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Any questions about how much Broncos executive VP John Elway values classic strong-armed quarterbacks?

In a yet another statement of his anti-Tim Tebow approach to the position, Elway made his second big quarterback splash in a month by taking intriguing Arizona State prospect Brock Osweiler with the No. 57 overall pick.

Bypassing more pressing needs, Elway made this pick with the most important position on the field in mind -- beginning roughly in the 2015 season. It’s clear Elway wants to go to bed at night without having to worry about who his quarterback is going to be for the next dozen years and he clearly wants to distance himself from the option days of Tebow, which Elway tolerated only until he found a special solution.

Of course, the immediate future at quarterback is Peyton Manning. After electing to continue his career with the Broncos, Manning signed a five-year deal with Denver four days before his 36th birthday last month. By all indications, Manning is healthy and he should be able to give Denver at least three good years.

The 6-foot-7 Osweiler is now in line to be Manning’s successor. The Broncos see something special in Osweiler. They didn’t need to take a quarterback this year or next year. But they see a raw specimen in Osweiler.

The knock on him is he is a bit green. So what better team for him to end up with than the Broncos? ESPN analyst Todd McShay has said on multiple occasions that Denver is the perfect spot for Osweiler.

He can watch and learn from Manning without any pressure. Osweiler -- who said one of his closest friends is Elway’s son, Jack, a former Arizona State player -- realizes the great opportunity he is getting.

“I could not be any more excited to be going to Denver to learn from Peyton Manning,” Osweiler told reporters Friday night. “A lot of quarterbacks might be upset about having to sit behind somebody, whereas I look at it as a tremendous opportunity to learn from one of the best, if not the best, quarterback to ever play the game.”

If Osweiler can’t parlay his time with two of the greatest all-time quarterbacks into NFL success, then that’s his fault. And if Osweiler is a flop, the Broncos will know it before he needs to take over for Manning from extensive practice and preseason play. Thus, the Broncos will have the opportunity to find another replacement for Manning if necessary.

Sure, this is a luxury pick and Denver could have benefited from a receiver or a running back at the No. 57 spot. (They traded up to take San Diego State running back Ronnie Hillman in the third round.) But if this is a guy the Broncos think can be special, why not take him?

Like all 2012 quarterback prospects not named Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III, Osweiler was deeply dissected and opinions varied on him. Some scouts thought he deserved to be a first-round pick, while others thought he should be taken in the fourth round.

The Broncos long have followed Osweiler. Their pursuit of him heightened after Manning signed. I think he moved up Denver’s draft board based on the combination of Osweiler being a similar type of quarterback as Manning and the fact that he can be groomed for years.

Had Manning not signed, I don’t think Osweiler would have been the pick. Had Manning gone elsewhere, I am convinced Denver would have traded up from No. 25 to take Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden and make him an instant starter. Weeden went to Cleveland at No. 22 and he is expected to start.

Osweiler, like Weeden, can drop jaws with the long pass. In fact, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen wrote that many scouts think Osweiler can make every throw. While McShay and others are high on the former basketball player, ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. worries about Osweiler’s accuracy and Kiper doesn’t think Osweiler plays with the command of a player his size. However, fellow ESPN analyst Jon Gruden likes Osweiler and likes the fit in Denver.

“He can cut it loose … he is a pocket passer and he moves around better than people think,” Gruden said. “It’s a good pick by Elway.”

There is no doubt that this was an Elway pick. After enduring a forced relationship with Tebow, Elway has made sure he is now equipped with his type of passers for the present and the future.

There are several interesting quarterback prospects available in the draft next week.

Had he not been taken by the Oakland Raiders in the third round of the supplemental draft, Terrelle Pryor would have been one of them. After he became ineligible to play his senior season at Ohio State, Pryor was put in the supplemental pick and he was nabbed by the late Al Davis, who loved his natural ability.

As a result, the Raiders surrendered what would have been the No. 77 pick of this draft. I checked in with Steve Muench of Scouts Inc. to get his view on where Pryor would have fit in this draft class of quarterbacks. Muench said he thinks Pryor would have fit right around the middle of the third round, right in the value area of the pick Oakland used to get him.

