The Student of the GameGoing Beyond the Stats

Any NFL fan, be it casual or religious, knows the name of Denver Broncos QB Tim Tebow. Forsaken as a guaranteed bust upon his drafting last year; Crucified as a quirky experiment when he was installed for QB Kyle Orton when the struggling Broncos named him the starter; he’s suddenly seen as a Mile-High Messiah going 3-1 as a starter going into this Thursday Night Game, keeping Denver in the hunt for the AFC East Division and revitalizing playoff hopes. However, the one ‘L’ that Tebow has endured was against a solid defense where the Detroit Lions feasted on a Tebow steak during the 45-10 route. This Thursday Night match up against the New York Jets represents the first time Tebow has faced a top-level “D” since. The Jets ‘D’, however, don’t have the same offensive support as the Lions and failed to score. Broncos win 17-13.

While the first half featured clever play calling from Denver Head Coach John Fox that featured various formations and tactics from the surprise pass play to open the game, to an inverted wishbone, to an option fake, to a triple option, a lot of it was squarely faced by Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan’s well prepared defensive scheme. But both can be credited with questionable decisions that kept the first half score to 3-3. Just outside the Jets 20, the Broncos went for it on 4th down to prevent what should have been a 6-3 lead at half, but was instead stuffed like a premature Thanksgiving turkey.

The Jets under use of their QB, Mark “Sanchize” Sanchez who completed close to 70% of the passes he did throw in the first half. The Jets, however, rectified their error as they came out throwing where Sanchize hit WR Plaxico Burress on a pass that was not only the longest play in the game up to that point, but the first of a few completions that set up for a TD that made it 10-3 by . . . RG Matt Slauson ?!?!?!? (Insert numerous cliché jokes about how he should have been in your fantasy line up for this week.) The hand off was intended for Jets RB Jordan McKnight who was playing because RB Ladanian Tomlinson was out for the game and RB Shonn Greene left the game due to injury after 3 carries.

But the same strategy that got them the lead also gave it up for the Jets as Sanchize threw a pick that was taken 27 yards back to the house by Bronco CB Andre Goodman. To make matters worse, it was the first of 2 turnovers in 10 seconds when McKnight fumbled the kick return, his second special teams turnover in as many weeks.

A series of field position exchanges and a Jets FG would lead the Broncos to start on their own 5 yard line. But 4:56 in the 4th Quarter was about to be marked by all Denver fans and the sports media as “Tebow Time” as the QB commanded his team on a 95 yard drive – longest of the year for the Broncos offense – that was culminated in a 20 yard run where Tebow’s spirit commuted with the end zone for what would be the game winning score.

While Tebow had more completions than he had attempts last week and also being the top rusher on the ground in yards, the Broncos ‘D’ deserves their credit as they assured their team won the turnover battle whilst also putting a TD on the board.

Both teams are now 5-5, but 5-5 in the Bronco’s AFC West means playoff possibility while 5-5 for the Jets means distant Wildcard dark horse that would need a lot of help.