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Let’s look at one road trip fans should take to see their favorite AFC West team in 2012:

Denver Broncos at New England Patriots, Oct. 7

Why: New England is beautiful that time of year and seeing Peyton Manning-Tom Brady live is a priceless experience.

Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers, Nov. 1

Why: Start a long weekend in a great city with a cool intra-divisional Thursday night game.

Oakland Raiders at Broncos, Sept. 30

Why: I know many commenters on this blog are planning this trip. Hope to see you there.

San Diego Chargers at New Orleans Saints, Oct. 7

Why: A Philip Rivers-Drew Brees matchup in a tremendous city is a hot ticket.

Here’s a list of some of the most compelling 2012 NFL games involving AFC West teams:

Sept. 9

Atlanta at Kansas City

Tony Gonzalez comes back to Kansas City.

Pittsburgh at Denver

The Steelers lost to Tim Tebow in their last game; they return to Denver to help the Broncos usher in the Peyton Manning era.

Sept. 10

San Diego at Oakland

I just love these season-opening Monday nighters.

Oct. 7

Denver at New England

Manning-Tom Brady has a new look. Still a classic.

San Diego at New Orleans

Philip Rivers-Drew Brees isn’t too shabby, either.

Oct. 15

Denver at San Diego

Early-season statement game on a Monday night.

Oct. 28

New Orleans at Denver

Manning faces the team that kept a Super Bowl ring from him.

Nov. 1

Kansas City at San Diego

Second half of the season starts on a Thursday night.

Nov. 12

Kansas City at Pittsburgh

Chiefs face Todd Haley, their former coach turned Steelers offensive coordinator, on a Monday Night. Should be fun.

Nov. 25

Oakland at Cincinnati

Carson Palmer goes back to Cincy to see Hue Jackson, the man who brought him to Oakland.

Dec. 6

Denver at Oakland

Rivalry gets a Thursday-night taste.

Dec. 23

San Diego at New York Jets

The AFC West’s lone crack at Tebow gets prime-time slot.

Dec. 30

Kansas City at Denver, Oakland at San Diego

If this division is as tight in 2012 as it was in 2011, this day will be crucial.

There has been some talk that the New England Patriots could join the list of teams interested in Denver quarterback Tim Tebow.

Josh McDaniels, who drafted Tebow in 2010, is now New England’s offensive coordinator. If the Patriots do pursue Tebow, I think Denver should inquire about third-string quarterback Ryan Mallett. The Patriots picked Mallett in the third round last season after he tumbled in the draft.

I’ve been asked about a possible Mallett-Tebow trade often and I think it makes sense for the Broncos. The Broncos will likely look for a veteran to back up Peyton Manning (Billy Volek, anyone?) and for a young quarterback to groom. Like Manning, Mallett is a good, strong-armed quarterback. Like he did in New England last year under Tom Brady, Mallett could learn and grow under Manning.

Manning should be a solid starter for at least the next three years. Mallet would have plenty of time to study the game from perhaps the most detail-oriented and intelligent quarterback of all time.

Mallett is not going to be in the Patriots’ immediate plans, so if they wanted to get in on Tebowmania, he would be a worthwhile price. If the Patriots were to offer Mallett for Tebow, I’d think the Broncos would have to consider it. I don’t see them getting many better offers.

The Peyton Manning saga will surely be the story of the NFL offseason. The question in the AFC West is, will the Kansas City Chiefs be the story along with the legendary Indianapolis Colts quarterback?

As of now, we have to think it is a real possibility that the Chiefs will heavily pursue Manning -- who may be cut by the Colts as soon as next week -- if he becomes a free agent. Manning, who will turn 36 on March 24, missed all of last season with a neck injury and there is no certain date when he will be 100 percent, although there have been reports he will be ready to play in 2012.

If the Chiefs end up signing Manning, it won’t be the first time the organization brought in a living legend at the end of his career after he suffered a serious injury. The Chiefs traded for San Francisco’s Joe Montana in 1993.

The Chiefs have been connected to Manning in recent weeks. A Kansas City radio station has even reported that the team has had multiple conversations with Manning’s agent about finances and that the Chiefs feel comfortable about what Manning may want. That would constitute tampering and it is highly unlikely any team would talk finances with Manning before giving him a physical and knowing more about his recovery timetable. Still, the Chiefs have a load of salary-cap room and they can easily construct a deal for Manning in addition to making other improvements.

