OT: Broncos a contender?
Skip Bayless is probably still crying tears of joy after that 80 yard TD pass in overtime vs the Steelers. Tebow threw 2 td passes and for over 300 yards (80 on one play). Was it the Tim Tebow magic or the Steelers injuries that decided this game? I can't imagine the Broncos keeping up with the Patriots, but the Patriots defense just may be THAT bad to let it happen.
January 9th, 2012 at 1:24 AM ^
I don't believe NE has a better D, but I don't claim the Patriot's defense is attrocious either. The Patriots defense is a little below average(as scoring #s show) and it looks worse because they're often playing with a lead. Gaining a ton of yards per possession and putting the other team in a crappy field position (thanks to Zoltan too) also help the scoring numbers/hurt the yardage numbers.
January 8th, 2012 at 9:25 PM ^
The Patriots are my team. But I do not agree that their defense is better than Denver's. Hope you prove to be right.
January 8th, 2012 at 9:52 PM ^
Even though the Broncos defense is better by 11 places (20th in the NFL compared to 31st), the differences in individual categories in the bottom tier of the NFL defensive statistics are not insurmountable, and it might be a crazy thing to say, but I think the New England defense is underperforming. In several somewhat vital categories, the Pats are actually a smidge better. Regardless, I sense an unimpressive performance by both teams. I'll watch regardless - I need to put off the end of football as long as possible.
January 8th, 2012 at 9:11 PM ^
and the only reason I want them to win any games is to stick it in the face of all the conservative NFL football types, 'can't win with option', etc.
But Steelers lost almost their entire d-line before or during the game. Think about that. They are not contenders, though they get congrats to winning as many as they did and taking out the hampered Steelers.
They will suffer mightily at the hands of the Pats, who smite merciless and unforgiving. "And the right arm of Brady came down upon them; and..."
January 8th, 2012 at 9:13 PM ^
it will be off the charts for the Broncos-Pats.... Brady vs Tebow...the old new guy versus the new new guy... Michigan versus Florida (for us, at least)... the guy with the european supermodel versus the all-American Christian... it's going to be ridiculous.
January 8th, 2012 at 9:44 PM ^
South American supermodel....
January 8th, 2012 at 9:50 PM ^
Isn't Gisele from Brazil?
January 8th, 2012 at 9:14 PM ^
Tim Tebow is proof that God exists... and that he enjoys fucking with us.
January 8th, 2012 at 11:28 PM ^
the proof you are speaking of is found with the duck-billed platypus.
January 9th, 2012 at 12:03 AM ^
I'm sure if there is a higher power who can control our lives he would care much more about an NFL football game than 25,000 starving african children dying every day from disease/starvation. I'll get negged for this comment, but We need to remove things that don't exist from Mgoblog.
January 9th, 2012 at 10:27 AM ^
Does that mean we're not allowed to reference Tacopants anymore? And speaking of more things that don't actually exist, we should NEVER, EVER propogate the stupid idea on MGoBlog that CRAIG JAMES KILLED FIVE HOOKERS WHILE AT SMU.
On the Tebow thing: There are plenty of actually bad people in the NFL. I get that Tebow can be annoying. I'm a Christian and I'm sick of hearing about it too. But if you really want to turn your anger towards something, isn't it a waste of time to dispel what you believe to be a fairy tale? Here's a couple of people that should REALLY rankle us all:
1) Michael Vick. Has everyone forgotten about the whole barbaric treatment of animals bit?
2) Leonard Little. Not sure if he's still active somewhere, but double manslaughter while intoxicated? yikes!
3) Ray Lewis. Who knows if he ACTUALLY is a murderer, but we do know that he obstructed justice in a murder case.
So yeah. Beat Tebow on the field and we won't have to worry about hs off-the-field (or post-score) antics.
January 8th, 2012 at 9:15 PM ^
but I can't bring myself to hate him either, for some reason. Probably because I've been a big Broncos fan since I was a kid.
January 8th, 2012 at 9:54 PM ^
There's no reason to hate him. He's not in your face about his religious views. Everytime I see his religious views, it's of the media showing taped instances of Tebow speaking to people in prison, or helping out children in southeast Asia, etc. Sure, he thanks Jesus, but he never is telling the camera or directing the media to go to church.
I'm not a Tebow or Broncos fan, but I don't understand all the resentment. He's a good kid. He works hard, doesn't get into trouble, and is involved in the community. In my opinion, that makes him a great role model for a lot of young kids.
January 9th, 2012 at 8:47 AM ^
It's not really his fault its more or less ESPN and the national medias fault. They blow him up and try to get him to be this big icon, but really all theyb are doing is waiting for his fall. That way they can point at him and say this is why he is not good. I don't know about anyone else, but I also get a little annoyed with the people in Denver who defend him so much. It's like people calm down hes not a bad person and I actually think hes a phenomenal athlete, just not a great QB. Put him on the Lions, Packers, or even Saints I dont know if they win half their games let alone make the playoffs.
