The astounding story of Tim Tebow added another chapter Sunday as the controversial quarterback led his Denver Broncos to a stunning 29-23 overtime victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in an NFL wildcard playoff game.
On the first play from scrimmage in overtime, Tebow heaved a pass 18 yards to receiver Demaryius Thomas, who stiff-armed Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor and sprinted down the right sideline for an 80-yard touchdown.
The Broncos led 20-6 at halftime, but the Steelers - led by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's 289 yards passing - clawed their way back to tie the game at 23 with time running down in regulation. Neither team could get close enough for a winning field goal, and the contest moved into overtime.
The league instituted complicated new overtime rules for the playoffs, but the rule differences never came into play as Tebow and Thomas wrapped it up in 11 seconds - the shortest overtime in NFL history. The referee's explanation of the rules before the coin toss actually took up more time than the extra period.
Tebow has been criticized since his college days at the University of Florida for his awkward throwing motion and his overt Christian faith - including his practice of bowing in prayer after touchdowns. But Denver fans, and eventually the Broncos front office, embraced him this season as he led a series of late-game comebacks.
On Sunday he threw for 316 yards (which some people noted might be punctuated 3:16, for the cornerstone verse from the Gospel of John); 204 of those yards were throws to Thomas.
At the postgame news conference, Tebow acknowledged that football success is great but tried to put it in perspective.
"Football is amazing. We love it. We're so passionate about it as you could see right there (on the final play)," he said, according to video on NFL.com. "But the real win, at least I would say today, is being able to comfort a girl who's been through 73 surgeries before the game, and get a chance to go hang out with her now. That's the biggest win of the day. So they're both exciting, but that's what I'm even more proud of."
Tebow Time now moves on to New England, where the Broncos will face Tom Brady and the top-seeded Patriots on Saturday.
Hands down one of the best playoff games in years.
It was at best a sloppy game. Played with one team that had a lot of injured players.
I agree! It was an amazing game, even the refs could not stop the Broncos from stunning the Steelers and their fans.
Agreed TIM!
David obviously did not look at Denver's injured list, not to mention the Steelers were 12-4 with their injuries.
David, that is a worn out excuse that has been used by every team the Broncos have beat this year. Give credit where credit is due. You don't win championships unless you deserve it. The better team won, deal with it.
I agree with Tim! Awesome game! Love the Steelers but it is always inspiring and encouraging to watch the underdogs win! Go Broncos!
Absolutely Tim. Best game of the weekend for sure.
@ David: how is a game with almost 600 total passing yards, almost 300 total rushing yards, 39 total first downs, only 2 turnovers, and 52 points scored between the two teams sloppy?
A great game, but a miracle? C'mon. That's just poor reporting. WOW! They scored in overtime. Therefore it's a miracle?
What?!?!?
You quite obviously know nothing about football. The fact that the Broncos were able to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers is as close to a miracle as I have seen in sports.
Ok its not a miracle the Broncos won. They were playing at home, the Steelers missing Rashard Mendenhall (starting RB), Max Starks (starting lineman) Maurice Pouncy (starting center), Ryan Clark (starting saftey), and two of their starting dlineman were hurt in the first quarter. PLUS Roethlisburger has been battling an ankle injury for a month. Credit the Broncos for winning, but it is not a MIRACLE the Broncos were able to beat a Steeler team with two allpros missing and many other starters hurt or dinged.
If God cared about football, Notre Dame would be undeated every year!
The catholic organization is the furthest away from anything that is true to obeying the commandments of the Lord Jesus of the Bible...please read your Bible and understand that the catholics have a different bible...one example is where they have taken out the 2nd commandment of the original Hebrew Bible (the old testament) – the commandment forbids making of statues or bowing down to them –
2nd Commandment –
Exodus 20:4-6 You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my Commandments.
I have not seen the deated once yet.
@liz48... Sunday School ended at 11 a.m. And to put it bluntly, I think most people could care less about your religious fanaticism. Put a sock in it.
A link on the catholic church if you would like to start on some research...
http://www.the-ten-commandments.org/romancatholic-tencommandments.html
to chuck, Jasper, GA...I was answering the comment on Notre Dame – it is a catholic university...sorry for not providing that detail in the post...
Tebow is connected overtly to Christianity...
liz48: Better double-check that Bible edition you are claiming to be catholic. If we had taken out #2, should I not have been taught the 9 commandments growing up? I learned 10 of them, and vividly remember the one you claim is missing.
Liz, you OBviousLY didn't get the irony in David's remark. Instead you launch into some brainless regurgitation of blah blah words that have NOTHING to do with football.
The irony, Notre Dame, catholic school, but the fundis on your side don't consider catholicism a religion. Hahaha, that's where it all started. That's your history lesson.
Second, Notre Dame sucks, and god does not side with sucky teams. (irony... get it?).
Third, god does not care about football (tennis, golf, soccer, mixed martial arts and the rest.
Bye
Wow! What a great game! I was hoping the Broncos would win this game because the Patriots will have an easier time with them than the Pittsburgh . Good luck in Foxborough, Tebow, you are going to need it!
I have to admit being a life long Patriots fan, I was hoping for the same thing for the same reason.
Typical chowder head.
Facing the McDaniels offense will certainly hand the Broncos another win. Nice to see the Pats fans are looking forward to it.
Actually before the turn overs Denver was running over the Patriots!
Amazing! God Bless Tim Tebow! His faith is has brought him so far.
You mean his psychology.
I think Mark knew what he meant, no need to correct him.
@Doris: "I think Mark knew what he meant, no need to correct him."
Well, no need to correct "chaos" either, Doris.
But I'll chime in with him: religion has little to do with football. Now if it comes to what people believe... there's the spagetti monster, Krishna, the earth is flat, there is no global warming, the end of the world is "October 21, 2011 (we all know how true that was), and a myriad more of silly things.
In sports it's the score that counts. Tebow had a good day. Good for him. I have it on good authority that God was actually not watching the NFL but working with Merkel and Sarkozy on the EU currcency crisis....
"Threw for 316 years?"......
LOL... the caption under the photo is priceless. "No. 15 Tim Tebow threw for 316 years for the Denver Broncos on Sunday"
Now *that's* what I call *overtime*.
316 years ago Tebow was Jesus Christ.
Inbred people miss the good old days when they actually thought they had a monopoly on Talent. Reality is harsh isn't it?
Troll...not even an original name there...Jefferson Davis.
Tebows favorite verse is John 3:16. Tebow throws for 316 yards. His average per throw is 31.6 yards for the game. He was told by his coach John to make that throw to Demariyus Thomas, who was born on December 25th. Just a few fun things to ponder...
Yes, how you can be so gullible about mere coincidence.
His average was NOT 31.6 yards per throw (passes) He threw 23 times. His average per COMPLETION was 31.6 yards.
Ignorant buffoons like you have almost ruined this country. Fortunately, there are more decent human beings in this country than there are of your type. Sports included.
Tim "Methuselah" Tebow can throw for 316 years if he wants to...
Haha, what a pot stirring dope Jeff is. Great job displaying your parents miserable failure by just being, well, you.
blah blah blah ho hum raw meat heads.
Should be interesting against the Pats. Losing teams learn more and do better in the rematch, so it might be an exciting game. Let's see if the Broncos' defense is up to stopping the Brady Bunch.