Of course, Kansas City coach Romeo Crennel did nothing to take the scent off a potential Chiefs-Manning pairing when he said this at the NFL combine last Saturday: “With a talent like that, I would be crazy not to consider it if he’s available. I’ll leave it at that.”

The Chiefs are not necessarily looking for a new starting quarterback. At the combine, Kansas City general manager Scott Pioli wouldn’t say the job is open. He said the starter is Matt Cassel. However, there will be competition at every position. The translation is the Chiefs expect Cassel to be the starter, but if a better option comes along, they will consider it. There’s no doubt a healthy Manning would be a better option.

If the Chiefs do want to go deep into the Manning sweepstakes, they will have competition, likely beginning with Miami and Washington. There will surely be other teams that show interest in the player who many consider one of the greatest NFL players of all time.

In addition to their interest and financial means, here’s another reason the Chiefs could be favorites to land Manning: They may be the best team interested in him. That would surely appeal to Manning when he is making his choice. I’m not sure many of the interested teams can offer Manning a better supporting cast.

The Chiefs have a strong running game and Manning would have plenty of receiving options. No. 1 receiver Dwayne Bowe is expected to be franchised, 2011 first-round pick Jonathan Baldwin is a potential game-changing deep threat and Steve Breaston is a solid possession receiver. Tight end Tony Moeaki is expected to be healthy after missing the 2011 season with a knee injury. He was terrific as a rookie in 2010.

In addition to appealing offensive weapons, the Chiefs have the makings of a strong defense. A healthy Manning would immensely help any team. But Manning could be a difference-maker in Kansas City. Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. said adding Manning would make the Chiefs -- who finished 7-9 in 2011 despite major injury issues -- “the clear favorite to win the AFC West” in 2012.

Putting Manning in the Heartland would make many teams in the AFC nervous.

I would think Manning would also be fine with working with Crennel and Pioli. He is close with New England quarterback Tom Brady and Brady won Super Bowls with both men. I’m sure Brady would give Manning glowing reports on both of his potential bosses. And don’t think Manning would have trouble working with a defensive-minded coach like Crennel. Remember, the man Manning won his Super Bowl ring with, Tony Dungy, was a defensive-minded coach.

Cassel is also a factor in this scenario. Because Manning will be signed before there are any guarantees he’ll be ready to play, any team that signs him must have a good fallback plan. There are fewer better fallbacks than Cassel.

If Manning is signed and he has a setback, the Chiefs can rely on Cassel, who shined as Brady’s injury replacement in 2008. While Cassel wouldn’t be thrilled with the idea of backing up Manning, I’m sure he’d understand the Chiefs taking advantage of a rare opportunity to pick up a future Hall of Fame player.

There are a lot of reasons this pairing makes sense. If it happens, the Chiefs will be at the center of the NFL universe.

Von Miller is going to have to pay for losing his temper in a losing effort.

The NFL fined Miller, according to a league spokesman, $7,500 for unnecessary roughness in Denver’s 45-10 loss at New England in an AFC divisional playoff game Saturday night.

Miller -- the No. 2 overall draft pick and a leading candidate for the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award -- lost his cool after New England quarterback Tom Brady punted on third down late in the game. Miller shoved New England’s Dan Connolly seemingly without being provoked. That started a melee that spilled over to the New England sideline.

Miller was fined at least $47,500 in his rookie season. He was fined $25,000 for a November hit on Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez just weeks after being fined $15,000 for a hit on Oakland quarterback Carson Palmer.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The Denver Broncos lost two games by a score of 45-10 this season. They were two lopsided bookends in an unpredictable journey that ended Saturday night.

In between not looking anything like a playoff team during an Oct. 30 home loss to Detroit and a season-ending thumping at the hands of the much better New England Patriots, the Broncos reinvented themselves and became a team with hope for the future.

“It may be hard to see it now after an embarrassing loss,” Denver tight end Daniel Fells said in a quiet Denver locker room Saturday night, “but there is something there. ... We did something this year that was unexpected, and there is something good to look forward to in the future.”

That future very likely will include Tim Tebow.

In a season in which Tebow became a household name in non-sports-centric households and in which he became a sport's lightning rod like we’ve rarely seen before, the Broncos’ season ended with Tebow not being the story.

While Tebow, who was just 9-of-26 passing for 136 yards, didn’t do much to help his team, Saturday night’s game was not a Tebow type of game. The Denver Broncos became an unlikely playoff team this season because they played smart, hard football in all three phases of the game in their victories. It became evident early Saturday that the allure of Tebow would be quickly overshadowed by the sheer brilliance of Patriots QB Tom Brady and the stunning dominance of second-year New England tight end Rob Gronkowski.

