2011 Denver Broncos season The Denver Broncos season is the franchise ' s 42nd season in the National Football League and the 52nd overall . It also marks the first season under new head coach John Fox , as well as the first with John Elway as the team ' s Executive Vice President of Football Operations . With a 7 – 5 record , the Broncos have exceeded their win total from 2010 , in which the team set a new franchise record for losses in a single season , with a 4 – 12 record . The Broncos selected linebacker Von Miller as the # 2 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft . On July 25 , the NFLPA and NFL owners agreed on a new collective bargaining agreement , which was ratified on August 4 . 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 . 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 starter for the team ' s Week 7 game at the Miami Dolphins on October 23 , and has led the Broncos to a 6 – 1 record , despite constant criticism of Tebow ' s ability as a passer . Orton was later waived on November 22 . On October 17 , shortly after the quarterback change , the team traded wide receiver Brandon Lloyd to the St . Louis Rams in exchange for a conditional 2012 draft selection . Offseason . Pre - lockout roster changes . The Broncos made the following roster moves prior to the decertification of the NFLPA on March 11 and subsequent 2011 NFL Lockout : 2011 draft class . Despite the 2011 NFL Lockout , the 2011 NFL Draft was held from April 28 – 30 . However , no undrafted free agent s were signed until after the lockout ended on July 25 . Preseason . Schedule . The Broncos ' preseason schedule was announced on April 12 , 2011 , with kickoff times finalized on July 26 , one day after the end of the 2011 NFL Lockout . Post - lockout roster changes . Free agents . The following free agents were left unsigned after the beginning of the 2011 NFL Lockout in March ( CB Champ Bailey and DT Kevin Vickerson were re - signed before the lockout ) : Undrafted free agents . All undrafted free agents were signed on July 27 . Roster cuts . On August 29 , the Broncos began trimming their roster to 80 players . Cornerback Nate Jones was released , while the following players were waived : Running back C . J . Gable , linebacker s Braxton Kelley and Deron Mayo , guard Shawn Murphy , tackle Curt Porter and defensive end David Veikune . Four days later , on September 3 , the Broncos trimmed their roster to a regular season - maximum 53 players . Undrafted wide receiver Jamel Hamler , running back Brandon Minor and cornerback Syd ' Quan Thompson were each placed on Injured reserve , while the following 24 players were waived , unless indicated otherwise : On September 4 , the Broncos signed former New England Patriots ' cornerback Jonathan Wilhite and waived safety Darcel McBath . Additionally , the aforementioned players listed in " italics " were assigned to the practice squad . On September 6 , the Broncos signed former Pittsburgh Steelers ' tackle Tony Hills and waived tackle Herb Taylor . Sports Authority naming rights takeover . On August 16 , 2011 , Sports Authority , a sporting goods retailer based in Englewood , Colorado , took over the naming rights of " INVESCO Field at Mile High " . Invesco held the original naming rights to the Denver Broncos ' stadium since it opened in , and Invesco ' s naming rights agreement was set to expire in 2021 . " INVESCO Field at Mile High " officially became known as Sports Authority Field at Mile High , in time for the Broncos ' first preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on August 20 . Regular season . Schedule . The Broncos ' 2011 regular season schedule was announced on April 19 , 2011 . LEGEND : Quarterback controversy . On October 11 , Tim Tebow was named the Broncos ' starting quarterback for the team ' s October 23 game at the Miami Dolphins in Week 7 ( the Broncos had their bye in Week 6 ) . Tebow started the last three games of the 2010 season , and the team was considering trading incumbent Kyle Orton to the Dolphins before the start of training camp , however , Orton was eventually named the starting quarterback in training camp by head coach John Fox and John Elway , the team ' s Executive Vice President of Football Operations . After a 1 – 3 start and public outcry from fans , an ineffective Orton was benched for the second half of the team ' s 29 – 24 loss