Muench said he thinks Pryor likely would have been taken a round or so lower had he not been eligible for the supplemental draft because the year missed could slow his development. Still, Muench said because of Pryor’s immense natural gifts, he’d have a place in this draft.

Muench thinks Pryor would be the eighth best quarterback prospect this April. The top-level quarterbacks are, of course, Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III and Ryan Tannehill. Muench believes Brandon Weeden, Kirk Cousins, Nick Foles and Brock Osweiler are all solid second-or-third round picks.

He’d slide Pryor in after that group. Muench sees him as a better prospect than the next group of quarterbacks that includes Russell Wilson, Kellen Moore and Ryan Lindley. Pryor has to improve in several areas, including decision making, before he can be considered a starting candidate, Muench says.

The Raiders are expected to sign a backup quarterback and keep Pryor as their third option. But there is no doubt he is still a developmental player who has plenty of value.

Random thoughts and notes on the biggest story to hit in the AFC West in a long, long time:

• Mel Kiper looks at five possible fits for Tim Tebow in a trade.
• Aaron Schatz looks at how good the Broncos are with Manning.
• Matt Williamson thinks Denver should sign some of Manning's former Colts’ teammates. Brandon Stokley and Jeff Saturday are reportedly already in the team’s sights.
• Willis McGahee's reaction to the Manning signing in an interview with Sirius radio: “Music to my ears, baby. Music to my ears. I’m happy that he made a decision, he chose Denver. It’s a great place to play and the fans are going to really embrace him when he comes in. I think it just took our team to a whole ‘nother level with him saying he’s coming to Denver.”
• The Broncos will play both the AFC South and NFC East in 2013, meaning Manning is poised to play his former team, the Colts, and his brother, Eli’s team, the Giants, in the same season.
• Manning will have his choice of numbers in Denver. There have been indications No. 18 will stay retired in Denver and that he will wear No. 16. But the man who wears No. 18 in Denver, Frank Tripucka, has said he will happily unretire the digits for Manning to wear it.
• Denver’s odds of winning the Super Bowl have reportedly increased from 70-1 a month ago to 10-1 because of the Manning addition.
• It’s so funny how things change. Six months ago, it seemed like John Elway would bring in fellow Stanford graduate quarterback Andrew Luck when the Broncos stated 1-4. Now, Luck is headed to the Colts, which helped push Manning to Elway.
• I have a feeling former Colts offensive coordinator Tom Moore will come to Denver in some capacity -- perhaps as a consultant. Moore and Manning are very close.

Hall of Fame quarterbacks rarely lose in the clutch.

The Duke did it again in Denver.

On the biggest day in Denver Broncos history since John Elway won his second straight Super Bowl 13 years ago, Elway displayed his acumen as an NFL executive by landing perhaps the biggest free-agent prize in NFL history.

Peyton Manning is going to be a Denver Bronco. Just as important, Tim Tebow is likely going to be a former Denver Bronco.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen have reported that Manning has instructed his agent to complete a deal with the Denver Broncos, and Manning told the San Francisco 49ers and the Tennessee Titans of his decision to play elsewhere. Mortensen reports that working out the contract details is a formality.

According to Schefter, Manning’s head was leading him to San Francisco, but his heart was with Elway and the Broncos. The relationship between Elway and Manning is a major reason Manning is going to play in the Rocky Mountains. Legendary quarterbacks like to hang out with one another.

When he arrives in Denver, Manning -- who the Broncos are confident will be able to bounce back from a neck injury that cost him the 2011 season -- will enjoy the presence of a kindred spirit unlike any he’s had before in an NFL building. Manning knows Elway will understand everything he is thinking, and Elway will do everything it takes to make Manning successful in Denver.

Landing Manning became a quest for Denver’s organization last month when it became clear that Manning would be released by the Colts. It was obvious Elway was never completely comfortable moving forward with Tebow as the starter even though Elway and head coach John Fox said Tebow earned the right to go to training camp as the starter.