Tebowing became a national craze and a phrase used daily. On Saturday, though, the Broncos were sent packing because they were Bradyed and Gronked.

Brady tied an NFL postseason record with six touchdown passes, and his 363 passing yards were a team playoff record. Gronkowski had 10 catches for 145 yards and three touchdowns. TebowMania might be cute, and it might be legitimate in the fourth quarter (and overtime) of close games. But it wasn’t that type of party Saturday night.

Brady and company were bent on letting the rest of the NFL playoff field know they are tired of being considered a postseason antique. They’re hunting for their first Super Bowl victory in seven years, TebowMania be damned.

While Denver’s season ended in a fashion that usually would sting an organization, there wasn’t a sense of despair in the locker room. It seemed the players knew this was a season of progress and it was a success, everything considered.

When Denver introduced John Fox as its coach a year ago Friday, there was no way anyone could have imagined the Broncos would advance to the final eight and beat the defending AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers in the playoffs. This was a team that had the No. 2 overall pick in the 2011 draft. The rebuilding project seemed like it would take years.

That assessment didn’t change when Denver started the season 1-4 before inserting Tebow at quarterback.

“People wanted to close the book on the Broncos,” receiver Matthew Willis said. “But we kept fighting.”

It all changed after the home loss to Detroit when Fox adjusted his offense to Tebow’s skill set and used the option offense. The Broncos’ offense transformed through the season and adjusted on the fly.

Now, the ride is over and the Broncos must look toward the future.

Tebow said Saturday night that he must become more accurate and consistent, and he plans to soon start working on what will be his first full offseason as an NFL player. Legendary Denver quarterback John Elway, who is now the Broncos’ football leader, has said he plans to personally work with Tebow in the offseason, focusing on improving the youngster’s footwork.

Elway was in Denver’s locker room after the game and appeared satisfied with the season. He wasn’t ready to chat about the future and has yet to confirm the Broncos will ride with Tebow as their quarterback in 2012. Don’t be surprised, however, if the Broncos commit to Tebow soon.

That’s the direction the players want the team to take. Several Denver players said Saturday night that they believe Tebow will continue to make strides and he is the answer at quarterback.

“He’s our guy,” Denver rookie safety Rahim Moore said. “Our team jells around him. He is only going to get better.”

That could be said of the entire Denver roster. This is a work in progress. Brady and New England’s offense showed there is still much work to be done in Denver defensively. The Patriots compiled 509 yards of offense and took their foot off the gas in the second half after leading 35-7 at halftime.

Denver needs help on both sides of the ball. But there is no denying this is a well-coached team that tasted unexpected success in a season that might just be scratching the surface of TebowMania, if that’s even possible.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- A look at a classic playoff mismatch:

What it means: The Broncos’ season ended at 9-9. The Broncos were never in this game as New England was clearly out to show the rest of the playoff field that it means business. The upstart Broncos were nothing more than practice fodder for New England on Saturday night.

Huge gap: The Patriots led 35-7 at the half, and the Broncos could barely do anything on either side of the ball.

Denver still needs help: The Broncos made great strides on defense this season. They were 32nd in the NFL in most statistical categories in 2010. Yet, Denver became a solid unit this season under first-year head coach John Fox and first-year defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. But on Saturday night, the Patriots showed Denver it still has work to do on that side of the ball.

Miller gets jumped: After he fought with two New England offensive linemen late in the game, Denver rookie linebacker Von Miller was hammered by several New England players. Expect Miller to get fined for his actions.

Bradyed and Gronked: We saw New England quarterback Tom Brady and tight end Rob Gronkowski at their finest. Brady tied an NFL postseason record with six touchdown passes. Gronkowski had 10 catches for 145 yards and three touchdowns. They connected at will. Denver had no answer.

Tebow can’t help: Denver quarterback Tim Tebow wasn’t the reason why Denver lost. He started the game well, but as the game got out of hand he got more desperate and couldn’t do much. In a season in which Tebow was memorable, he really didn’t stand out in the finale.

What’s next: The Broncos stagger into the offseason, but they have to feel great about their progress this season. No one would ever had thought the Broncos’ 2011 season would have ended in the divisional round of the playoffs when this team picked No. 2 in the draft.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Random halftime thoughts:

The Broncos are being Brady'd and Gronk'd.