in Week 5 to the San Diego Chargers , and replaced by Tebow , who nearly engineered a fourth - quarter comeback . On November 22 , Orton was waived , ending a two and a half year run as the team ' s starting quarterback . Game summaries . Week 1 : vs . Oakland Raiders . The Broncos donned their alternate orange jerseys and kicked off their 2011 season at home against their AFC West rival Oakland Raiders , the Broncos ' first regular - season home opener since 2004 . The Broncos took an early lead in the first quarter , with a 28 - yard field goal by placekicker Matt Prater . Oakland reeled off 16 unanswered points in the second quarter , with a 3 - yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jason Campbell to fullback Marcel Reece , followed by three field goals of 37 , 21 and 63 yards by placekicker Sebastian Janikowski , the latter of which tied the record for the longest field goal in NFL history . The Broncos responded in the third quarter , with kick returner Eric Decker returning a punt 90 yards for a touchdown , followed by a 30 - yard field goal by Prater . Oakland increased their lead in the fourth quarter , with a 1 - yard touchdown run by Campbell . The Broncos tried to rally , with quarterback Kyle Orton throwing a 9 - yard touchdown pass to running back Lance Ball . However , Oakland would run out the clock . With the loss , the Broncos began the season at 0 – 1 . Week 2 : vs . Cincinnati Bengals . Following their Monday night loss to the Raiders , the Broncos remained on home turf to face the Cincinnati Bengals . The Broncos took the lead in the first quarter , with a 1 - yard touchdown run by running back Willis McGahee . Cincinnati got on the board in the second quarter , with a 45 - yard field goal by placekicker Mike Nugent . The Broncos responded , with a 34 - yard field goal by placekicker Matt Prater just before halftime . In the third quarter , the Broncos extended their lead , with a 25 - yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kyle Orton to wide receiver Eric Decker . However , Cincinnati reeled off 12 unanswered points , with a 37 - yard field field goal by Nugent , a 10 - yard touchdown pass from quarterback Andy Dalton to wide receiver Andre Caldwell ( with a failed two - point conversion attempt ) , followed by a 23 - yard field goal by Nugent , narrowing the Broncos ' lead to 17 – 15 . In the fourth quarter , the Broncos once again increased their lead , with a 52 - yard touchdown pass from Orton to Decker , but Cincinnati responded , with a 5 - yard touchdown pass from Dalton to running back A . J . Green . The Broncos ' defense prevented any more scoring . With the win , the Broncos improved to 1 – 1 . Week 3 : at Tennessee Titans . Following their close win over the Bengals , the Broncos traveled to Nashville to face the Tennessee Titans . The Broncos took the lead in the first quarter , with a 5 - yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kyle Orton to wide receiver Matthew Willis . Tennessee responded in the second quarter , with a 14 - yard touchdown pass from quarterback Matt Hasselbeck to wide receiver Nate Washington , followed by a 46 - yard field goal by placekicker Rob Bironas . The Broncos re - claimed the lead in the third quarter , when Orton connecting with running back Willis McGahee on a 5 - yard touchdown pass . However , after recovering a Hasselbeck fumble in Titans ' territory late in the third quarter , the Broncos failed to capitalize on the turnover , as Tennessee ' s defense denied the Broncos from extending their lead with a goal - line stand in the fourth quarter . Tennessee later claimed the lead , when Hasselbeck , playing on his 36th birthday , threw a 4 - yard touchdown pass to tight end Daniel Graham , who played with the Broncos from 2007 – 2010 . Tennessee ' s defense thwarted the Broncos ' final drive . With the loss , the Broncos fell to 1 – 2 . Week 4 : at Green Bay Packers . Hoping to avenge their loss at Tennessee , the Broncos flew to Lambeau Field to face the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers . The Broncos took the early lead , with a 27 - yard field goal by placekicker Matt Prater . However , Green Bay responded , with a 50 - yard touchdown pass from quarterback Aaron Rodgers to wide receiver Jordy Nelson , followed by cornerback Charles Woodson returning an interception off Broncos ' quarterback Kyle Orton 