Tim Tebow in His Words After Driving Denver to Victory

It looks as if we’ll just have to get used to it.

On the one hand, we have the headline “Tim Tebow Scores Late Touchdown On 95 Yard Drive To Win, After Doing Nothing All Game,” with Jason Lisk of the Big Lead correctly pointing out: “Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos offense was dreadful. Dreadful! For the first 54 minutes of the game.”

On the other, we have Woody Paige rhapsodizing in The Denver Post about The Drive Too: “Tebow went where Elway had gone before.”

Tebow continues to win and continues to drive analysts crazy. Let’s just let Tebow tell it in his words, as provided by the Broncos’ Web site.

On Denver’s final, game-winning drive

“First and foremost I just want to thank my lord and savior, Jesus Christ, and thank my teammates for believing in me and believing in each other for 60 minutes. I think, referring to that last drive, I think it was just a bunch of guys that kept fighting that had been knocked down a bunch of times but continued to get back up. I’m just so proud of those guys, for their resiliency, their patience and their determination.”

“We were aggressive. We went at them. [WR] Eddie [Royal] made a great play on the first (play). It was man-to-man (defense), and I threw him a swing, he made somebody miss, he got (eight yards). And then we were able to get some on the option. We didn’t necessarily have huge plays, but we just got enough to keep moving the sticks and found a way at the end, and [WR Demaryius Thomas] came up with a big catch, and the offensive line was just grinding, working hard and scratching for every single yard we could get. They made my job very easy there at the end.”

On what the offense talked about just prior to the drive
“[Offensive coordinator] Coach [Mike] McCoy just said, ‘Keep believing.’ When we were in the huddle, what we were talking about as an offense was: ‘You want opportunities like this because this is an opportunity for greatness as an offense. We haven’t done anything this whole game, but we have an opportunity to do something special right now. Let’s go out there and do it.’ Everybody was focused, and you could see that their will was taking over as an offense. I think that’s pretty special.”

“It was just important that we had a mind-set and everybody went out there and rallied behind each other and just gave it everything they had.”

On what McCoy said just prior to the drive
“We went over a few ideas, but we were ready to go back out there. He said a few things—it wasn’t a huge, long speech—but, you know: ‘Keep believing. Let’s go get this thing done.’”

On his game-winning touchdown run
“That was the second time in the game [the Jets] had blitzed everybody against us. And they were playing the corners pretty hard off, and we ran a three-vertical (wide receivers) concept against them, and I knew we were in field-goal range, and I didn’t necessarily just want to throw up a jump-ball because they were playing so far off. So when I knew they were blitzing everybody, and I saw [S] (Eric Smith) coming off the left side, and he came and he hugged tight. And I knew he was going to be extra because they were bringing one more guy than we could block, and I knew (the blocker) got a hand on him, and once he came tight, I just figured he wasn’t going to think I was going to try and get outside and escape. So I just believed that the tackle and the tight end were going to get the block, and that I could try to hopefully outrun him to the edge, and thank the Lord I was able to do so.”

“I don’t think (the outside) was supposed to be open. (Smith) was kind of the hugger, and he hugged tight against and stayed tight. So once he’s coming in and planting and trying to stay as tight as he can, thinking I’m going to be in the pocket … once I knew that, I just kind of jab-stepped and stayed outside, and he’s going this way, and I’m going that way. That’s hard for someone to really plant and get outside. I was very thankful he was running really hard and coming hard inside because that’s hard to make that cut, so it made it a lot easier on me getting outside of him.”

On if he was surprised by the Jets’ all-out blitz on the play
“We were kind of expecting it. They were going to be aggressive and try to stop us and could also [have] been expecting a quarterback run or quarterback draw, or something inside. So we had a great play against it, and Coach McCoy made a great call, and I was just thankful I was able to get around the end.”

On if he likes late-game drama
“I like winning, but I wish it wasn’t quite that stressful.”

On how he’s going to celebrate the win
“What’s special is I’ve got a lot of friends and family in for this game. [So] first, just thank the Lord and savior and hang out with my friends and family. Honestly, I played pretty hard, so I’ll probably be a little bit tired. [I’ll] go get a little bit of food and probably go to sleep.”

On if he plans on tweeting any of his critics
“I probably will tweet [former NFL defensive end] Hugh Douglas because I did hear that he said if we won he was going to church on Sunday. So I’m going to tweet him. He better be in his Sunday best! I hope he can sing praise and worship, too. So we’ll see.”

On what he’s thankful for this Thanksgiving
“That would be a long list, but just to share a few: first and foremost would be my Lord and savior, Jesus Christ, and I’d say behind that would be my family and also in this time is our military, who put their lives on the line every day for us so we can come out here and play a game. I’m very thankful for all three of those things.”

