2011 Denver Broncos season

2011 Denver Broncos season
OwnerPat Bowlen
General managerBrian Xanders
Head coachJohn Fox
Home fieldSports Authority Field at Mile High
Local radioKOA 850 AM
Results
Record8–8
Division place1st AFC West
Playoff finishWon Wild Card Playoffs
(vs. Steelers) 29–23 (OT)
Lost Divisional Playoffs
(at Patriots) 10–45
Pro BowlersCB Champ Bailey
DE Elvis Dumervil
RB Willis McGahee
LB Von Miller
FS Brian Dawkins
OT Ryan Clady
AP All-ProsLB Von Miller (2nd team)

The 2011 season was the Denver Broncos' 42nd in the National Football League (NFL) and their 52nd overall. It also marked their first season under head coach John Fox, as well as the first with John Elway as the team's Executive Vice President of Football Operations.

On July 25, the NFLPA and NFL owners agreed on a new collective bargaining agreement, which was ratified on August 4.[1] The Broncos training camp began on July 28 at the team headquarters in Dove Valley, Colorado, and the preseason and regular season started on time.[2]

This was the first of five consecutive AFC West titles for the Broncos. The first five weeks of the season were dominated by a quarterback controversy involving Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow, with fans voicing their displeasure with the play of Orton, which resulted in a 1–4 start, and the public outcry for Tebow to be moved to starter. On October 11, Tebow was named the starting quarterback beginning with the team's Week 7 game at the Miami Dolphins on October 23. Tebow compiled an 8–5 record (including the playoffs, with a six-game win streak from Weeks 9–14) after replacing Orton, including game-winning drives in the fourth quarter and/or overtime in six of those games, despite constant criticism of his unorthodox mechanics and abilities as a passer.[3] Orton was later waived on November 22.[4] Another notable roster change was the trade that sent wide receiver Brandon Lloyd to the St. Louis Rams in exchange for a conditional 2012 draft selection.[5]

The Broncos doubled their win total from 2010, finishing in a three-way tie with the Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers for the AFC West division title, with an 8–8 record. The Broncos, however, won the AFC West based on tiebreakers,[6] thus clinching their first playoff berth and division title since 2005.

The Broncos opened the playoffs with a 29–23 overtime win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the wild-card round, but were blown out by the New England Patriots in the divisional round by a score of 45–10.

  1. ^ Jones, Lindsay (August 4, 2011). "CBA done, full Broncos roster takes field". The Denver Post. Retrieved August 4, 2011.
  2. ^ Legan, Kenny (July 28, 2011). "Training Camp Gets Underway". Denver Broncos. Archived from the original on January 30, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
  3. ^ Klis, Mike (October 11, 2011). "Tim Tebow named Broncos' starting quarterback". The Denver Post. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  4. ^ Klis, Mike (November 22, 2011). "Denver Broncos cut QB Kyle Orton; Chicago Bears might be next". The Denver Post. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
  5. ^ Klis, Mike (October 17, 2011). "Denver Broncos trade Brandon Lloyd to St. Louis Rams". The Denver Post. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  6. ^ Zaas, Stuart (January 5, 2012). "How the West was Won". Denver Broncos. Retrieved January 5, 2012.