Tebow tosses a miracle
Broncos push toward the Super Bowl in dramatic overtime play,
DENVER — The miraculous football story line of Tim Tebow, acknowledged savior of the Denver Broncos’ 2011 season, continues for another week.
“Tebow time” lasted only 11 seconds into overtime Sunday. The second-year quarterback executed a play-action fake and heaved an 80-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas for a 29-23 upset of the Pittsburgh Steelers in a thrilling AFC wild-card game.
“First of all, thank you, Lord,” Tebow said when asked his thoughts when the game suddenly ended.
Next up: the New England Patriots (13-3) on Saturday in Foxborough, Mass., and the redoubtable duo of quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick. The Broncos (9-8) were 4-12 in 2010 and started this season 1-4 before Tebow became the starter in late October.
Tebow, rising from the dread after a lousy late-season finish, threw mostly darts as he passed for 316 yards on 10 completions. The charismatic 24-year-old threw for two touchdowns, ran for one and did not throw an interception as he outdueled limping Ben Roethlisberger.
Tebow led the Broncos to a 20-point second quarter and 14-point halftime lead. Denver scored 33 points total in the second quarter during the season.
“This is why you do this. It’s not about the money, it’s about moments like this,” Broncos coach John Fox said.
It was Denver’s fourth overtime victory this season, all engineered by Tebow.
“I really never doubted (him),” Fox said. “He’s a pretty strong young man.”