Normally, here at This Given Sunday we write all original content. But this piece came in from ESPN’s PR wire, and we were instructed to run it as is, with no alteration or abridgement. So here you go.
DENVER TEBOWS (8-6) at SOMEBODY OR OTHER (5-9)
Saturday, 1:00 PM ET, CBS, Direct TV (704), Sirius (DEN 91, BUF 104)
Why Watch (Tebow)
When Tim Tebow is elected to the NFL Hall of Fame, esteemed football historians may remember December 23rd, 2011, as the last day anyone had a shred of doubt about Tebow’s worthiness. After all, his fourth quarter magic had appeared to run out against Tom Brady and the mighty New England Patriots in a primetime matchup the week before. For a quarterback who simply knows how to win, and who professes his faith on the sidelines and really folks what’s wrong with that, this not-winning seemed out of place. But in the game of knowing how to win, younger brother Tim had to take a hard lesson from older brother Tom.
Consider that a lesson learned as Tim Tebow takes the field against one of those other non-Patriot teams of the AFC East that we really should talk more about, if only they knew how to win. (Didn’t they at one point this season? Gosh, you know, those pre-Tebow games all get a little hazy, don’t they.)
Those historians will recollect this game, not for the opponents Tebow vanquished, but for the fact that he shook off that one loss to that other team in the NFL that knows how to win, and went on to win this game and so many others like the champion to be that he did end up becoming. (Or something like that. Future grammatricians will be sending over their corrections to these future historians’ notes.)
What To Watch (Tebow)
While Tim Tebow customarily gets off to a slow start in the passing game, watch for Tebow to do all the little things right.
Like avoiding mistakes. That’s what we call it when he skies a pass off his back foot well over a wide open receiver. Or showing leadership and determination. That’s what we call it when he removes his helmet and shouts, or says nothing, or the when camera catches a gleam of sunlight in a bead of sweat as it dangles from his mischeviously tousled hair. Or making a play that only Tebow can make. That’s what we call it when his offensive line breaks down, his receivers fail to come back for the ball, and his running backs completely whiff on their pass blocking, and he somehow squirts free for a positive gain.
Meanwhile, Von Miller (the Tim Tebow of the defense, don’t ya know) and the Denver defense will make lots of plays, but sometimes they won’t and the other team will probably get out to a lead, but that lead will never feel comfortable because you know and I know that when the fourth quarter comes, it’s TEBOW TIME and you know what that means. It means it’s time to win. (For the Broncos. Not the other team.)
Who Will Win
Does Tom Brady play for the other team? No? Then it’s TEBOW all the way.
Up next: our twelve days of Tebowmas continues, with eleven Tebows Tebowing.
