Every NFL season, an unexpected storyline comes to the forefront of the season, this year is no different. Can Denver Broncos QB Kyle Orton shatter Miami Dolphins legendary QB Dan Marino’s single season passing yardage record? I don’t know if Kyle Orton can keep up his blistering pace but it is amazing how Orton getting it done so far this season.

I’ve always thought that Kyle Orton was a solid, yet unspectacular quarterback. He was thrown into the starting role with the Chicago Bears in 2005 fresh out of Purdue and managed to lead the Bears to the NFC division title. Orton was replaced by Rex Grossman in the Bears playoff game and Chicago lost. In his next three seasons with the Bears, Orton would only see 18 starts, winning 11 games.

In 2009, Orton was shipped to Denver and became the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos. Orton set career highs in touchdowns and in passing yardage. (3,802 21 TD’s) Still under appreciated, the Broncos traded for former first round selection QB Brady Quinn from the Cleveland Browns in the off-season and then the Broncos drafted Tim Tebow after moving back into the first round in this years draft.

Kyle Orton was named the Denver Broncos starting quarterback during the pre-season as speculation ran rampant about when Tim Tebow would see the field and if he could unseat Orton for the starting quarterback position. Orton started the season under center, Tebow has hardly seen the field, and until further notice, Orton be continue to remain under center.

After just five games, Orton is on pace to shatter Dan Marino’s single season passing yardage record of 5,084 yards set in 1984.  Currently, Orton is on track for 682 attempts and 5,546 yards. The circumstances surrounding Marino during his record setting year and Orton this season are completely different. Marino set his record when the era of the aerial passing attack was just getting started. Marino was a young, strong armed quarterback with talented receivers on a very good team which went on to reach the Super Bowl. Orton is THE offense on a Denver Broncos team which has moved it’s practice field to the local hospital parking lot to cut down on travel costs for ambulances.

Denver has been decimated by injuries this season, it should have been an omen when OL Ryan Clady injured his knee playing basketball in the offseason. There has not been a week that has gone by since August that the Broncos haven’t suffered a series of injuries. As a result in part to the injuries, the Denver Broncos have the NFL’s worst rushing attack with an average of 51 yards per game.

Despite drafting WR’s Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker this season, Orton is achieving this record setting pace using a trio of very unusual receivers. Brandon Lloyd, Jabbar Gaffney and Eddie Royal, all three are on pace as well for record setting seasons.

Brandon Lloyd (projected 96 receptions-1,885 yards-10) experienced his best season in 2005 with the San Francisco 49er’s where he caught 48 passes for 733 yards. Lloyd has drifted around the league spending short stints with the Washington Redskins as well as the Chicago Bears. Jabar Gaffney (projected 99 receptions- 1046 yards-3) Gaffney is another receiver which has drifted around the league, spending time with the New England Patriots and Houston Texans. Gaffney has never logged more than 55 receptions in a single season. Eddie Royal (projected 93 receptions 1,56 yards 6) Royal has spent his entire three year career with the Denver Broncos, drafted in the second round in 2008. He had a spectacular rookie season, catching 91 passes for 980 yards and scoring five touchdowns.

Last week, the Broncos played the Baltimore Ravens and their second ranked pass defense. Orton logged his fourth consecutive 300 yard passing game which tied a Broncos record. This week the New York Jets visit the Broncos and might be without the services of Darrelle Revis. The following week, Denver takes on the Oakland Raiders pass defense. If Orton can continue his pace against the next two pass defenses, a serious run at the passing yardage record has to be considered without any semblance of a running game in Denver.

There are 11 games remaining. Orton could suffer an injury, the return of RB Knowshon Moreno could reduce the passing yards and Denver has four home games in Denver from the month of November until January, weather could play a factor.

Regardless of whether he sets the record or not, this string of five games Orton has put together, with his talent at receiver, has been impressive. Especially for those of us who picked him up off waivers after week two for our fantasy teams!