Broncos are sitting pretty at 5-0

DENVER – Tom Brady has three Super Bowl rings, some NFL records, an MVP award, even a supermodel wife. The New England Patriots’ quarterback is likely going to the Hall of Fame someday.

Kyle Orton was pretty much a footnote to one of the most controversial trades in Denver Broncos history. Did Broncos fans want their new quarterback? Some booed him at a scrimmage at Invesco Field at Mile High two months ago and ripped him mercilessly after a three-interception preseason debut.

That seems like ages ago, especially after Orton outplayed Brady on Sunday in a 20-17 overtime win. Nobody saw that coming, just like nobody figured the Broncos would be 5-0 with a two-and-a-half game lead in the AFC West.

 “I certainly don’t put myself in his class, he’s probably the best quarterback to ever play this game,” Orton said. “I didn’t beat him. Our team beat the New England Patriots.”

Maybe Orton didn’t win the game by himself, but he was clearly better than Brady. Orton was 35-of-48 for 330 yards and a pair of touchdowns to Brandon Marshall. He directed a 98-yard game-tying drive in the fourth quarter and marched his team 58 yards in overtime to set up Matt Prater’s game-winning field goal. Brady was 19-of-33 for 215 yards and two touchdowns. The Patriots didn’t score after halftime.

The Broncos haven’t looked back since trading Jay Cutler to Chicago. Orton’s calm demeanor never allowed him to worry about the criticism or replacing Cutler. He wasn’t bothered then, and he certainly isn’t worried about it now. 
“It seems like a million years ago since I got traded,” Orton said.

Orton’s laid-back attitude served him well when Denver was backed up at its 2-yard line trailing 17-10. Orton got in the huddle and made a joke. The Broncos already had one 90-yard drive, he told them, so why not try for 98?

“We had total confidence we could get it done,” receiver Jabar Gaffney said. 

And as he had done all game – his first without a glove on his injured right hand – Orton threw the ball with precision. He completed six passes for 76 yards, finishing the drive with an 11-yard touchdown to Marshall. Then in overtime he completed four passes, including a huge third and 1 to Eddie Royal, for 31 yards to get Denver in field-goal range.

He looked in absolute command of the same offense Brady ran when McDaniels was New England’s offensive coordinator the last three years.

“I don’t know if he missed a read all day,” McDaniels said.

Orton outplayed Brady. McDaniels outcoached his mentor and another future hall-of-famer, Patriots coach Bill Belichick. The Broncos are 5-0 while the Patriots are 3-2. Nobody knows where this surprising Broncos season is headed.

“We can play better than that,” McDaniels said. “That is the good part, knowing we can play better than we did.”