Broncos vs Steelers; Tebow Does it Again, Broncos Pull Stunner
According to the "experts", Tebow Time was over.
First, you have to check with Tim Tebow.
Tebow didn't approve.
In the biggest game of Tebow's NFL career, he put on his biggest show yet. Tebow threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns, including the 80-yard winner to Demaryius Thomas on the first play of overtime.
Nobody thought they could do it. All 10 ESPN NFL analysts picked Pittsburgh to beat Denver and move on for a classic Roethlisberger-Brady battle. Instead, it's Brady and Tebow.
In the first quarter, Denver fell behind 6-0, and if it wasn't for a 3rd down drop by Jericho Cotchery, the score likely would have been at least 9-0.
During the second quarter, Denver scored 33 points all season, 14 of those in a loss to Green Bay. Against Pittsburgh, they scored 20. Tebow hit Thomas for a 51 game when Thomas saw his quarterback in trouble and ran deep (undesigned) to give Tebow a target.
That set up the first touchdown of the game, when Tebow threw a perfect pass to Eddie Royal in the right corner of the end zone, and Royal made a spectacular catch, giving Denver a 7-6 lead.
Denver had the lead, but all fans feared the second-quarter struggles would catch the Broncos. But it never did. Mike Wallace hauled in a deep pass to put Pittsburgh in field goal range, only to have it reviewed and overturned.
Tebow got the ball back with all the momentum on his side, and did he ever take advantage. Tebow found Thomas again, and Thomas had room to run after making the catch, racking up 58 yards on the play.
Tebow ran for eight yards and a touchdown two plays later, and after a Quinton Carter interception and a deep Tebow pass to Daniel Fells, Denver led 20-6 (both plays led to field goals).
Pittsburgh was driving late in the second quarter, and they were reaching Shaun Suisham's range when Doug Legursky snapped the ball wildly, taking Pittsburgh out of field goal range. Denver led 20-6 at the half.
However, we've seen Steeler comebacks during the postseason before, and another one was coming up. Big Ben effectively led the Steelers downfield, and before we knew it, the score was 23-23, and although Tebow got Denver yards, all they managed was a field goal.
The Florida star failed to lead Denver downfield in regulation, and Pittsburgh had a chance to win it, with the ball at the Denver 45, 29 seconds and a timeout. However, Elvis Dumervil sacked Roethlisberger, prompting Mike Tomlin to use his last timeout.
Pittsburgh had the option to let Shaun Suisham kick a 66-yard field goal, or go for a hail mary, and they chose the hail mary. Roethlisberger was sacked, and the game went into overtime.
The NFL changed their overtime rules for the playoffs, and it was no longer sudden death. Only a first-possession touchdown could end the game, so the coin toss wasn't as big of a factor. Still, Pittsburgh called tails, and the coin came up heads. Denver had a shot to win.
The kickoff went through the end zone, so Tebow took the ball at the 20. On the first play, Mike McCoy called for a pass over the middle to Demaryius Thomas. Thomas broke free and caught Tebow's perfect pass, stiff-armed Ike Taylor, and outran Ryan Mundy to end the first non-sudden death game in NFL history, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
So much for no sudden death.
Tebow raced to the end zone, caught up with Thomas, and did his traditional move: Tebowing, before taking a victory lap around Sports Authority Field.
Now, we have one more obstacle for Tebow.
Go on the road and beat Tom Brady.
First, you have to check with Tim Tebow.
Tebow didn't approve.
In the biggest game of Tebow's NFL career, he put on his biggest show yet. Tebow threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns, including the 80-yard winner to Demaryius Thomas on the first play of overtime.
Nobody thought they could do it. All 10 ESPN NFL analysts picked Pittsburgh to beat Denver and move on for a classic Roethlisberger-Brady battle. Instead, it's Brady and Tebow.
In the first quarter, Denver fell behind 6-0, and if it wasn't for a 3rd down drop by Jericho Cotchery, the score likely would have been at least 9-0.
During the second quarter, Denver scored 33 points all season, 14 of those in a loss to Green Bay. Against Pittsburgh, they scored 20. Tebow hit Thomas for a 51 game when Thomas saw his quarterback in trouble and ran deep (undesigned) to give Tebow a target.
That set up the first touchdown of the game, when Tebow threw a perfect pass to Eddie Royal in the right corner of the end zone, and Royal made a spectacular catch, giving Denver a 7-6 lead.
Denver had the lead, but all fans feared the second-quarter struggles would catch the Broncos. But it never did. Mike Wallace hauled in a deep pass to put Pittsburgh in field goal range, only to have it reviewed and overturned.
Tebow got the ball back with all the momentum on his side, and did he ever take advantage. Tebow found Thomas again, and Thomas had room to run after making the catch, racking up 58 yards on the play.
Tebow ran for eight yards and a touchdown two plays later, and after a Quinton Carter interception and a deep Tebow pass to Daniel Fells, Denver led 20-6 (both plays led to field goals).
Pittsburgh was driving late in the second quarter, and they were reaching Shaun Suisham's range when Doug Legursky snapped the ball wildly, taking Pittsburgh out of field goal range. Denver led 20-6 at the half.
However, we've seen Steeler comebacks during the postseason before, and another one was coming up. Big Ben effectively led the Steelers downfield, and before we knew it, the score was 23-23, and although Tebow got Denver yards, all they managed was a field goal.
The Florida star failed to lead Denver downfield in regulation, and Pittsburgh had a chance to win it, with the ball at the Denver 45, 29 seconds and a timeout. However, Elvis Dumervil sacked Roethlisberger, prompting Mike Tomlin to use his last timeout.
Pittsburgh had the option to let Shaun Suisham kick a 66-yard field goal, or go for a hail mary, and they chose the hail mary. Roethlisberger was sacked, and the game went into overtime.
The NFL changed their overtime rules for the playoffs, and it was no longer sudden death. Only a first-possession touchdown could end the game, so the coin toss wasn't as big of a factor. Still, Pittsburgh called tails, and the coin came up heads. Denver had a shot to win.
The kickoff went through the end zone, so Tebow took the ball at the 20. On the first play, Mike McCoy called for a pass over the middle to Demaryius Thomas. Thomas broke free and caught Tebow's perfect pass, stiff-armed Ike Taylor, and outran Ryan Mundy to end the first non-sudden death game in NFL history, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
So much for no sudden death.
Tebow raced to the end zone, caught up with Thomas, and did his traditional move: Tebowing, before taking a victory lap around Sports Authority Field.
Now, we have one more obstacle for Tebow.
Go on the road and beat Tom Brady.
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