National Football League

Denver's new winning ways start with McDaniels

Published Oct. 12, 2009 3:31 p.m. ET

Alex Marvez

The gameday atmosphere was strange enough with unseasonably chilly weather, 1960s nostalgia and putrid throwback jerseys exhumed to celebrate the AFL's 50th anniversary.

Things then really started getting weird.

New England wasn't just defeated by a team being built in its image. It was the manner in which Denver posted a 20-17 overtime victory that truly made Sunday so odd.

Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton played like New England's Tom Brady in his prime. Brady played like Orton usually did while a member of the Chicago Bears.

New England's Bill Belichick found himself outcoached by a prized pupil who showed more emotion after winning than his storied mentor ever did.