To hell with playing it safe. John Fox plays it safe.

If nothing else, we were all thoroughly entertained.

Not a good consolation prize? I beg to differ. In fact, I feel lucky to have caught the second half and overtime at all – the first 30 minutes had me dozing off. On the edge of my seat, I was wide awake to see the decision that will be discussed non-stop for the next six days. I was awake to see a game that was one gutty decision away from being one for the ages.

I love the fact that Gary Kubiak opted to win the game. We don’t watch sports for ties. We shouldn’t care about the standings (much) in November. In the NFL, anything can happen with five games left in the season (remember last year?). Around 4:30 p.m. we all thought the Raiders weren’t as good as we once thought they were. With 3:00 left in regulation, we weren’t sweating the Chiefs, either.

If the choice to try a 62-yard field goal costs the Broncos a chance to repeat as Super Bowl champs, so be it – they weren’t good enough, anyway.

For some odd reason, though, I feel like that single decision, even though it cost the Broncos a half-game in the standings, could be the very thing that makes the Broncos a better team.

Here’s what Kubiak’s decision said to his team: I have faith in my kicker; I have faith in my defense.

After the game, Kubiak told anyone within earshot, “That’s on me.”

Brilliant.

Instead of talking about the Broncos terrible offensive line, instead of debating whether or not Trevor Siemian (who had his best half as a pro, and it wasn’t even close) is the future, instead of talking about what might have been the Denver D’s worst game, we’re all talking about a coach’s decision. Kubiak put the responsibility, and the conversation, squarely on his shoulders.

If Brandon McManus makes the kick? Well, today we’re all talking about Mile High Magic, destiny and Siemian’s coming of age.

The truth is, the Broncos aren’t good enough to win it all. Not right now. Not quite yet. If they win on that kick, though, that’s a big dose of confidence. It’s a gamble worth taking.

That was a game that ended with enough blame to go around. The defense didn’t do what the defense does. Special teams were awful. The line was as bad as ever, at least in the first half. Perhaps a game where the finger can be pointed practically anywhere is a game that oddly brings a team together. That’s not to suggest that there is or was a division in the locker room, but there’s no “the defense bailed ‘em out again” after this one.

The Broncos still play both the Chiefs and Raiders once more. Ultimately, they still control their own destiny – just like Kubiak’s call – and I’m sure they can live with that. Should the kick that hooked left leave Denver out of the playoffs, it will be because they don’t get it done over the next month – not because of this single game, this single decision.

I love the call. You know, sometimes, you gotta go with your guy.

You gotta kick it.