The game was over.
10-0 with nowhere near enough time left for the Denver Broncos and their struggling offense to mount a comeback against the Bears, right?
Okay, okay, so what if it's 10-7, we couldn't even recover a gift-wrapped onside kick!
Two more gifts from one Marion Barber provided the Denver Broncos and their suddenly unstoppable passing attack with just enough ammunition to give Matt Prater a shot at redemption.
After inexplicably having a 29-yard field goal blocked in the early stages of the game, Prater nailed two kicks from beyond 50 yards to give the Broncos their sixth straight victory, and their fourth straight victory by four points or less.
If there is one thing I have learned from this season, it's that nothing is out of the question for this Denver Broncos team.
For nearly four quarters, it was almost painful to watch, but you were just waiting for the inevitable to happen. It's clear that this team struggles when Willis McGahee struggles, specifically because if McGahee isn't running the ball well, the Broncos' offense loses rhythm, and the defense is out on the field far more than it should be.
The Broncos are 8-5, and right now, that is the only thing that matters. John Elway was absolutely correct when he said that our future is now, because this team has potential to do something special.
With Tim Tebow at the helm, the Broncos are 7-1, and you certainly can't give all the credit to 15, but you have to give him his due.
Tebow is clearly improving as a passer, and the fact that Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller are keying a defensive resurgence that is allowing this team to win games while Tebow progresses as a young player is beyond encouraging. This squad is young, and only going to get better, and right now--and for the foreseeable future--they are the face of the NFL, if not sports as a whole.
I have been to two games this year (Cincinnati, Minnesota) and there are stark contrasts between the two games. Against Cincinnati, we were beaten, broken, and appeared to be playing as though we were backed into a corner. Against Minnesota, I saw a fiery team that wasn't going to give up no matter what, a team that would take a punch to the face and deliver one right back.
Well, the Broncos are the focus of the league right now. They are facing scrutiny on a daily basis because of their quarterback and what he stands for, but they continue to rally behind him and the entire organization is following his lead.
This whole streak is not about one man, it's about a team rallying around that man and the example by which he is leading.
If you want a detailed analysis of the game, you may have to wait for it. This is a win that our fan base should enjoy, and realize that there are things to build upon.
The Broncos have a problem with dropping passes, and when you combine that with an ineffective Willis McGahee, there is no quarterback in the league who is going to have a pretty stat line, especially against the Chicago Bears' defense.
It's clear that Chicago was well-prepared to stop the Broncos' running game, and they forced Tebow to roll to his right more than he would have liked. It was an excellent game plan from Lovie Smith and Rod Marinelli, but when push came to shove, the Broncos made more plays than the team on the other sideline.
There is something magical happening in Denver right now, something that many feel like they cannot explain.
Neither the Broncos or their fans should have to explain it to anyone else. The fact is, this team is winning. The coaching staff has done a great job of working with these young players, and the leadership on this team has been outstanding. The Broncos are mature beyond their years and have been able to keep focused through all of the distractions off the field.
In my opinion, this team is enjoying a magical potential playoff run while watching their franchise quarterback grow before our eyes. The Broncos are only going to get better, and I think Tim Tebow has what it takes to lead this team to bigger and better things.
I never imagined it would potentially be this quick, but who imagined any of this could happen? The Denver Broncos are more interesting than any guy Dos Equis could find, and I for one can't get enough of it.