Power Rankings: First starts as a Broncos quarterback since Y2K

No. 4 – Kyle Orton

Sept. 13, 2009 at Cincinnati Bengals
Win, 12-7
Passing: 17-of-28, 243 Yds, 1 TD, 0 INT

After the two teams managed just six points between them (all belonging to Denver) through the first 59:22 of the game, Cincy’s Cedric Benson punched in a 1-yard touchdown run to make it 7-6 Bengals with less than a minute on the clock.

The Broncos’ hopes seemed dashed in Orton’s (and new head coach Josh McDaniel’s) debut. Then, one of the more miraculous plays in Broncos history happened. All we need to say is… “Stokley, down the sideline!” And you know the rest…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMG0vDfIqSE

In this game, Orton was as Orton as Orton could be Orton. He put up more than 200 yards, but didn’t run a single play in the red zone and couldn’t put the ball in the end zone without the help of one of the most flukey plays in Broncos history.

Broncos fans were certainly happy to walk away with the win, but the resounding attitude in Denver was, “We traded Jay Cutler for this?”