JOHN FOX, BRONCOS COACH
On Tebow
“Tim is going to be Tim. You don’t want to change too much about a guy that makes plays and makes plays in pressure situations. Our staff [Quarterbacks Coach] Adam Gase and [Offensive Coordinator] Mike McCoy have done a tremendous job of working with him and bringing him up to speed. We had a couple issues, but he’s a young player. He’s a young quarterback. It’s a very hard position, and those things are going to happen. He’ll just grow and get better with every snap.”

On Tebow’s character
“He’s just a competitive dude. He’s super competitive. He never lays his sword down. He’s going to fight you to death, and that’s just his nature. He’s a great young man.”

On the team’s faith in QB Tim Tebow during final drive
“When that happened it was like, we have 95 yards. Everybody was kind of like, ‘watch this.’ On the sideline it felt like we knew something was going to happen. People always say that when you win, but we felt like something was going to happen, probably because of the way we have been finishing games over the last couple weeks. Again, No. 15 [Tebow] proved to be very impressive on that drive.”

CORNERBACK CHAMP BAILEY

On  Tebow
“One thing about that quarterback: he is going to keep grinding. As a defense, we just have to keep him in this game – keep this team in the game and in the fourth quarter you never know what you are going to get. We are never out of it, and it is a good feeling because I know if we are close we have a chance.”

Rate This Jets Loss

A little free therapy for Jets fans … (It’s best to let it all out.)

What one play infuriated you the most from Thursday night’s loss at Denver?
(Non-Jets fans can play along, especially if you felt that the better team didn’t win.)

Mac from Atlanta, a Jets fan and Fifth Down commenting stalwart, gets us started. In another post, he pointed out two plays – the Mark Sanchez interception-turns-into-touchdown and this one:

The Jets’ second-to-last drive, where they had the ball at midfield and had a chance to run out most of the clock. After a short run and an incompletion: on 3rd and long as the Jets lined up, Brandon Moore pointed out an overload blitz from the right. Sanchez did not recognize it and adjust, rushed the throw and it went incomplete. Poor awareness and lack of adjustment meant a quick 3 and out. Granted those were only two plays, but to me they symbolize the problems with the offense this season.

Extra point Were does this game rank among the worst regular-season losses of the Rex Ryan era? It seems to be fairly competitive in that category with the blowout loss at New England last season (humiliating but the Jets were on their way to an 11-5 record) and the defeat at home to Atlanta the year before (after which Ryan incorrectly declared the Jets’  season over).

Redefining Excellence, One Handoff at a Time

“He’s a winner.”

For many fans, that is the trump card in any discussion about N.F.L. quarterbacks, the kill shot that negates contrary arguments based on statistics, scouting reports or other empirical evidence. “So what if he generated only 225 yards of offense, scored just 10 points, and needs the entire playbook turned inside out to achieve even minimal success. He’s a winner. Case closed.”

The “he’s a winner” mantle is not new. It has been passed around for decades, from young quarterbacks to career backups on hot streaks. Now that Tim Tebow is wearing it, however, it has attained an almost hypnotic ability to overwhelm reason. The conscious mind cannot reconcile his 4-1 record as quarterback of the Broncos with his ineptitude as a passer, so the mind snaps and creates a narrative in which scoring 27 offensive points in two weeks is somehow a hallmark of excellence.

Tebow appears to be redefining the quarterback position in a way that renders passing, regularly sustaining drives and consistently scoring points irrelevant. He runs keepers and read-option plays. He hands off. He throws the occasional screen pass, often for minimal gain, and sometimes looks downfield in confusion before galloping out of the pocket. The Broncos shrug their shoulders and punt on most drives, typically trail at halftime, and remain in games only because their defense manages to hold opposing offenses well below 20 points.

Nothing that happens in a Broncos game is relevant until the fourth-quarter magic, some of which tangentially involves Tebow’s doing something good. Against the Dolphins, the Broncos recovered an onside kick, then an overtime fumble, then kicked a 52-yard field goal. The victory over the Raiders featured a punt return for a score and a 24-yard touchdown by running back Willis McGahee. The Chiefs game featured one long pass in the fourth quarter (Tebow’s second completion of the game) and an injury to Matt Cassel, which eliminated the threat of a Kansas City comeback. Denver’s final 95-yard drive against the Jets started with a receiver wriggling out of a tackle at his own 1. Tebow metes out two or three fine plays during these late victories, but they are the types of plays a good quarterback should routinely execute.

The Broncos’ victories are the obvious result of a great defense playing some terrible teams (Chiefs, Dolphins) or unprepared opponents (Jets, Raiders). But that is not how they are perceived. Instead, the familiar platitudes are marshaled.