January 8th, 2012 at 9:15 PM ^
Steelers injuries determined the game. By a lot.
January 8th, 2012 at 9:16 PM ^
Broncos are a playoff winner, so yes, they're a contender for teh AFC, especially since NE's defense is suspect. I don't think they'd beat GB or NO, but hey, i with their defense, Denver could definately make it to the Super Bowl. Thing is, Tebow played well and that pass in OT was picture perfect read and throw. He makes a couple of those against NE's defense and NE's OL doesn't hold up to Denver's blitzing, Denver could pull off another upset.
January 8th, 2012 at 9:20 PM ^
I'm rooting for Tebow. He's taken more crap for his QB play than all the Rex Grossmans, Trent Dilfers and Colt McCoy's of the world put together x 5. Forget his faith, that dude gets absolutely railed by everybody with a microphone for the unforgivable sin of not having a traditional NFL throwing motion. How dare he!
I
January 8th, 2012 at 9:33 PM ^
He also gets loved more than all those guys as well. His jersey is the second most sold this year.
January 8th, 2012 at 9:24 PM ^
January 8th, 2012 at 9:24 PM ^
If you didn't like ESPN before you will hate them now. It will be the Tebow Network for at least the next week.
January 8th, 2012 at 9:29 PM ^
In general I've always disliked the NFL(since Barry Sanders left) after tebow I really hate it. just glad I was in orlando for coach carr's last game. Henne outplayed tebow that day and thats the way it should be, go blue!
January 8th, 2012 at 9:30 PM ^
How did I know a Tebow thread was coming? .... what about Yates? Are the Texans a contender? Or the Giants with their dominating victory. Or Drew Brees, possibly the best passer of all time......... but no, Tebow gets a thread. I used to think the Romo craze was bad, but this takes the cake.
January 8th, 2012 at 9:34 PM ^
I can actually see those other teams doing some damage in the playoffs. I did not forsee the Broncos even competing with the crippled Steelers.
January 9th, 2012 at 1:28 AM ^
Drew Brees the best passer of all time?!? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Inside a dome maybe! Give all those receiving targets, that rushing game, that offensive line, and that defense to Tom Brady and I think he breaks 5.5k yards.
January 8th, 2012 at 9:34 PM ^
Everyone slobbering over Tebow, etc. and how he did this to THE BEST DEFENSE IN FOOTBALL... remember that that "Best" defense in football was missing Casey Hampton (the nose tackle and biggest run stuffer. They committed safties to stop the run after he got hurt) Brett Keisel (their best or 2nd best lineman) Ryan Clark, their deep safety (think a good deep safety would have helped? No offense to Mundy but Clark was the steelers' leading tackler) and Woodley wasn't at 100%, nor did he play that many snaps.
Imagine the Michigan D without Martin, RVB, Kovacs, and Ryan. That was what Pittsburgh was playing with tonight. (And Pouncey/Molk, but I'm talking about the defense.)
So that's 4 starters out or severely limited on the Pittsburgh Defense. I'm not that impressed with Tebow being able to beat that D over the top.
That said, injuries are part of football, etc. There were more on the Pittsburgh O, and the Broncos D as well. And the Pats' D is terrible. But I think the Pats' O can outscore the broncos in a way that a hobbled Rothlisberger without his center couldn't.
January 8th, 2012 at 9:39 PM ^
quit hatin. just give the man props for winning the game. regardless of who was hurt. u still gotta win the game and thas all that matters.
January 8th, 2012 at 9:38 PM ^
I'm not sure how much Denver's success is tied to Tebow. They started winning when he was "given the reins" but part of me thinks they could have been just as successful with any change at QB. To his credit, he doesn't turn the ball over much (and when he does, they get destroyed).
I wouldn't say I'm a Tebow hater, but I end up rooting against the Broncos because I'm sick of hearing about him. He's a game-manager that was a great college QB. Nothing more IMO. Credit the guy for seemingly being a nice guy, but he gets more attention than is warrented. I don't think he's the long-term answer in Denver, but I've been wrong before.
January 8th, 2012 at 9:40 PM ^
I didn't see this live, but in his interview pregame Tebow had a "mark" on his lip
Is that a cold sore? Is that herpes? My twitter feed blew up pregame
January 8th, 2012 at 9:46 PM ^
Dry lips buddy.
January 8th, 2012 at 10:31 PM ^
That or he took some rough hits in practice. I would side with cold dry air.
January 8th, 2012 at 11:05 PM ^
I live 2000' above Denver and don't have one of those. That's not from the cold, dry air. That's a cold sore. It's probably from a toilet seat!
January 8th, 2012 at 11:33 PM ^
No, it's called herpes. It was big and fresh last weekend and looked nothing like a split lip.
January 8th, 2012 at 10:02 PM ^
I can't believe he didn't think Jesus for the herpes. His salvation is damned.
