The trials of being a Denver Broncos fan are many. Last season the Mile High football faithful were asked to believe in a college offense at the NFL level. They did and Tim Tebow jerseys ranked among the best selling in the league. This season these same fans were asked to forget about a full-time wildcat and believe in the revival of guy with a broken back. Well, Peyton Manning has been a rousing success, as the Broncos have a Top 5 aerial attack and the team is atop the NFC West. Those with Denver Broncos tickets for the rest of the season at Sports Authority Field at Mile High will watch to see if this unfailing belief in a football team and its management will result in a postseason appearance once again.

The rest of the 2012 Broncos schedule offers few reasons to believe this roster will not be playoff bound. In fact, the schedule looks easy enough that the Coach John Fox can rally this team to a first round bye. Denver really only has a three or four more challenging games left. Fox has to get the defense playing on the same level as the offense. The numbers look pretty good, but they are not forcing enough turnovers to turn a Top 10 passing defense and mid-level rushing defense into a Top 10 scoring defense. Of course, it would help if the Broncos players would stop fumbling and putting the defense in a position to surrender points.

So, the first half of the NFL season has re-established Peyton Manning as one of the best QBs in the league, introduced  wide receiver Demaryius Thomas as a star, and proven running back Willis McGahee can be as a serviceable back. This is an offense with prolific potential against any defense. They are averaging nearly 300 yards passing a game and over 100 rushing. That is a winning offensive system.

The second half has to be about turning the D into an opportunist and setting up the offense to put up prolific numbers. Then, 2013 can be about a serious Super Bowl run on the AFC side of the playoffs. Then, Denver Broncos can officially get over Tebow fever and welcome a player in a mold much closer to that of Hall of Famer John Elway.