As a life-long fan of the Denver Broncos I am steadfast in my beliefs in regards to my beloved Broncos. Regardless of what corporate logo adorns the marquee, the stadium where they play will forever and always be known as Mile-High Stadium, the “Magnificent Number 7” is the greatest quarterback ever, the Three Amigos are not Chevy Chase, Martin Short, and Steve Martin but rather the most underrated receiving corps of all-time, I will never forgive David Treadwell for January 12, 1992, and without question the Broncos home jerseys should always be of the “Orange Crush” variety. I am as certain of these facts as I am that the sun will rise again tomorrow. However, when it comes to Tim Tebow I don’t know what to think.
The “glass is half-full” part of me wants to believe in Tebow. Sure he has an unorthodox throwing motion, isn’t a prototypical pocket-passer, and his accuracy leaves something to be desired, but he has all the desire, determination, and leadership you could ask for and a track record as a winner.
Coming into Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins, it was easy to be optimistic about Tebow’s new role as starter. Tebow would be benefiting from an extra week of preparation and would be taking on an 0-6 Miami team that was coming off a short week, had lost 11 of its last 12 home games and was ranked 29th overall against the pass coming into the contest.
On top of that, Tebow would be taking the snaps on the same Sun Life Stadium field where he won a high school state title in 2005 and a national championship with the University of Florida in 2009. Coincidentally that same 2008-2009 Florida team was being honored at halftime of Sunday’s game and since the announcement that Tebow would be starting, the Dolphins sold an additional 20,000 tickets. Not exactly the most hostile environment to be making his first start or the year. The optimist in me was trying really hard to sell me on Tebow prior to kickoff.
The “glass is half-empty” part of me doesn’t think too highly of Tim Tebow’s chances to be a successful NFL quarterback. As kick-off approached on Sunday afternoon I couldn’t stop focusing on the inaccuracy and elongated throwing motion or the fact that the team sent leading receiver and play-maker Brandon Lloyd to St. Louis. I couldn’t stop thinking that the Denver front office has conceded this season as lost and has only made the switch from Kyle Orton to Tebow as a way to appease an unsettled, impatient, and increasingly disgruntled fan base while the team continues to lose.
It is a win-win situation making the fans happy while also tanking the remainder of the season – proving that they, the front office, were right in not starting Tebow from the outset of the season while also going all-in in the “Andrew Luck sweepstakes.” After all, it does reason that team president John Elway must have at least some interest in the star from his alma mater right? Right?! At least that is what the pessimist in me was screaming as the game started.
For 55 minutes on Sunday afternoon my glass was half empty and my pessimism was working over my optimism like a speed bag. Tebow’s first pass was thrown right into the waiting hands of Dolphins linebacker Karlos Dansby and should have been intercepted and returned for an easy touchdown, but Dansby dropped the ball. And from there it only got worse.
Tebow continuously over and under threw open Denver receivers netting only six passing yards by halftime. He looked very unsure of himself in the pocket and was harassed all afternoon by a persistent Dolphin pass rush that managed to sack him seven times. Tebow and the Broncos failed to convert a third down until late in the 3rd quarter.
His performance was so bad that even the once pro-Tebow crowd began jeering him with chants of “Tebow Sucks!” throughout much of the second half. All of my fears and doubts were confirmed. All the desire, determination, and refusal to quit in the world doesn’t mean anything if you can’t complete a pass. The Broncos were going to lose to winless Miami, the season was essentially lost, and so I did what any good fan would do, I started searching for Andrew Luck highlights on You Tube.
Then in the midst of my pouting, with just over five minutes remaining and the Broncos at their own 20 and trailing 15-0, something strange happened. Tebow started to complete throws. First he hit second year wideout Demaryius Thomas on the right sideline for 15 yards. Then he found Knowshon Moreno open in the middle of the field for a nine-yard gain followed by a 42-yard strike to Matt Willis that gave the Broncos a first and ten at the Miami 12. Three plays later Tebow found Thomas again, this time in the end zone to cut the score to 15-7 with 2:44 to play. When the Broncos recovered the ensuing on-side kick the optimist in me started to get slowly up off the mat and dust itself off.
Starting at their own 44-yard line with just over two and a half minutes remaining and the waffling crowd now joyously chanting “Tebow-Tebow-Tebow,” the southpaw again led the Broncos toward the end zone. He completed a series of short throws to Thomas, Eddie Royal, and Eric Decker followed by a 28-yard dart down the middle that found a diving Daniel Fells. Tebow connected with Fells again two plays later for a three-yard touchdown and then kept the ball and successfully converted the two-point conversion standing up to tie the game at 15-15. The most improbable of comebacks was almost complete and my glass was starting to look less empty.
When D.J. Williams strip sacked Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore in overtime followed by Matt Prater’s game winning 52-yard field goal I started to believe again in the importance of will power, grit, and moxie. Maybe, just maybe, the intangibles really do matter and leadership combined with a never give up approach can overcome a lack of technical skill.
All I know is that with this unbelievable win and both San Diego and Oakland losing later in the day the Broncos are now only two games back in the AFC west and have a limping Lions team coming to town next week, Andrew Luck is no longer trending on Bronco fans search engines, my proverbial glass is half-full again and anything is possible. How’s that for optimism?
Luck may not be all over the Bronco search engines anymore, but when Tebow starts facing real teams, when more game tape is available for staffs to study……Bronco fans will wish they remained alive in the Luck sweepstakes. Bye week, played a horrible team, even had a favorable crowd to play too. Reality will hit home soon enough Bronco fans.
Bronco fans should start the “WE SUCK FOR LUCK!!!!” chant.