New England quarterback Tom Brady – perhaps a tad upset about being the second-most-talked-about quarterback in this game – is beating down the Denver defense. Brady has thrown five touchdown passes. The Patriots went up 28-7 with a 61-yard touchdown pass to Deion Branch — then scored again on a Brady-to-Rob Gronkowski strike.

As they did in Denver four weeks ago, the New England tight ends are slicing up the Broncos defense. Gronkowski has eight catches for 97 yards and two touchdowns. Aaron Hernandez has two catches for 29 yards but he has three runs for 58 yards.

Denver’s defense is just not giving the Broncos a chance to stay in this game in a game the Patriots are dominating in the field-position battle.

Denver quarterback Tim Tebow is having a decent game. He lost one fumble, but he hasn’t been a major disappointment. Still, Denver just can’t keep drives going.

The Broncos are running the ball well, at least — 100 yards on 21 carries.

» Divisional Final Word: Saints-49ers | Broncos-Patriots | Texans-Ravens | Giants-Packers

Three nuggets of knowledge about the Denver Broncos-New England Patriots AFC divisional playoff game:

Broncos have had success against Patriots: Yes, the Patriots beat the Broncos 26 days ago in Denver 41-23. However, the Broncos have had a lot of success against the Patriots in the recent past. New England is 4-6 (including the playoffs) against Denver in the Bill Belichick era. It’s New England’s worst record against any team in the NFL. The last time these teams met in the playoffs was six years ago to the day of Saturday’s meeting in the divisional round. Denver (in its last playoff win before the stunner over the Steelers) beat the Patriots 27-13. It was Belichick’s and New England quarterback Tom Brady's first postseason loss. Brady is 2-6 lifetime against Denver.

Playoff streaking the wrong way: The Patriots have lost two straight home playoff games. Before the road bump, which began in 2009, New England won 11 straight home playoff games. Something will give Saturday because Denver has lost three straight road playoff games. Denver is looking for its first road playoff win since the 1997 AFC Championship Game in Pittsburgh. Denver went on to win its first Super Bowl title that year. The Broncos, who are big underdogs for the second straight week, are facing some long odds. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, teams that had to play on a Saturday after playing the previous Sunday are 4-14 since 1990.

Broncos need to be more consistent this time: The Broncos' offense started strong against New England in Week 15. It had a 16-7 lead early in the second quarter before the Broncos fumbled three times in their own territory in the quarter. New England turned the miscues into 13 direct points. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Denver averaged 10.9 yards per play against New England and it averaged just 4.6 yards per play in the final three quarters. Denver quarterback Tim Tebow was sacked four times in the final three quarters. Denver had 218 yards in the first quarter but managed just 175 yards for the rest of the game. The Broncos obviously need a more sustained effort Saturday.

The 2011 Denver Broncos will not be remembered for their defense.

Let’s face it, the lasting memory, regardless of how this unexpected Rocky Mountain joy ride ends, will be of quarterback Tim Tebow. The six-game winning streak, the four overtime wins, the incredible and the abrupt ending to the wild-card win over Pittsburgh on Sunday will all turn back to Tebow. He is the cover boy for these Broncos.

Yet, there is no way this upstart franchise would still be playing if it wasn’t for an improved, tough-minded defense. Tebow may be the face of the 2011 Denver Broncos, but the defense is the heart.

If the Broncos have any chance of beating the New England Patriots in the AFC divisional playoff round Saturday, their defense will have to continue to show its growth. New England coach Bill Belichick knows a thing about defense and he knows Denver’s unit is capable of being a factor against his high-powered offense.

“Defensively, they’re fast. They have an excellent pass rush,” Belichick said this week. “They’re athletic inside, their linebackers blitz … They cover well. They have a good defensive team.”

Four months ago, just as it was unexpected that Denver would be one of the final eight teams alive in the playoffs, it was as unexpected that the Denver defense would inspire such words from one of the most renowned defensive minds in the game.

In 2010, Denver was ranked last in nearly every statistical defensive category and it was a major reason why the Broncos went 4-12 and earned the No. 2 pick in the draft. Since he took over as Denver’s football leader, Broncos’ legendary quarterback John Elway immediately focused on the other side of the ball to begin his reclamation project.

Ending a 16-year streak, Elway hired a defensive-minded head coach in highly-respected John Fox after the Broncos were led by offensive minds Mike Shanahan and Josh McDaniels. Piggybacking on the Fox hire, Elway’s first draft pick was outside linebacker Von Miller, a player Elway hoped would become similar to Miller’s idol, Derrick Thomas, the man who sacked Elway more than any other defensive player ever.