One of the reasons the Broncos had planned to stick with Tebow was they didn’t have any other viable options. The Broncos are not in the position to draft Stanford’s Andrew Luck or Baylor’s Robert Griffin III, and no other rookie prospect appears ready to take over a team. The free-agent class offered no major upgrades.

Then Manning became available, and everything changed.

Manning offered Denver the perfect escape route from Tebow-mania. Because Tebow was a huge fan favorite, the Broncos knew it would be difficult to part ways with him. But who can argue with the Manning-Tebow swap? Tebow-mania is dead in Denver. Manning-mania is taking over.

Expect the Broncos to try to trade Tebow. The Florida legend could attract interest in Jacksonville or Miami. Mortensen also said New England (where former Denver coach Josh McDaniels, who drafted Tebow, is the offensive coordinator) could be interested. Mortensen said Tebow could be released if Denver can’t find a trade partner.

Even though Manning, who turns 36 on Saturday, is not going to be a long-term fixture in Denver -- I’d expect three solid seasons from him -- the Broncos are more than comfortable going all in on Manning and moving away from Tebow.

The Broncos tired of the weight of the focus being solely on Tebow. They also were weary of his inability to become a pure pocket passer. Now, instead of having to wait on and answer questions about Tebow’s development, Denver can toss Manning a ball and let him take over.

While Elway was a huge factor in Denver's landing Manning, do not underestimate the role of Fox. He is a player-friendly coach who will allow Manning the freedom to do what he likes. Fox and Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy proved last year with Tebow they are flexible enough to allow the quarterback to dictate the offense.

The option offense is out. The line-of-scrimmage artistry of Manning is in.

Expect the Broncos to aggressively add some pieces who will fit with Manning. Denver’s offense was more run-oriented with Tebow. Now, it will be more passing-oriented. Expect the Broncos to reach out to Manning’s former center, Jeff Saturday, and perhaps tight ends Dallas Clark or Jacob Tamme. I wouldn’t be surprised if another receiver was added even though Manning was intrigued by the idea of working with young receivers Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker.

Fox needs to continue to improve the young defense. The Broncos have been in talks with several defensive free agents, and with Manning all but secured, Fox can focus on beefing up that side of the ball.

The Broncos were often the center of the NFL universe last season with Tebow, and they should be again for a completely different reason. Expect Denver to get a full allotment of prime-time games in 2012 as the football world wants to see whether Manning and Elway can chase a combined fourth Super Bowl ring.

There’s a new franchise star in Denver, and it's only fitting that the greatest Bronco of them all is the reason why.

Reggie Wayne will not be a target for Peyton Manning in Denver nor will he be a replacement for Vincent Jackson in San Diego.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting Wayne will stick around in Indianapolis and help kick-start the Andrew Luck era. Schefter reports Wayne is staying with the Colts on a three-year deal. If Manning signs with Denver, Wayne would have been a potential target just as he would have been anywhere Manning signs.

Prior to free agency, the Chargers discussed Wayne as a possible replacement for Jackson if he left in free agency. That became a reality Thursday when Jackson agreed to terms with Tampa Bay on a five-year, $55.5 million deal.

So, the AFC West teams will have to come up with different plans.

Weekend mail call:

James from Colorado wants to know what quarterbacks could replace Tim Tebow as the Broncos’ starting quarterback without fan scrutiny.

Bill Williamson: Of the quarterback available this year, I think it is small group. I think there’s Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III and that’s it. Luck and Griffin are out of the picture. Yet, the Broncos are trying aggressively to make Manning Tebow's successor. I think would be accepted, even by Tebow’s most ardent supporters. They would have to understand. Any other of the available quarterbacks would likely invoke some sort of backlash.

James from Azusa, Calif., wants to know if the Raiders could sign a backup quarterback.

