Pinch me, because I must be dreaming .
Although I was there to witness it, I still can’t come to terms that this is my reality—the Denver Broncos are heading to the Divisional Round of the NFL postseason.
When I left the comforts of my East Coast life three years ago to start anew in the Rocky Mountains, my only hope was that I would get to witness my beloved Broncos snap their skid of frustrating mediocrity and elevate their play to a level where they were amongst the AFC elite.
Well, now that dream is a reality. In 12 months, the franchise has revived itself from an AFC afterthought to one of the conference’s four remaining teams.
Oh, how I love what gifts the postseason can bring you sometimes. It’s like Christmas, but better. It’s everything I ever wanted and I don’t even have to give anything back in return.
I’ve waited a long time for this return to relevancy—six years to be exact—and I don’t want this moment to end.
The sheer jubilation of being in Sports Authority Field at Mile High to witness the Broncos’ 29-23 overtime victory against the Steelers on Sunday is enough to keep me content until 2013. However, this season is far from over as the remaining eight teams enter the Divisional round with the same 0-0 record.
One game. Sixty minutes. The beauty of the postseason. Anything can happen.
Nobody believed in Denver yet they shocked the world by knocking off 12-4 Pittsburgh and now head to Foxborough for a much-anticipated rematch with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. For the critics that are still not convinced, the Broncos belong and they have returned as AFC contenders, just ask the Steelers.
And, as if this dream-like scenario couldn’t get anymore surreal, the Broncos have the ultimate crack at redemption on Saturday, because they will attempt to defeat their former head coach Josh McDaniels, the proclaimed boy-genius who pompously coached the team straight into its worst season in franchise history. After spoiling the St. Louis Rams franchise, McD has now gone running back to his master, the Evil Emperor of the NFL – Bill Belichick.
Ironically enough, McDaniels is the coach who drafted quarterback Tim Tebow and wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, the duo who connected on an 80-yard game-winning touchdown in overtime, which is now the longest overtime touchdown in NFL playoff history. The overtime period itself? Quickest in NFL history, clocking in a total of 11 seconds.
While he may get some of the credit for why Denver’s success, McDaniels is still the object of a revenge for Bronco fans who know how much he crippled the franchise.
As one fan joyously screamed while exiting an erupting Mile High on Sunday, “This is too good to be true—we get a chance to beat Josh next week.”
I’d agree. Luckily, I’m awake and this isn’t a dream.
