The Denver Broncos host their first preseason game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Saturday evening when they play the Buffalo Bills. The Bills held the No. 3 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, one pick behind the Broncos, both teams looking for vast improvement this season. This will be an early taste of their Week 16 matchup on Christmas Eve in Buffalo.
The Broncos lost to the Dallas Cowboys in their first preseason game, 24-23. Kyle Orton completed just 2-of-6 passes, but those incompletions were not forced throws in a vain attempt to have Brandon Lloyd catch them in the end zone. Tim Tebow started off slow before finishing his night at 6-of-7 for 91 yards. Brady Quinn looked good during the second half of the game, leading the Broncos to a touchdown on an Eron Riley reception.
The quarterback rotation after Kyle Orton is uncertain right now. Head coach John Fox didn't commit on the order in which Tim Tebow and Brady Quinn will play. Orton and all the other starters are expected to play into the second quarter of the game. At this point, it looks like Brady Quinn is a challenger to take over the No. 2 spot on the depth chart over Tim Tebow. If Fox is honest about every spot on the quarterback depth chart being open, Quinn certainly needs to show what he can do with the second-string team.
On defense, defensive tackles Marcus Thomas and Ty Warren, both starters in Game 1, are out. Thomas has a strained pectoral muscle and Warren tore his triceps muscle earlier in the week. That leaves Kevin Vickerson and Brodrick Bunkley, both originally first-teamers on the first depth chart, as the starters.
One rookie matchup to follow is between the Broncos' Von Miller and the Bills' Marcell Dareus. While neither will play against each other directly, Dareus wants to make the Broncos regret that they took Miller over him. Miller played one series against the Cowboys; Dareus had a sack against the Bears last week.
Tune into NBC (K-USA 9) for TV coverage beginning at 6:00 p.m. MT. Kickoff will follow at 6:35 p.m. MT. 850 KOA has you covered on the radio. If neither is an option, NFL.com does offer a preseason special for live video of every preseason game.
For more on the Broncos, check out Mile High Report.