgh, will be essential to our long-term progression.

I know we will legitimately contend for AFC and NFL titles in the next couple of seasons, but let's enjoy the moment while we're here and hand the Steelers a resounding defeat.

I will not bash everyone over the head concerning our needs, you know what they are, but I trust we will draft well and continue to do the best we can with what we've got.

Thanks as always and GO BRONCOS!!!