BW: Kyle Boller was connected to former coach Hue Jackson. I think the Raiders will look to move on. There is a chance Terrelle Pryor could become the No. 2 quarterback. Still, I would expect a veteran to come in to produce competition for Pryor. There are several backups available. If new Oakland coach Dennis Allen liked what he saw of Brady Quinn in practice when both were in Denver last year, the Raiders could be interested.

Tyler from Denver wants to know if there is any way Jacksonville would trade the No. 7 pick to the Broncos for Tebow.

BW: New Jacksonville owner Shahid Khan has said he would have drafted Tebow, who is from Jacksonville. Tebow would surely sell tickets and he would be a shot in the arm for the struggling franchise. But the Jaguars just drafted Blaine Gabbert with the No. 10 pick last season. If would be very surprising to see the Jaguars give up the No. 7 pick for Tebow. If they were interested, I’m sure it is something the Broncos would be willing to do, especially if they land Manning.

The Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs might both consider taking a quarterback in the draft. Let’s look at the top quarterbacks and the chances that they land with either team.

Andrew Luck, Stanford

Known for: Being one of the best overall prospects in the past several years. He is considered a sure thing.

Draft range: Barring a major upset, Luck will be the No. 1 overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts.

Chances of ending up in the AFC West: Yes, the Chiefs interviewed Luck on Friday, but Luck is going to be a Colt. It’s as simple as that.

Robert Griffin III, Baylor

Known for: Being a total package. The Heisman Trophy winner can run and throw. He is also known as a high-character individual.

Draft range: The St. Louis Rams are expected to put the No. 2 pick up for auction, sending it to the bidder that wants Griffin the most.

Chances of ending up in the AFC West: The Chiefs have met with Griffin and coach Romeo Crennel was smitten with him. There could be a chance Griffin ends up a Chief, but the price would be sky-high. I’d call it a real longshot.

Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M

Known for: A former receiver, the athletic Tannehill is a skilled drop-back quarterback who is the third-best signal-caller in a pretty strong class.

Draft range: ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay thinks he’ll be a top-20 pick.

Chances of ending up in the AFC West: Kansas City did meet with Tannehill. Taking him at No. 11 may be a little high, but perhaps the Chiefs could trade down a few spots and still grab him. If he becomes a Chief, Tannehill will likely become the starter fairly soon. McShay had Denver taking Tannehill at No. 25 in his most recent mock draft, but the Broncos will probably have to trade up to get him and that's unlikely.

Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State

Known for: Being the old guy. Weeden will turn 29 during the 2012 season and he is older than NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers. Still, Weeden has NFL skills and the former New York Yankees farmhand is one of the most intriguing players in the draft.

Draft range: He could go late in the first round or in the first half of the second round, but Weeden raised some red flags with an erratic performance at the combine.

Chances of ending up in the AFC West: I think this is where we start to look for legitimate pairings for either Denver or Kansas City. If Weeden gets to the second round, I can see Kansas City grabbing him. If he gets to Denver’s spot in the second round, I think he will be a favorite to be taken there. Weeden might not have a long NFL career, but it could be productive.

Brock Osweiler, Arizona State

Known for: Being the big man. Osweiler is nearly 6-foot-7. Still, he is athletic, a leader and has a big arm. He is a player to watch develop.

Draft range: He’d have to be a workout star to be a first-rounder, but some team will take Osweiler in the second round, perhaps early.

Chances of ending up in the AFC West: Osweiler had a meeting with the Chiefs; he has to be considered a candidate for their second-round pick. However, I wouldn't be surprised if Denver ending up taking him, but it may have to trade up to get him.

Kirk Cousins, Michigan State

Known for: A solid player who has a chance to develop into a strong NFL presence.

Draft range: Cousins had a terrific combine and he is a strong second-round prospect. In fact, if he has a strong pro day, he could end up being a top-35 pick.

Chances of ending up in the AFC West: McShay thinks this is the player Denver could take a shot on in the second round. And because the talent level drops after Cousins, the Broncos may be compelled to make a play for him.