The immense commitment to defense has worked out for Elway. Seventeen games into Fox’s tenure, the Broncos’ defense is considered above average. There is no doubt Fox and first-year defensive coordinator Dennis Allen have influenced this unit, and it's being recognized around the league.

The Denver defense was on display in a big way in the 29-23 upset win over Pittsburgh in the wild-card round. The Broncos dominated the game and harassed Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger with five sacks. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Roethlisberger completed just 6 of 13 passes for 74 yards and was intercepted when Denver blitzed five or more defenders. Led by the dynamic pass-rushing combination of Miller and veteran Elvis Dumervil, the Broncos had 41 sacks in the regular season, the most it has had since 2000.

“We saw some things we felt like we could do well,” said Denver defensive end Robert Ayers, who was extremely active against the Steelers. “It’s the playoffs. There is no time for holding back.”

Denver’s defense has been consistent throughout the season. When the Broncos entered the playoffs on a three-game losing streak, it was Denver's offense that was most culpable. In a 40-14 loss at Buffalo in Week 16, the Bills had two defensive touchdowns and a special teams score. The Denver defense allowed one touchdown in the game. In a 7-3 Week 17 loss to Kansas City, the Denver defense allowed just one big play.

In a 41-23 loss to visiting New England in Week 15, Denver's defense had some moments. But the Broncos didn’t lose the game on defense. It lost because the offense blew a 16-7 lead with three fumbles in its territory in the second quarter that resulted in 13 direct points for New England. The defense simply couldn’t overcome the turnovers.

Still, according to ESPN Stats & Information, Denver may not have the same success blitzing against Tom Brady as it did against Roethlisberger if last month’s game is any indication. Brady was 10-of-12, gaining with an average of 14.3 yards per play, against a five or more-man blitz. Against four or fewer pass-rushers, Brady was just 13 of 22 with an average of 6.8 yards per play.

Regardless of the pass-rush packages, Ayers said the key is containing tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. The pair has torched defenses all season, and Hernandez was particularly dangerous against Denver last month. Hernandez had nine catches for 129 yards and a touchdown against Denver, while Gronkowski added four catches for 53 yards. That’s massive production from tight end.

“Up front, we have to be able to get some pass rush and not let [our secondary] sit back there for long,” Ayers said. “I think Brady... he got a little bit comfortable a couple of times. We don’t want to let that happen. We don’t want to leave those guys on an island too long. … It’s going to take a complete team effort -- offense, defense, special teams -- and we know that.”

If the defense's effort all season has been any indication, the Broncos should feel comfortable their unit will come to play and continue to show it is no longer the weak link.

Four Broncos to watch Saturday night in a divisional playoff game at New England. Kickoff is 8 p.m. ET:

Brodrick Bunkley, defensive tackle: Bunkley had a terrific game against Pittsburgh in the wild-card round and he quietly had a solid season. He is going to have to disrupt the middle of the New England offensive line as the Broncos try to slow Tom Brady.

Quinton Carter, safety: Carter had a strong game against Pittsburgh. The rookie is really coming around. With New England focusing on tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez (who had a huge game against Denver last month) so often, Carter is going to have to come up big again.

Willis McGahee, running back: McGahee shredded the Patriots in Week 15 before he was injured. McGahee has been a star for Denver this year as he had 1,199 yards on the ground. He fumbled twice and lost one that allowed the Steelers to tie the game and send it to overtime on Sunday. McGahee is going to have to play a strong, clean game Saturday night.

Eddie Royal, receiver/returner: With Eric Decker dealing with a knee injury, Royal is going to have to play a big role in this game. He caught a touchdown pass against Pittsburgh. With Demaryius Thomas -- who had four catches for 204 yards, including an 80-yard catch to win the game in overtime --likely getting extra attention from New England, Royal is going to have to make some plays.

Denver safety Brian Dawkins remained out of practice with a nagging neck injury.

It has been bothering him for several weeks. He did not play Sunday against Pittsburgh and it may be a long shot that he plays Saturday against New England.

Also, as expected, receiver Eric Decker did not practice. He reportedly has a knee strain. He is not expected to play. Denver long-snapper Lonie Paxton did not practice because of personal reasons.

Defensive end Elvis Dumervil was limited by an ankle injury. He is a defensive key, so if he is limited Saturday night, it could adversely affect the Broncos. Harassing New England quarterback Tom Brady is a must for Denver and Dumervil is an integral part of Denver’s pass rush.

