Broncos' Orton hears Pro Bowl whispers

ENGLEWOOD • Some Denver Broncos fans are ready to put quarterback Kyle Orton in the Pro Bowl. Ahead of San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers.

That isn’t what anyone envisioned a couple of months ago, when Orton was causing widespread angst among Broncos fans.

But now, the question “Orton or Rivers?” doesn’t seem so outrageous.

Going into Monday night’s game against the Chargers, Orton has more touchdowns, fewer interceptions, a better completion percentage and a better quarterback rating than Rivers.

Rivers has more touchdowns per game — San Diego has played one fewer game because of the bye — and more yards.

Orton needed some time to get used to coach Josh McDaniels’ system, but now he is playing with a lot of confidence and turning heads.

“I thought that from Day One this was a great fit for me,” Orton said. “I had a lot of confidence when the trade happened. I was excited about the trade and excited for what I and we could do in this system.”

Since the mild-mannered Orton is the opposite of Jay Cutler in terms of personality, don’t expect any personal duels and shouting matches like Cutler and Rivers had.

Any hype, good or bad, surrounding Orton is lost on him. He didn’t pay attention to criticism in Chicago or when he struggled early on in Denver, and he won’t get much into the praise for his hot start.

“If you are talking good or talking bad, I don’t think they have got a very good idea of what my real job actually is,” Orton said of his critics. “It doesn’t bother me one way or the other.”

While Rivers probably doesn’t have as many personal feelings toward Orton (Orton said the two have never met) as he did Cutler, he has taken notice of the quarterback who has led Denver to a 5-0 start.

“I remember Purdue, and he was a heck of a quarterback there and threw for a bunch of yards,” Rivers said. “Kyle, I think his record speaks for itself, what he’s done in this league in Chicago and in Denver now. He’s really got those guys going.”

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Only two players are on Denver’s injury report, and only one will miss Monday’s game. Linebacker Spencer Larsen, who hurt his shoulder in a freak accident before the season opener, is out. Running back Correll Buckhalter is listed as probable with an ankle injury. He missed last week’s game.

The Chargers have a couple notable names on the injury report. Center Nick Hardwick is out with an ankle injury and inside linebacker Stephen Cooper is questionable with a knee injury.