Nick Foles, Arizona

Known for: Foles might have been a better prospect had he come out last year — accuracy issues in 2011 hurt his draft stock. Plus, he didn't perform well at the combine. He ran slowly and struggled with some throws. However, he has a strong skill set and many NFL scouts think he can be a legitimate starter.

Draft range: He is like Weeden. A top-40 pick if indeed he doesn't go in the first round.

Chances of ending up in the AFC West: I think Denver cooled on him during last season, but with a strong pro day, Foles could get back on the Broncos' radar, and he’d be a good value pick in the third or fourth round. I think the Chiefs might have other favorites at this point.

Russell Wilson, Wisconsin

Known for: Wilson is athletic and has a big arm. However, he measured in at 5-11 at the combine — considered too short to be a productive NFL starter.

Draft range: Wilson is a third-day project.

Chances of ending up in the AFC West: I think if Denver is looking for a backup to Tim Tebow, Wilson might be worth putting in the program to see how he performs in the preseason. Drew Brees isn’t a giant, but he’s probably headed to the Hall of Fame, so Wilson is worth checking out.

Kellen Moore, Boise State

Known for: He was a prolific passer for the Broncos. He is rugged, smart and a playmaker. But, at 6 feet, Moore has the same problem Wilson has.

Draft range: Like Wilson, Moore is likely a third-day prospect.

Chances of ending up in the AFC West: I think any team looking for a quarterback may take a shot at Moore. At the very least, he could become a solid backup. He’s intriguing at the right spot.

Luis Castillo’s days are numbered in San Diego. The Chargers have long decided to move on from him. Expect the Chargers to add to the defensive line in free agency and in the draft. If Castillo doesn’t get another deal and the Chargers don’t upgrade, they could try to bring him back down the road.

The Denver Post links Arizona State quarterback Brock Osweiler and Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden,

The Raiders' offensive coordinator, Greg Knapp, has an advantage when it comes to looking at quarterback talent at the combine.

In an Insider piece, Adam Schefter’s mailbag looks at the Chiefs’ chances of landing RG3 and Denver’s plans at quarterback.

Here’s another indication Michael Bush will not be in Oakland any longer.

Combine meetings really don’t mean much. Every team meets with several players. It’s just an example of teams doing their due diligence. That’s why the Chiefs talked to quarterbacks Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III. They are expected to be the first two players off the board. The Chiefs have little chance of getting either player, but they are still doing their homework.

Yet, it is fairly interesting that Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick said two of the five teams that interviewed him at the NFL combine were San Diego and Oakland. He is expected to go in the 15-20 range. The Chargers, who pick at No. 18, have other needs and the Raiders don’t have a pick until the fifth round, although they are expected to get a compensatory pick at the end of the third round.

Cornerback is the Raiders’ greatest need. However, it is unlikely the Raiders will be able to find away to get a first-round pick. Still, Oakland’s new brass is doing its due diligence and talking to first-round talent, anyway. It’s a smart move because you never know what can happen.

Actually, I think Denver is the team in the division that is most likely to draft Kirkpatrick. Cornerback is a big need and if he slips to No. 25, I can see Denver taking him.

In other AFC West news:

San Diego general manager A.J. Smith ended any speculation that the Chargers will part ways with linebacker Takeo Spikes. Smith said the 2011 free-agent acquisition will be a Charger in 2012. Spikes is a leader and he has value to this team.

INDIANAPOLIS -- On Friday, Kansas City Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli said that the team’s quarterback job is not open and Matt Cassel is the starter.

However, Pioli said, there will be competition at the position.

Saturday, Kansas City coach Romeo Crennel also said that Cassel is the starter. But he made it clear that the team will explore all options.

Most interestingly, Crennel made it clear that if a certain future first-ballot Hall of Famer who resides in this city becomes available, the Chiefs coach will then become interested in him. Crennel acknowledged the league’s tampering rules, but he did say this when asked if he’d have interest in Peyton Manning if he is cut by the Colts as expected: “With a talent like that, I would be crazy not to consider it if he’s available. I’ll leave it at that.”