January 8th, 2012 at 9:42 PM ^
I'm glad Brady gets to face Tebow rather than the Steelers, injured or not. Better than having to get through them and the Ravens D.
January 8th, 2012 at 9:45 PM ^
The Steelers played right into the Broncos' hands by being so aggressive on defense. Even with the missing DL guys, they should have forced the Broncos to grind out long drives. Eventually they would have forced them into passing situations, and Tebow is the league's least accurate passer. Instead they got burned deep repeatedly.
This is the third year out of 4 that the "what the hell are these guys doing in the playoffs?" team has won at least 1 game. It was the Cardinals in 2008, the Seahawks last year, and now the Broncos.
January 8th, 2012 at 9:46 PM ^
Im still a Tebow hater even though he did step it up today. Even though he can only win in OT or in a close game I guess a win is a win. I want to say Pittsburgh was a battered team going into the game but I wont. (See what I did there? haha)
Either way lets see what Tebow can do against Lord Brady next week. I have to think Lord Brady will dice up the Denver D to win by atleast 1. Which is guess all that matters Tebow fans right?
January 8th, 2012 at 10:07 PM ^
he could of won in regulation if whillis magahee didn't fumble it.
January 8th, 2012 at 9:50 PM ^
So called "analysts", such as Colin Cowherd with his Romo-lovin ways, will find some way to rain on Tebow's game. Good for Tebow and all the hard-working Broncos, but rooting for Brady this Saturday.
January 8th, 2012 at 9:51 PM ^
January 8th, 2012 at 9:58 PM ^
Interesting. Two true runners/passers on the field at the same time.
January 8th, 2012 at 9:54 PM ^
Oh come on, no
January 8th, 2012 at 10:08 PM ^
... Big Ben loses, it's a good thing. I couldn't imagine a greater contrast of individual morality and I think the good guy won tonight.
January 8th, 2012 at 10:11 PM ^
from Pittsburgh. Broncos hit a buzz saw next week though. Rides over, Timmy.
--A Bronco fan
January 8th, 2012 at 10:11 PM ^
I like Tebow. I'm a big Patriots fan (from Boston area) and I'm interested to see what will happen. Last time we faced them, Hernandez, Tebow's teammate at Florida, had a monster game. The Pats' defense is horrible. I will be the first person to acknowledge that. I've been frustrated all year by it. They've been better as of late though.
Despite the awesome pass rush that I expect Denver to generate, I don't know if they can stop Gronkowski and Hernandez. I'm not sure, but IIRC they had Bailey on Gronkowski, which, while it worked to slow Gronk down, opened up Hernandez and Welker. Furthermore, the Pats ran the ball fairly efficiently (they averaged 3.9 per but that's partially skewed by Brady's QB 6 QB sneaks). I think the Pats can put up the points again.
It's in Foxboro. It's a night game. I always like our chances in this situation. I hate snow, but I wouldn't mind it. There's something about Foxboro and snow that seems to just work.
January 8th, 2012 at 10:29 PM ^
The BS of "Steelers were hurt" is nuts. Steelers stacked the box to make Tebow beat them with his arm. He did, and why wouldn't they assume that based on Tebow's last 3 games. It's similar to what VaTech tried to do against Denard. How'd that turn out for the Hokies?
Golden rule: He who owns the gold rules. Second, never underestimate your opponent.
January 8th, 2012 at 10:42 PM ^
But, the Steelers (assumedly) had to stack the box because 3 of the front 4 were hurt. I still disagree with the gameplan (like someone else said above, make them grind out long drives), but you can't say that injuries weren't a huge part of this game. The Steelers had over half a dozen injuries in very huge positions - Roethlisberer, Mendenhall, Pouncey, Woodley, Hampton, Kiesel, Clark.
You tip your cap to Tebow because he beat the defense that the Steelers put out there. But to say that injuries didn't play a role in the defense that they did put out there is pretty short-sighted
January 8th, 2012 at 10:37 PM ^
is for the Bronco's to win with this unconventiial offense. NFL coordinators are as a whole the most uncreative and inflexible grop of supposed smart guys in professional sports. As a longtime Lions fan, I miss the days of the run and shoot tearing up NFL defenses. There are so many good college players, especially QB's, that if an NFL team actually built a offensive concept around him instead of trying to force the guy into an offense that they can't run, they's have success. That's why I love what the Broncos are doing. Tebow won a shitload of games in college and was a successful player and the Broncos' OC should be given as much credit as Tebow in just accepting tebow's limitations and trying to play to his strengths. I rooting for Tebow not for Tebow, but for the Cliff Kingsbury's, Timmy Chang's, Joe Hamilton's, and Doug Flutie's of the world as well, who tebow's success is a surrogate for.
January 8th, 2012 at 10:43 PM ^
Jason Terry is religious. He thanked Jesus Christ his Lord and Saviour after each game during the finals last year. Why does nobody care? Why is the post about Denver Broncos but the first poster had to talk about religion?