Tebow Leads Broncos Past Steelers, Patriots Up Next

By KC Downey in Featured, Patriots, Top Story ⋅ January 8, 2012 at 10:58pm ⋅ Post a comment

Tim Tebow (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Tim Tebow was horrible over the final three games of the season as Denver went 0-3 to finish with an 8-8 record that was barely good enough to win the AFC West. This led many to predict that Sunday’s start against the Steelers might be Tebow’s final start in the NFL. Some reports even had the Broncos leaning toward starting Brady Quinn for the first time this season.

That’s why it’s even more shocking that the Broncos are headed to Foxboro this Saturday night, after completing an improbable 29-23 overtime win over Pittsburgh Sunday evening. Tebow went 10-21 with 316 yards and two touchdown passes, including the 80-yarder on the first play of overtime to win the game.

Of Tebow’s 10 completions, FIVE went for more than 30 yards against the No. 1 defense in the NFL. Tebow also ran for 50 yards and a touchdown and did not turn the ball over.

The Patriots defense has many more holes than the Pittsburgh D, so is there reason to be worry? Well, there’s no way Bill Belichick would put his defense in a position to allow Tebow to throw it deep all game. Pittsburgh prides itself on blitzing in an all-or-nothing philosophy, leaving them exposed in the secondary at times. The Pats, meanwhile, tend to cover everything deep, forcing the opponent to complete long, sustained drives all game.

Either way, stay tuned to Sports of Boston all week for extended coverage of Saturday’s big match-up. Even though it’s early…who you got?