Raiders at Minn

SD at Bears

and tomorrow KC at Pats.

What a line up, only one I’ll miss is the Raider game, fun way to spend a no Bronco weekend.

I’m rooting for the Vikings today, with their “purple jesus

In late April 1983, Edmund Raymond Bratkowski, the Baltimore Colts’ offensive coordinator, believed he soon would be coaching one of college football’s all-time dynamic quarterbacks.

Zeke never got that chance.

John Elway​, selected No. 1 in the NFL draft, refused to play for the Colts, and, a week later, was traded to the Broncos.

Fast forward 23 years and Bratkowski tutors, and completely changes, the throwing techniques of another of the pre-eminent college quarterbacks in history.

Tim Tebow​ also would end up with the Broncos.

“Everybody wants Timmy to be a 60 percent (passing) quarterback. I guarantee he soon will be,” Bratkowski said. “He’ll get better and keep improving. He was 31-of-35 in his last college game (the Sugar Bowl). Despite what his critics say, he will be a great passer.

“Tim Tebow is a warrior. He is a winner. He will be a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback.”

When I asked Bratkowski on Saturday if there had been quarterbacks in the pros Tebow should be compared to, he replied: “Not really. Timmy’s unlike any quarterback or person I’ve ever been around.”

Zeke served as Bart Starr​’s backup when the Packers won an NFL championship (and got Green Bay to the game by taking over for an injured Starr in a playoff game and starring), then the first two Super Bowls.

The man called “Zeke” became a coordinator-quarterbacks coach (Packers, Bears, Elway-less Colts, Jets, Browns and Eagles) for dozens of QBs, including John Hadl, Lynn Dickey, Ken O’Brien, Bernie Kosar​, Jim McMahon​, Randall Cunningham and Boomer Esiason​. And he eventually would work with Philip Rivers​ on footwork and Michael Vick​ on passing before they were drafted.

After Tebow’s shaky showing during Senior Bowl week, his throwing motion was condemned and draftniks claimed he wouldn’t be drafted in the first round or ever play quarterback in the NFL. Bratkowski was called upon to do a makeover on the young quarterback daily for three weeks.

“I helped Timmy do some things differently and better. We sneaked off to Nashville to get away from everybody. It was a great experience. He had an unbelievable work ethic. I knew right away he could do it.”

Bratkowski convinced Tebow to move the ball above shoulder level, tighten his throwing movements and keep his right arm tucked.

“He was a left-handed baseball pitcher (in high school), and like all pitchers, he wanted to take the ball back further and get more zip on it. He doesn’t have to. He’s got a strong arm. He adjusted.

“Is he there yet? Not entirely. But he’s still a rookie in my mind, and he keeps progressing. I watch all his games, and Thursday night’s (comeback victory over the Jets) proved again how special he is.”

But what about Tebow’s release point and awkward throws? “I was in Green Bay for the alumni game (against the Broncos). When Timmy came off the field after warm- ups, I grabbed his jersey between the ’1′ and the ’5′ and told him he was overthrowing just a bit, to relax and pay no attention to the critics and just keep working hard.

“I can tell he’s throwing the ball away sometimes to avoid the interception, and he’s just barely missing on some passes. Other quarterbacks miss too, but people want Timmy to be perfect. You’ve got to get into a rhythm, and he’s not passing that often. I think there’s just so much going on around him, and maybe he’s thinking too much and trying to do too much. When he throws naturally, he’s had some great completions in tough situations.

“Timmy’s going to have a breakout passing game soon, and somebody will be in deep trouble.”

Once again, see how much fun that was and not one single word about religion or faith was necessary. That’s why I love football, completely frees my mind from everything else.