Kyle Orton Will Try to Emulate Rich Gannon and End the Tim Tebow Phenomenon For 2011

However, a QB immediately getting a chance in the final week for redemption, which would include beating the guy who took his job and knocking that team out of the playoffs? That rarely happens. This week, it is Kyle Orton returning to Denver as the starter for the Kansas City Chiefs, with a chance to end the Broncos’ season.

Back in January of 2000, it was Rich Gannon. Gannon had been the backup in Kansas City behind Elvis Grbac, and had replaced him admirably in leading the team to a 5-1 record at the end of the 1997 season. Then Marty Schottenheimer controversially went with Grbac in the playoffs against Denver. Gannon also got to start 10 games in 1998, and outplayed Elvis Grbac. However, that offseason, general manager Carl Peterson opted to go with the younger quarterback, and Rich Gannon was signed by the rival Oakland Raiders.

I cannot find any situation similar to Kyle Orton returning to Denver after being released by the team earlier in the season, with the playoffs on the line. The closest is probably Gannon in 1999, though Gannon was signed before the season and had started all year. Like Kansas City, the Raiders that year were chasing the Chiefs, and had their slim hopes for the playoffs ruined the week before with a loss.

Like this year, that team then went on the road, and Gannon went against Grbac, with Kansas City needing a win to claim the AFC West. In the game that served to launch Rich Gannon into a three year run that saw the Raiders make the playoffs from 2000 to 2002, Oakland went into Kansas City and won 41-38 in a dramatic game. The Chiefs jumped out to a 17-0 first quarter lead that included an interception return, but the Raiders fought back, and got a late field goal to tie it, and the winner in overtime. Rich Gannon threw for 324 yards that day.

This is just one of those fantastic scenarios that the NFL provides. The thing is, we don’t know what will happen. There are no fairy tales or predictable endings. Just because the story line is set up, doesn’t mean the script will go the way we foresee. Kyle Orton improbably played a hand in ending the other big story of the NFL season, the Packers run at perfection. He now gets to play a hand in potentially ending, or furthering, the legend of Tim Tebow. If Denver loses a close game on Sunday, costing them the playoffs, the howling about the release of Kyle Orton so he can play a role in the season will be loud. The Chiefs with Tyler Palko would have had little chance against Denver, and would not have defeated the Packers.

However, it ends, though, I know this. It may not be pretty, but it will be worth the watch. Something interesting will happen in Mile High on Sunday.

[photo via Getty]