There was a report out of Kansas City that said the Chiefs have already talked to Manning’s agent. That is against league rules. The Chiefs do, though, have the financial means to sign Manning. Friday, Pioli did not address the subject because of the tampering rules.

Friday night, Crennel said the Chiefs talked to the three top quarterback prospects, Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III and Ryan Tannehill. The interviews with Luck and Griffin were likely due diligence efforts because the Chiefs won't be in position to draft either man. Tannehill will likely be available in the second half of the first round, so Kansas City, which has the No. 11 pick, could potentially trade down and get him. Arizona State quarterback Brock Osweiler said he met with the Chiefs. He is likely to be taken in the second or third round.

Crennel raved about Griffin and said the time with the Baylor player was “special.”

Like Pioli, Crennel said the team would like to have Kyle Orton back. Crennel made Orton the starter when he took over as interim coach in Week 15. The Chiefs finished 2-1 under Crennel. Once again, the coach credited Orton for helping him get the permanent job.

I get the feeling -- and it is just a feeling -- that Crennel would like to re-sign Orton and give him every opportunity to beat out Cassel.

Crennel did acknowledge that the relationship between new Kansas City offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and Miami free agent Chad Henne could make Henne a potential target if he hits free agency. Daboll was the Dolphins’ offensive coordinator last year.

Don’t discount the possibility of Brady Quinn being a backup option in Kansas City. The free agent played for Crennel in Cleveland.

There are a lot of moving parts in Kansas City at this position and it will be fascinating to see how it all plays out.

INDIANAPOLIS — While the focus is on Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III during the NFL combine, another quarterback who is expected to be taken in the first round of the draft must wait his turn.

Still, expect the spotlight to shine on Ryan Tannehill soon enough. The big, strong Texas A&M quarterback has impressed NFL teams with his intelligence and leadership skills. Tannehill will have to wait until later next month to show scouts his field abilities.

Tannehill suffered a foot injury in January. The injury is not expected to create long-term issues for Tannehill and he will likely be drafted in the second half of the first round. ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay had Tannehill pegged to go to Denver at No. 25 in his latest mock draft.

I’d be surprised if Denver took a quarterback in the first round, but there’s no doubt Tannehill has the skill set and demeanor that would attract top Broncos decision maker John Elway.

Tannehill made it clear he has big NFL plans.

“I’m excited to go in to a team, compete and I want to be a starter,” Tannehill said. “It’s a goal of mine. I don’t just want to go make a team. I want to go play. I want to make an impact and lead a team to a Super Bowl.”

INDIANAPOLIS -- The smoking gun in the Peyton Manning saga arrived in town Wednesday.

And no one noticed.

I arrived to cover the NFL combine Wednesday and I was on the same flight from the West with several NFL prospects, who were heading to Indy to show scouts what they've got. None of the prospects was more recognizable than Andrew Luck, the highly-decorated Stanford quarterback. Luck is widely expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the April draft by the Indianapolis Colts and he is expected to take over for Manning this season.

Yet, when Luck got off the plane, he walked through the terminal and patiently waited for his belongings at the baggage claim just like everyone else. Not one person went up to him or even turned their head when the tall kid in jeans and tennis shoes walked by.

This city has been buzzing about the Manning-Luck situation for months. Yet, Luck’s first steps into the city he will soon call home came and went without any fanfare.

NFL.com is reporting that the Indianapolis Colts want to interview former Minnesota coach Brad Childress for their head-coaching opening. Here’s another name the Colts should consider: Hue Jackson.

If Childress is on the Colts’ list, Jackson – who was fired last week after one year at the helm in Oakland – should be, too.

Jackson wasn’t fired in Oakland because he can’t coach. I think Jackson, 46, is one of the bright, young offensive coaching minds in the league. His work with Oakland’s offense the past two years shows how capable a coach he is.

His problem in Oakland was that he took on too much power after the death of owner Al Davis — and that he talked too much. But those are issues he can quickly resolve. The Colts have a strong power structure in which Jackson would simply be asked to coach. And whether the Colts’ quarterback in 2012 is Andrew Luck or Peyton Manning, Jackson would be a good leader for either.

