Most will return to their offseason home. A few will be spotted on the sideline of their college alma mater. Las Vegas draws its share of NFL players during the bye week.

As for Denver, what goes on here, stays here.

Tim Tebow has made the 1-4 Broncos a happening place. And, for this long weekend bye, he is staying here.

He’ll watch film at his Denver residence. He will throw passes to Matt Willis or whichever receivers, running backs or tight ends who want to hang around.

Tebow doesn’t need leisure time. He gets to go back to work as the Broncos’ starting quarterback.

“My goal is to get better,” Tebow said. “The only way I know how to get better is to work as hard as I possibly can.”

Because of Tebow, and for little other reason, there is fervid anticipation for the Broncos’ final 11 games.

“I get all that,” Broncos coach John Fox said. “But the only thing that’s exciting for me is winning. I don’t think Von Miller is in there celebrating his five sacks.”

Miller, the Broncos’ gifted rookie linebacker, confirmed his coach’s thoughts.

“I’d rather have five wins than five sacks,” Miller said. “If I could trade those five sacks for five wins, I would. My college coach, (Mike Sherman), told me once, ‘You could lead the nation in sacks, but if you’re on a 6-7 team, you won’t get near the attention as if you’re on the best defense in the nation and have three sacks.’ I’ve always remembered that. Wins have always meant more than sacks.”

For the Broncos, it’s not just time for Tebow. It’s time to start winning. As their schedule breaks, here’s a position-by-position look at the Broncos, who next play Oct. 23 at Miami.

Quarterback: Nothing says change like a change at quarterback. Although Tebow is wildly popular among fans, the switch to him does have a football rational.

Kyle Orton is a free agent after this season. So is veteran backup Brady Quinn. Why play them on a team that is likely to miss the playoffs for a sixth consecutive season when neither is coming back next year? Tebow is a second-year quarterback. He will return next year, either as the starter if he plays well this season, or at backup if he doesn’t. The only way to find out whether or not Tebow is a capable NFL starter is to play him.

Besides, the only way to remove the team’s hovering distraction that was Tebowmania was to unleash Tebow.

Running back: Willis McGahee has three 100-yard games in the past four weeks. Because he has not carried this type of workload since 2007, it may be time to start monitoring his carries. With Knowshon Moreno nearly fully recovered from his hamstring injury, Fox may return to a two-back system before season’s end.

Tight end: Julius Thomas will be cleared to practice Monday after missing the previous three games with a high ankle sprain. With Tebow at quarterback, it may be imperative to get Thomas, Daniel Fells or Dante Rosario more involved as “checkdown” receiver options.

Receiver: Demaryius Thomas and Eddie Royal should be ready to play against Miami, joining Brandon Lloyd, Eric Decker and Willis. With Tebow possibly more limited in the passing game than Orton, it may be difficult keeping this group happy.

Offensive line: Did you notice how many blockers were moving upfield on Moreno’s touchdown scamper off a screen pass Sunday against San Diego? McGahee’s success is evidence this group is also starting to get tougher at the point of attack.

Collectively, the offensive line’s job will become easier in some ways because of Tebow, and more difficult in others. Tebow is far more mobile than Orton, yet scrambling often leads to more sacks.

Defensive end: Miller, who is a pass-rushing defensive end in nickel situations, has his five sacks. But as Elvis Dumervil himself said Wednesday, “I’ve got to get on the board.”

Dumervil had an NFL-high 17 sacks in 2009 but missed all of last season because of injury and missed two more games this season. Miller said Dumervil is still the best pass rusher on the team.

Defensive tackle: The leading tackler among defensive tackles? Marcus Thomas. He and Ryan McBean each have eight. McBean, though, has played in five games, as have Kevin Vickerson and Broderick Bunkley. Thomas got his eight tackles in one game, Sunday against the Chargers. With Vickerson out for the season with torn ankle ligaments, Thomas will start alongside Bunkley as the Broncos’ defensive tackles against Miami.

Linebacker: Weakside linebacker D.J. Williams missed the first three games with a dislocated elbow and has struggled in his two games back — in pass coverage against the Packers and against the run in the Chargers game. Middle linebacker Joe Mays has played hard, and hit hard, but admits he has missed too many tackles.

Cornerback: Champ Bailey played well against the Chargers after missing the previous three weeks because of a hamstring injury.

Safeties: Brian Dawkins took a blow to the neck and head early in the Chargers game and did not return. He will likely be ready for the next game against the Dolphins.

Special teams: This may be the team’s strongest position. Punter Britton Colquitt ranks No. 2 in the NFL with a 43.7-yard net. Matt Prater has missed just one field goal, from 56 yards and has an NFL-most 20 touchbacks with a league-low two kickoffs returned.

Decker has a punt return for a touchdown.

When a team’s strength is punting and kicking, though, it’s not a surprise it is 1-4.

Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com

Highs and lows

What went right?

1. Victory over Bengals

Looking back, how are the Broncos not 0-5? Against Cincinnati in Game 2, the Broncos had 10 frontline/starting players out with injuries, including Brandon Lloyd, Elvis Dumervil, D.J. Williams and Champ Bailey. They still beat a Bengals team that is 3-2.

2. Willis McGahee as lead back

The running back was relegated to part-time duty the previous 3 1/2 seasons in Baltimore. McGahee, 29, is averaging 20 carries and 95 yards in his last four games.

3. WR Eric Decker emerges

The second-year receiver pretty much won the Bengals game with his two TD receptions. He has a team-high five TDs, including a 70-yard punt return in the opener.

What went wrong?

1. Bye week came too late

The Broncos might have been the only team in history that needed a bye after Week 1. Among those who have already missed at least two games with injury: Ty “Whatever Happened To?” Warren, Marcus Thomas, Julius Thomas, Demaryius Thomas, Eddie Royal, Knowshon Moreno, Bailey, Dumervil and Williams.

2. The Orton/Tebow thing

The QB situation was a mess since the eve of training camp when a trade that would have sent Kyle Orton to Miami fell through. Then Tim Tebow played poorly in practice and in periods during the preseason. Orton started, but it appeared “Tebowmania” got to him.

3. Assault of Aaron Rodgers

Although the Broncos were 1-2, their two losses were by three points each. There was hope that with a tweak here, improvement there, the Broncos could compete this season. Then came the blowout loss in Green Bay against the defending champions. That game showed just how far away the Broncos are from serious Super Bowl contention.

Mike Klis, The Denver Post