2010/2011
Josh McDaniels’ first season as a head coach in Denver was rocky.
The Broncos started out 6-0 before losing eight of their next 10 games. Nevertheless, the offense was explosive at times so there was hope heading into 2010.
Hope vanished quickly when the losses piled up, though.
After starting 2-2, Denver lost nine of their next 1- games. Josh McDaniels was fired 12 games into the season, and rookie quarterback Tim Tebow began receiving snaps.
Denver needed life restored within the organization, and they did just that by bringing in Bronco great John Elway back to the organization at the end of the 2010 season.
Elway oversaw the selection of arguably the best edge defender in the Bronco’s history, Von Miller, in the 2011 draft. He also went on to hire long-time Panthers head coach John Fox to turn the team around.
The 2011 season was exhilarating, to say the least.
After a 1-4 start, Fox handed the keys to Tim Tebow. Despite being an absolutely terrible quarterback, Denver began winning games.
Yet, it wasn’t just that Denver was winning games, it was they were winning games in such miraculous fashion. Timely turnovers, fourth-quarter comebacks and game-winning field goals by Matt Prater became the norm that season.
It was the ‘Tebow magic’, and it continued into the playoffs with one of the greatest plays in Denver history.
In overtime of the Wild Card game against the Steelers, Tebow connected with Demaryius Thomas on a slant route that he took to the house. The luck would finally run out the next week when Denver was blasted by the Patriots.
At the conclusion of the 2011 season, Elway began working his own magic bringing in future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning. Subsequently, Tebow was shipped off to Chip Kelly and the Eagles ending the short-lived Tebow era.
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2017/2018
We all know how last season ended; terribly. Despite the disastrous 2017 season, Denver Broncos fans have good reason to be excited for 2018.
With an influx of talent through the draft, injured players getting healthy, and new starting quarterback Case Keenum, there is reason for optimism in Denver.
If history serves us right, we could be in store for a return to Elway’s mantra of “winning now and from now on”.