Jackson is a candidate to be the offensive coordinator in St. Louis. If he gets that job and the Rams offense rebounds in 2012, Jackson will likely be a hot head-coaching candidate next year. Still, if the Colts are looking at a retread like Childress, they might as well take a gander at Jackson, who’d still be the head coach in Oakland under the right circumstances.

In other AFC West news:

The San Diego Union Tribune is reporting that former Carolina secondary coach Ron Meeks has been offered the Chargers’ secondary coaching job and he is expected to decide by the end of the weekend. Meeks would replace Steve Wilks — who went to Carolina to work for former Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, who is now Carolina’s head coach.

The Raiders denied a report that new Oakland general manager Reggie McKenzie has hired former Raider Sean Jones as assistant general manager. The team's search for a new head coach continues, meanwhile; Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg was reportedly set to interview Friday.

The new coach in Miami could further increase the chances of Dolphins offensive coordinator Brian Daboll ending up in that role with Kansas City. Daboll worked in New England with new Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel.

Tired of TebowMania yet, non-Denver Broncos fans?

Well, of course you are. But buckle up because Tim Tebow isn't going anywhere -- other than perhaps to the postseason.

One of NFL’s most remarkable stories took another remarkable turn Sunday as the Broncos and their young quarterback continued to win in close fashion. They are now tied with the Oakland Raiders for first place in the AFC West, setting up a wild final quarter of the season between two long-time rivals.

Denver beat the Minnesota Vikings 35-32 in another final-second win and Oakland was hammered 34-14 at Miami. Both teams are now 7-5.

The Raiders have to worry about Tebow and the Broncos. They have won six of Tebow’s seven starts this season, including five straight games. Considered a contender to land Andrew Luck after starting 1-4, the Broncos are now supremely relevant in both the AFC West and AFC wild-card races.

This was another complete team win as the surging Denver defense made several timely plays Sunday. It was the Broncos’ third straight win in the closing seconds of the game and the fourth in Tebow’s seven starts.

Oakland, on the other hand, was completely flat and was terribly outplayed by the 4-8 Dolphins. The Dolphins were leading 34-0 before the Raiders finally scored midway through the fourth quarter. The poor effort came out of nowhere for the Raiders, who had won three straight games and who had a strong hold on a playoff spot.

Now, it is all in question. It is too early to talk about tiebreakers, but all of the scenarios are laid out in our playoff machine. This race looks like it could go down to the wire.

Denver’s four remaining games are home against Chicago and New England, at Buffalo and then at home against Kansas City. Oakland plays at Green Bay, home against Detroit, at Kansas City and home against San Diego.

Oakland and Denver are 1-1 against each other. Denver is 3-2 in the AFC West and Oakland is 2-2 in the division. Denver is 3-2 against common opponents and Oakland is 3-3.

While both teams have a strong chance to win the division, the Broncos enter the final quarter of the season with a lot more steam.

Most encouraging to Denver is that Tebow is making significant strides as a passer. He was 10-of-15 passing for 202 yards and threw for two touchdowns Sunday. Denver scored 28 points in the second half. After carrying the ball a record 22 times for a quarterback last week at San Diego, Tebow ran the ball only four times for 13 yards Sunday.

He is looking more and more like a legitimate quarterback. He made several nice throws Sunday and developed a nice relationship with fellow 2010 first-round pick Demaryius Thomas, who had four catches for 144 yards Sunday.

Tebow made some big passes late against the Chargers last week and his development continued Sunday. Most impressive for Tebow is that he is making strides on longer passes.

According to ESPN Stats & Information, Tebow was 5-of-8 passing on throws of 11-plus yards Sunday. He averaged 20.1 yards per pass. He threw both of his touchdown passes on those throws. Tebow was 3-for-5 for 100 yards and a touchdown pass against the 4-3 base defense. He had thrown only one touchdown pass in 55 previous attempts against opponents' base defense this season.

