Tim Tebow is undoubtedly the biggest way-point for coverage of the Week 17 showdown between the Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs, but Kyle Orton is almost certainly the next biggest story line. After being demoted out of the starting job to make room for Tebow and subsequently being granted his release by the team, Orton now stands directly in the path of the Broncos on their push to make the AFC playoffs.
Vinnie Iyer of AOL Sporting News has released picks for Week 17 in the NFL, and he thinks the Broncos will pull the game out and clinch the AFC West division title. In other words, Iyer thinks Tebow and the Broncos will be playing playoff football in January. Here is what he had to say:
So it’s Kyle Orton, deposed Denver quarterback, looking for redemption against the popular upstart who displaced him. The hype around Tim Tebow has dwindled to nothing all of a sudden after losses to New England and Buffalo.
But as much as Orton will be motivated to prove the Broncos wrong, Tebow will be out to show the organization made the right decision to move forward with him as the quarterback-as least in the short term. Despite all the struggles the past two weeks, Tebow and his teammates know the division title is still right in front of them. Denver’s defense will do the dirty work, and Tebow will clean up a messy game just in time (the fourth quarter). Broncos 16, Chiefs 10.
Iyer is 160-80 for the season-to-date and went 12-4 straight up in Week 16.
For more on this Week 17 game, visit Broncos blog Mile High Report and Chiefs blog Arrowhead Pride. Be sure to check out SB Nation NFL for more news and notes around the league.