30 yards for a touchdown . After recovering a onside kick , Green Bay added to their lead early in the second quarter , with Rodgers scrambling 11 yards for a touchdown . The Broncos responded , with Orton throwing two touchdown pass to wide receiver Eric Decker : a 5 - yarder , followed by a 33 - yarder . Green Bay responded just before halftime , when Rodgers connected on a 17 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Greg Jennings . Green Bay increased their lead on the opening possession of the third quarter , with Rodgers scrambling for an 8 - yard touchdown run , followed by a 16 - yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to wide receiver James Jones . Green Bay continued their onslaught in the fourth quarter , with Rodgers hooking up with wide receiver Donald Driver on an 8 - yard touchdown pass . The Broncos scored a late touchdown , when Orton connected with tight end Daniel Fells on a 7 - yard touchdown pass ( with a failed two - point conversion attempt ) , but the outcome of the game had already been decided in Green Bay ' s favor . With the loss , the Broncos fell to 1 – 3 . Week 5 : vs . San Diego Chargers . Hoping to rebound from their blowout loss at Green Bay , the Broncos returned home for an AFC West duel with the San Diego Chargers . San Diego took the early lead in the first quarter , with a 24 - yard field goal by placekicker Nick Novak . The Broncos grabbed the lead , when cornerback Cassius Vaughn returned a interception off Chargers ' quarterback Philip Rivers 55 yards for a touchdown . San Diego responded , with a 32 - yard field goal by Novak . The Broncos extended their lead in the second quarter , with a 32 - yard field goal by placekicker Matt Prater . However , San Diego would re - claim the lead , with a 2 - yard touchdown run by Rivers , a 28 - yard field goal by Novak , followed by a 42 - yard touchdown pass from Rivers to wide receiver Malcom Floyd , giving the Chargers a 23 – 10 halftime lead . After a scoreless third quarter , San Diego added to their lead , with a 51 - yard field goal by Novak . The Broncos responded , when quarterback Tim Tebow scrambled for a 12 - yard touchdown ( with a two - point conversion run by running back Willis McGahee ) , then threw a 28 - yard touchdown pass to running back Knowshon Moreno ( with a failed two - point conversion attempt ) , to pull the Broncos to within 26 – 24 with just over three minutes left in the game . San Diego responded , with a 35 - yard field goal by Novak . The Broncos tried to rally with 24 seconds remaining in regulation , but Tebow ' s last - second desperation pass into the end zone was unsuccessful , sealing the win for San Diego . With the loss , the Broncos dropped to 1 – 4 , entering their bye week . Week 7 : at Miami Dolphins . Hoping to snap their three - game losing streak , and coming off their bye week , the Broncos flew to Sun Life Stadium to face the Miami Dolphins , where the Broncos had never won in their franchise history . After a scoreless first quarter , Miami grabbed the lead in the second quarter , with field goals of 38 and 36 yards by placekicker Dan Carpenter . After a scoreless third quarter , Miami extended their lead in the fourth quarter , with quarterback Matt Moore throwing a 16 - yard touchdown pass to tight end Anthony Fasano ( with a failed two - point conversion attempt ) , followed by a 43 - yard field goal by Carpenter , giving Miami a 15 – 0 lead . However , after each team traded punts , the Broncos staged a rally with just over five minutes remaining , with quarterback Tim Tebow throwing a 5 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Demaryius Thomas to pull to within 15 – 7 with 2 : 44 remaining . After the Broncos recovered an onside kick , they subsequently marched down the field , with Tebow connecting on a 3 - yard touchdown pass to tight end Daniel Fells , which was followed by Tebow scrambling for a two - point conversion run to send the game into overtime . On Miami ' s second possession in overtime , Broncos ' linebacker D . J . Williams forced a fumble off Moore , giving the Broncos possession at the Dolphins ' 36 - yard line . Four plays later , placekicker Matt Prater , who had missed two field goals in the first half , nailed the game - winning 52 - yard field goal . With the win , the Broncos not only improved to 2 – 4 , but also earned their 400th win