While Tebow is making strides, Oakland quarterback Carson Palmer was unimpressive Sunday. He ended up throwing for 273 yards, but when the game was in doubt, Palmer was never comfortable.

Palmer has been mostly solid as a Raider, but only against San Diego on Nov. 10 did he look like the dominant player for whom Oakland gave up two premium drafts picks to Cincinnati in October. The Raiders’ offense was missing a lot of firepower Sunday without running backs Darren McFadden and Taiwan Jones and receivers Jacoby Ford and Denarius Moore. The team hopes to get McFadden back as soon as next week against the Packers.

The Raiders will need him, because Tebow and the Broncos showed they are prepared to be in this race for the long haul.

The Denver Broncos have a key game against the visiting New York Jets on Thursday night. Denver has won three out of the past four games under new quarterback Tim Tebow. The Broncos have gone from a serious contender to win the Andrew Luck sweepstakes to a 4-5 team that is one game off the pace in the AFC West. Let’s look at what Denver must do against the 5-4 Jets, who are 1-4 in the past five road games in the regular season:

Keep your options open: Perhaps the Broncos are bringing the 1950s back, but as long as they continue to win with the option offense, it will continue to be used. Denver has been using the option (it even broke out the triple option Sunday at Kansas City) well under Tebow. It will be challenged Thursday night because New York coach Rex Ryan is known as a creative defensive coach. Still, Denver will give Ryan plenty of chances to stop it. According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Broncos gained 95 yards on 16 rushes at Kansas City. Tebow kept the ball four times for 31 yards while using the option. Tebow ran the ball nine times and passed it just eight times at Kansas City. According to Elias, Tebow became the first quarterback with more rushes than passes in a game in which the quarterback threw every pass for his team since 1974 when Buffalo’s Joe Ferguson threw twice and ran 10 times in a game that was affected by high winds. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Tebow dropped back to pass on 14.3 percent of the Broncos’ plays at Kansas City. It’s the lowest percentage of drop backs by a team in a game since the start of 2008. Don’t expect Denver to suddenly change course on a short week and have Tebow unleash 40 passes. The option offense should continue.

Keep on running: Tebow’s presence has made Denver a great running offense. It his averaging more than 200 yards on the ground in the past five games and has led the NFL in rushing in that time span. For the season, Denver is second in the NFL in rushing, averaging 158.2 yards per game. The presence of Tebow has enhanced the Broncos’ running backs. Willis McGahee, who is enjoying a career resurgence at the age of 30 and in his first season in Denver, had 640 yards this season. He suffered a hamstring injury at Kansas City. But the Broncos hope he can be a factor. With Knowshon Moreno out for the year with a torn ACL, new backup Lance Ball will be given a chance to continue to impress. He had 96 yards on 30 carries against the Chiefs. Expect the Broncos to try to ram the ball down the Jets’ throats. The Jets are giving up 116 yards on the ground per game, which is 15th in the NFL.

Doing it Fox’s way: This game will give the Broncos a chance to show a national audience they are improved under first year John Fox. He deserves a lot of credit for this turnaround. The Broncos are starting to play just the way Fox likes -- by running the ball and by stopping the run on defense. Denver’s ownership has to be thrilled with the work Fox is doing with this young roster that is still very much rebuilding.

Hit Mark Sanchez: The Broncos have become a strong pass-rushing team in recent games with Elvis Dumervil finally becoming healthy. Dumervil and rookie Von Miller are a nasty pass-rushing duo. Denver had four sacks and constantly harassed Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassel (who suffered a serious hand injury in the game) Sunday. Watch for the Broncos to try to unleash Dumervil and Miller -- who has eight sacks and who is a legitimate defensive rookie of the year candidate -- on Sanchez.

Secret weapon: Denver punter Britton Colquitt has become a strong weapon for the Broncos in his second full season with the team. He has become particularly solid in pinning opponents inside their own 20-yard line. He pinned the Chiefs between their own 7- and 15-yard line four times in Week 10. Putting New York in poor field position will be critical in this game.