Here are a few more thoughts I have on Tuesday’s Pro Bowl selections:

I’ve heard a lot in the past several hours since the AFC Pro Bowl team was announced that Philip Rivers was an undeserving selection on the team and Tim Tebow may have been snubbed.

I have a difficult time believing either theory.

Rivers is one of three quarterbacks to have made the AFC team -- joining New England’s Tom Brady and Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger.

Yes, Rivers had a down season for him, but he also did accomplish some nice things. He has thrown for 4,314 yards, which is the second most in the conference behind Brady. Rivers did thr0w 19 interceptions, but he threw just two interceptions in the final five games.

It may have not been Rivers’ best season, but his selection to the Pro Bowl roster is not farfetched.

Tebow is the No. 2 alternate behind Cincinnati rookie Andy Dalton. There is a solid chance he could make it to Hawaii because quarterbacks often bow out.

I think Tebow should be thrilled with his slotting. He simply didn’t play even and do enough to be among the top three quarterbacks in the division. He took over as the starter in the sixth game, and at 7-3 as the Broncos’ starter, has them on the cusp of the division title. He hasn’t been Pro Bowl-good, though.

Meanwhile, Brian Waters has made the Chiefs looked bad. Waters was cut this summer because the Chiefs thought he was over the hill.

After being a late addition to New England, Water has played brilliantly and he earned his spot as a Pro Bowl starter at the age of 34. Waters is a class act and he is a leader. He was a locker-room favorite in Kansas City and he is a favorite in New England as well.

DENVER -- A look at a game Denver fumbled away.

What it means: The Denver Broncos’ six game winning streak is over. The Broncos are now 8-6. However, Denver is still alone in first place in the AFC West because Oakland lost to Detroit in the final minute. Denver is still in great shape in the AFC West race.

Defense not elite: Denver’s defense is surely improved, but they were no match for Tom Brady. He made plays when he needed to make plays. Brady and tight ends Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski wore down this defense. The two tight ends combined for 13 catches for 182 yards and a touchdown. Of course, the Denver defense wasn’t helped by three fumbles in Denver territory.

Not Tebow’s fault: There will be a lot of talk that TebowMania has been solved. Don’t buy it. He is improving and he wasn’t the reason for this loss. His fumble didn’t help, but this was a team loss.

Game changed in the second quarter: Denver had the Patriots where it wanted them after the first quarter. The Broncos had a 13-7 lead and had the ball for 10:45 of the first. Then, after Denver made it 16-7 early in the second, New England exploded for 20 unanswered points in the quarter and Denver hardly touched the ball. The Broncos couldn’t overcome the second quarter.

Huge first quarter on the ground: Denver had 167 yards on the ground in the first quarter. But because of New England’s points explosion, it had to throw the ball more. Denver, the No. 1 ground team in the NFL, finished the game with 252 yards on the ground.

What’s next: Denver travels to Buffalo on Saturday where the long-term forecast calls for weather to be in the 30s and a mostly sunny day.

The Denver Broncos received good injury news Thursday. Starting defensive backs Brian Dawkins (neck) and Andre Goodman (concussion) practiced on a limited basis Thursday after not practicing Wednesday. Both players were hurt Sunday.

Thus, barring a setback, they both might have a chance to play Sunday against pass-happy New England. Also, receiver Eddie Royal -- who missed the Chicago game with a concussion -- practiced fully Thursday.

In other AFC West news:

As expected, Oakland running back Darren McFadden (foot), running back Taiwan Jones (hamstring), receiver Jacoby Ford (foot), defensive tackle John Henderson (knee) and safety Michael Huff (hamstring) all missed their second day of practice this week. Barring a fast recovery, it seems like these players will be out Sunday against Detroit.

Carolina receiver Steve Smith doesn’t think Tim Tebow compares to Panthers’ quarterback Cam Newton. Newton has been much more polished than Tebow, but Tebow’s team has been much more successful than Newton’s.

ESPN columnist Rick Reilly asks readers to take their pick, Tom Brady or Tebow.

The Raiders’ have announced Sunday’s game against Detroit is a sellout. It is the seventh time in seven home games this season that there won’t be a local television blackout. The Oakland Tribune reports this is the first time since the Raiders came to Oakland 16 years ago that they sold out more than six home games in a season.

Chargers’ linebackers Donald Butler (foot) and Takeo Spikes (back) and defensive end Jacques Cesaire (ankle) missed their second straight day of practice Thursday.