in franchise history , their first - ever win at Miami in eight tries , and became the first team since the AFL – NFL merger to win a game after trailing by 15 or more points with less than three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter . Week 8 : vs . Detroit Lions . Hoping to build on the momentum of their comeback win at Miami , the Broncos donned their alternate orange jerseys and returned home for an interconference duel with the Detroit Lions . The Broncos grabbed the early lead in the first quarter , with a 39 - yard field goal by placekicker Matt Prater . However , Detroit would dominate the remainder of the game , beginning with a 41 - yard touchdown pass from quarterback Matthew Stafford to wide receiver Titus Young , followed in the second quarter by a 50 - yard field goal by placekicker Jason Hanson , a 1 - yard touchdown pass from Stafford to tight end Tony Scheffler and a 1 - yard touchdown run from running back Maurice Morris , giving Detroit a 24 – 3 halftime lead . Detroit continued their domination in the third quarter , with a 24 - yard fumble return for a touchdown by defensive end Cliff Avril , a 56 - yard touchdown pass from Stafford to wide receiver Calvin Johnson , followed in the fourth quarter by cornerback Chris Houston returning an interception off Broncos ' quarterback Tim Tebow 100 yards for a touchdown . The Broncos finally got into the end zone , with Tebow throwing a 14 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Eric Decker , but the outcome of the game had already been decided in Detroit ' s favor . With the loss , the Broncos dropped to 2 – 5 . Week 9 : at Oakland Raiders . Hoping to rebound from their disastrous home loss to the Lions , the Broncos flew to O . co Coliseum for an AFC West rematch with the Oakland Raiders . In the first quarter , Oakland grabbed the early lead , with a 48 - yard field goal by placekicker Sebastian Janikowski . The Broncos responded , with quarterback Tim Tebow hooking up with wide receiver Eric Decker on a 27 - yard touchdown pass . Oakland re - claimed the lead in the second quarter , with quarterback Carson Palmer throwing two touchdown passes : an 11 - yarder to running back Michael Bush , followed by a 40 - yarder to fullback Marcel Reece . In the third quarter , the Broncos cut into the Raiders ' lead , with a 26 - yard touchdown pass from Tebow to wide receiver Eddie Royal . Oakland responded , with Palmer throwing an 18 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jacoby Ford , giving the Raiders a 24 – 14 lead . However , the Broncos would dominate the remainder of the game , with a 43 - yard field goal by placekicker Matt Prater , followed by a 60 - yard touchdown run by running back Willis McGahee at the end of the third quarter . The Broncos grabbed the lead with six minutes left in the fourth quarter , when Royal returned a punt 85 yards for a touchdown , then pulled away with a 24 - yard touchdown run by McGahee . With the win , the Broncos improved to 3 – 5 . Week 10 : at Kansas City Chiefs . Coming off their win at Oakland , the Broncos flew to Arrowhead Stadium for an AFC West duel with the Kansas City Chiefs . In the first quarter , the Broncos grabbed the early lead , with quarterback Tim Tebow scrambling for a 7 - yard touchdown , followed in the second quarter by a 38 - yard field goal by placekicker Matt Prater . Kansas City got on the board in the third quarter , with a 1 - yard touchdown pass from quarterback Matt Cassel to fullback Le ' Ron McClain . The Broncos responded in the fourth quarter , with Tebow throwing a 56 - yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Eric Decker . Kansas City tried to rally , with placekicker Ryan Succop nailing a late 32 - yard field goal with seven seconds remaining , but the ensuing onside kickoff was unsuccessful , sealing the win for the Broncos . With the win , the Broncos improved to 4 – 5 , matching their win total from 2010 . Week 11 : vs . New York Jets . Coming off their win at Kansas City , the Broncos returned home for an AFC duel against the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football . The Broncos grabbed the lead in the first quarter , with a 37 - yard field goal by placekicker Matt Prater . The Jets tied the game in the second quarter , with a 21 - yard field goal by placekicker Nick Folk , then grabbed the lead in the third quarter , when guard Matt Slauson returned a fumble off Jets ' running back Bilal Powell into the end zone for a touchdown . The Broncos tied the game , when cornerback André Goodman returned an interception off Jets ' quarterback Mark Sanchez 26 yards for a touchdown . The Jets re - claimed the lead in the fourth quarter , with a 45 - yard field goal by Folk . After each team traded punts , the Broncos got the ball with 5 : 54 remaining , when quarterback Tim Tebow led the Broncos on a 12 - play , 95 - yard drive , culminating with Tebow scrambling 20 yards for a touchdown with 58 seconds remaining . The Broncos ' defense thwarted Sanchez ' last - second desperation pass toward the end zone . With the win , the Broncos improved to 5 – 5 , exceeding their win total from 2010 . Week 12 : at San Diego Chargers . Coming off their win over the Jets , the Broncos flew to Qualcomm Stadium for an AFC West rematch with the San Diego Chargers . San Diego jumped out to a 10 – 0 lead , with a 53 - yard field goal by placekicker Nick Novak in the first quarter , followed in the second quarter by a 6 - yard touchdown pass from quarterback Philip Rivers to tight end Antonio Gates . The Broncos responded just before halftime , with an 18 - yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tim Tebow to wide receiver Eric Decker . San Diego added to their lead in the third quarter , with a 25 - yard field goal by Novak . The Broncos countered just before the end of the third quarter , with a 41 - yard field goal by placekicker Matt Prater . Novak missed a 48 - yard field goal early in the fourth quarter . Trailing 13 – 10 with just over five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter , the Broncos marched down the field and tied the game with a 24 - yard field goal by Prater . The Broncos ' defense subdued San Diego ' s final drive of the fourth quarter , sending the game to overtime . On San Diego ' s second possession in overtime , Novak ' s potential game - winning 53 - yard field goal was blocked . However , head coach John Fox had called a timeout prior to the kick . Novak missed the second attempt . The Broncos ' third possession in overtime began with 2 : 31 remaining , and Prater nailed the game - winning 37 - yard field goal with 29 seconds remaining in overtime . With the win , the Broncos improved to 6 – 5 , winning their fourth straight game . Week 13 : at Minnesota Vikings . Coming off their overtime win at San Diego , the Broncos flew to the Mall of America Field at Hubert H . Humphrey Metrodome for an interconference duel with the Minnesota Vikings . The game ' s first points came from Minnesota , when defensive end Jared Allen tackled running back Willis McGahee in the end zone for a safety . The Broncos grabbed the lead when linebacker Mario Haggan returned an interception off Christian Ponder 16 yards for a touchdown . Vikings ' placekicker Ryan Longwell made a 40 - yard field goal , then the Vikings reclaimed the lead in the second quarter , on a 19 - yard touchdown pass from Ponder to tight end Kyle Rudolph , followed by another field goal by Longwell , this time from 25 yards , just before halftime . The Broncos narrowed Minnesota ' s lead in the third quarter , with a 21 - yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tim Tebow to wide receiver Demaryius Thomas , but Minnesota countered with a 52 - yard touchdown pass from Ponder to wide receiver Percy Harvin . The Broncos responded with a 41 - yard touchdown pass from Tebow to Thomas . Ponder then threw a 48 - yard touchdown pass to Harvin to give Minnesota a 29 – 21 lead . On the Broncos ' next possession , McGahee rushed 24 yards for a touchdown and Tebow scrambled for a two - point conversion to tie the game at 29 . Minnesota subsequently reclaimed the lead on Longwell ' s 39 - yard field goal with 3 : 06 left in the game . The Broncos answered with placekicker Matt Prater ' s 46 - yard field goal with 1 : 33 left to tie the game at 32 . On Minnesota ' s ensuing possession , Broncos ' cornerback André Goodman returned an interception off Ponder to the Vikings ' 15 - yard line . Six plays later , Prater nailed the game - winning 23 - yard field goal as time expired to give the Broncos their fifth consecutive win . With the win , the Broncos improved to 7 – 5 and jumped into first place atop the AFC West , following the Raiders ' 34 – 14 loss to the Dolphins .