The greatest Broncos games of the 2010s: Recapping 2010-2013

After nearly a two month hiatus, we’re finally getting back to the greatest Denver Broncos games of the 2010s. We ran through the first 10 back in late March and early April, but still have 15 more to go.

We’ll run one each day next week, which will conveniently end just before our first great game of the 2015 season. Here is a recap of where we left off in this series of posts so far.

Houston Texans at Denver Broncos

December 26, 2010 - Week 16

In a season that would net Von Miller in the 2011 NFL Draft the following offseason, the Broncos were rudderless and in complete disarray when rookie Tim Tebow took the field late in the season. His lone win would also be his first comeback win of many in his brief career as a starting quarterback in the NFL.

New York Jets at Denver Broncos

November 17, 2011 - Week 11

This game felt like peak Tim Tebow. He made throws that were catchable while steamrolling linebackers and cornerbacks alike. His 20-yard touchdown run sent Broncos Country a Mile High. Von Miller would seal the deal shortly after with a punishing hit on Mark Sanchez. The streak continues with a full week of Tebow to kick this series off.

Denver Broncos at Minnesota Vikings

December 4, 2011 - Week 13

This was Demaryius Thomas’ coming out party in the NFL. He had just three receptions, but he made each of them a dagger for 144 yards and two touchdowns. On the games best play, Tebow deftly avoided several rushers while rolling outside and found a wide open DT who would turn it up field for his own tackle breaking score. This was a great game.

Chicago Bears at Denver Broncos

December 11, 2011 - Week 14

You all remember this game. The Chicago Bears came out with Brian Urlacher and a no nonsense approach to shutting Tebow down. It was a horrible game to watch... until just before the two-minute warning when Tebow hit DT for a touchdown to close the gap to 10-7 with no time outs remaining. The Bears screwed up and ended up giving just enough time for Tebow to make one play to setup Matt Prater for a game-tying 59-yard field goal. In overtime, it was all but assured Denver would win that game.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos

January 8, 2012 - Wild Card

The NFL’s top ranked defense came into Denver that day daring Tim Tebow to beat them throwing the ball. In Tebow’s final game with the Broncos he would do just that with 316 yards that included a thrilling 80-yard walk-off touchdown by Demaryius Thomas who took Tebow’s pass over the middle and the rest was history.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos

September 9, 2012 - Week 1 (SNF)

Peyton Manning arrives in his first game with the Denver Broncos. Early on it looked like it would be a back and forth battle, but down 19-14 Manning came alive leading Denver to 11 unanswered points. With two minutes to go, Ben Roethlisberger tried to find Emmanuel Sanders on a short pass where Tracy Porter would step in front for the game-clinching pick six.

Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers

October 15, 2012 - Week 6 (MNF)

In what was one of the greatest regular season comebacks in Broncos history, Manning and Denver were on the ropes not only in this game but for the season. They stood at 2-3 with several heartbreaking losses and were down 24-0 at halftime on the road against Philip Rivers and the Chargers. Then Manning and the Broncos clicked. They surged to a 35-24 win and ultimately ripped off 11-straight wins to close out the regular season 13-3.

San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos

November 18, 2012 - Week 11

Von Miller had one of his special games here. He made Rivers a very sad man after sacking the Chargers quarterback three times and harassing him all game long. The timely forced fumble midway through the third quarter would lead Denver to a lead that would be enough to seal another victory.

Baltimore Ravens at Denver Broncos

September 5, 2013 - Week 1 (TNF)

We all remember this game. Coming off that horrible playoff defeat in January of that year, the Broncos would host the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1. Manning would tie an NFL record with seven touchdown passes as the Broncos roasted the defending Super Bowl champions.

Denver Broncos at Dallas Cowboys

October 6, 2013 - Week 5

In one of the highest scoring games of all-time, Tony Romo and Manning went crazy in a 51-48 game. The 2013 season was a special one for the Broncos offense. Manning would go on to throw 55 touchdown passes and Denver would put up 606 total points. This wasn’t even the only time they dropped a 50-burger on an opponent that year.

That’s the first 10! Stay tuned in the coming weeks for the rest of the recaps from the Broncos greatest games of the 2010s decade. You can also check up on posts you might have missed in our Broncos history section.

The next game on our list is one where Peyton Manning would break Tom Brady’s all-time single season touchdown record.