Broncos at Dolphins
THE STORY: Sunday’s game between the Denver Broncos and host Miami Dolphins normally would not – and should not – receive much attention. After all, the teams are a combined 1-9. But the most polarizing figure in the NFL – quarterback Tim Tebow – will make his first start of the season for Denver, turning this into a must-see-how-he-does game. Tebow nearly rallied the Broncos when he took over from struggling Kyle Orton to start the second half of their 29-24 loss to San Diego two weeks ago. He left the Mile High Stadium field to chants of “Tebow, Tebow,’’ perhaps the first time since Rocky Balboa that a loser was lauded so loudly. Sunday will be all about Tebow – it is Gator Day at Sun Life Stadium and the Dolphins will honor the University of Florida’s 2009 national championship team at halftime. The quarterback on that team was – you guessed it – Tebow.
TV: CBS, 1 p.m. ET. LINE: Dolphins -1.5, O/U 42.5
ABOUT THE DOLPHINS (0-5): Miami appears to have the inside track in the Andrew Luck Stakes and seems capable of pulling away from even Colts in the race for the Stanford quarterback. The Dolphins started well Monday and were poised to take a 10-0 lead in New York. But Matt Moore was intercepted by Darrelle Revis, who returned it 100 yards for a touchdown, and the Jets never looked back en route to a 24-6 victory. Wide receiver Brandon Marshall (quadriceps) and running back Reggie Bush (neck, groin) returned to practice Thursday. The Dolphins are 1-11 at home since Week 16 in 2009.
ABOUT THE BRONCOS (1-4): Denver’s running game has received a boost from Willis McGahee, who has rushed for 100 yards in two straight games and has three 100-yard games this season. The Broncos have allowed 28 points per game, second-worst in the NFL. Denver traded Brandon Lloyd to St. Louis on Monday, but two other receivers return. Demaryius Thomas will play for the first time in 2011 after recovering from finger and Achilles injuries, and Eddie Royal (groin) is back after missing three-plus games.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Denver’s Von Miller is second among NFL rookies with five sacks (49ers’ Aldon Smith, 5.5) and has at least one in four straight games.
2. The Dolphins leads the series 11-3-1, including 7-0 in Miami, and have won eight of the last nine overall.
3. The Broncos are 1-19 in their last 20 games when trailing at halftime, including 0-4 this season when they have been outscored 80-47 in the first half.