“He makes plays when he has to,” except that in the N.F.L. you always have to, not just when there are 5 minutes 54 seconds to play. “He’s an incredible competitor,” but with the exception of Albert Haynesworth everyone who reaches the N.F.L. is an incredible competitor. Even if Tebow’s competitiveness goes up to 11 like Nigel Tufnel’s amplifier, it is minor compensation for the fact that even his own coach has said the Broncos cannot really throw the ball and hope to win. And of course, “he’s a winner,” which is solipsistic and inarguable.

Thursday was an ugly night for the Broncos’ offense. Denver converted exactly one first down before the final drive. Five times, the Broncos started drives in Jets territory, yet they entered the fourth quarter with 3 offensive points. Eight of the Broncos’ 12 possessions consisted of three or fewer plays. The Jets, meanwhile, could do nothing offensively, which is why they kept handing Tebow the ball around midfield. The question at the end of the game should not have been, “How did Tebow do it?” but “Why on earth did he have to?”

Watching Tebow play quarterback is like watching a television psychic perform a cold reading. He flails about, trying this strategy and that, looking lost and a little silly. Then suddenly, someone shouts, “That voice from the spirit world you are hearing whose first name begins with a J is my great-uncle Jasper!” Everyone gasps in awe and cheers wildly as Jasper delivers his otherworldly message of vagueness, and any skeptic who dares to point out the absurdity of it all is branded a hateful killjoy.

But quarterbacks with the “winner” label always cause headaches for the rational people among us. Fans eager to embrace a new hero apply the post hoc fallacy: the team won, therefore the quarterback must have done something wonderful. They mix in a little confirmation bias: those three good plays are a sign of greatness, so we can ignore the 53 bad ones. Communal reinforcement — even the guys on the talk radio show agree! — serves as a chaser. There is nothing wrong with any of this because fandom is about hope and emotional connections to players and teams, not rational thought. But to cut through the rhetoric and analyze and evaluate these quarterbacks, you are better off consulting the noted skeptics James Randi and Michael Shermer than the gang at ESPN.

If you need further proof that Tebow mania is just a new face on an old phenomenon, simply look at the quarterback who lost Thursday night’s game. Mark Sanchez was a “winner,” too, as recently as last year.

Remember the come-from-behind victories against the Lions and the Browns? The Sanchez bandwagon was in third gear after those games, explaining away three-plus quarters of inaccuracy and mediocrity. Many of the same experts who lauded Sanchez for his toughness, poise, leadership, courage and intangibles last year have been busily burying him in the last two weeks. Did Sanchez suddenly become less courageous and poised over the last 12 months? More likely, everyone saw, or pretended to see, something that was never there.

Thursday Matchup: Jets at Broncos

Jets (5-4) at Broncos (4-5), 8:20 p.m. Eastern, NFL Network and Ch. 11 in New York area
Line: Jets by 6.

The Broncos won, 17-10, last week against the Chiefs, an opponent that had lost by scores of 41-7, 48-3, and 31-3 (to the Dolphins) this season. The Broncos netted just 312 yards of offense, and their quarterback, Tim Tebow, completed just two of his eight passes. When running backs Willis McGahee (hamstring, questionable for Thursday) and Knowshon Moreno (knee, out) were injured, Coach John Fox elected to give the third-stringer Lance Ball 30 carries, with Spencer Larsen, a converted linebacker, taking 5 more handoffs as a change of pace. The Broncos elected to run 10 times on third down with more than 4 yards to go, converting just one of those plays.

It takes some warping of reality and splintering of rational thought to watch a team hand off to an ex-linebacker almost as often as it passes the ball, surrender on nearly every third down and score 17 points against an awful opponent, and reinterpret all of this as a sign of its quarterback’s singular greatness.

But ignoring the obvious is the American way. The Broncos are not trying to hide an inept passer behind child-proofed game plans that can work only against terrible defenses. Instead, they are ushering in a new era of running-based football behind the paradigm-shattering talents of a player who hands off like no other.

Fox even dismissed the need for a passing game this week. This is offense based upon the withholding of success, austerity by design, and Fox is making a great show of being thrilled with it.

Of course, there’s a chance that the simplest solution is the correct one: the Broncos have gutted out close wins against bad opponents but they will collapse against a strong defense, and option-style gadget plays have a limited N.F.L. shelf life. But then, even Occam’s razor may be no match for Tebow Mania.

Pick: Jets
(Pick does not reflect the betting line)

Jets at Broncos: Matchup to Watch

Jets (5-4) at Broncos (4-5), 8:30 p.m. Eastern Thursday

Matchup to Watch: Tim Tebow vs. Jets’ defense

One can only imagine the defensive schemes Rex Ryan has concocted to foil Denver’s read-option offense, which ran the ball 55 times — and attempted but 8 passes — in Sunday’s victory in Kansas City. The Jets at times deployed seven defensive backs to thwart New England’s passing game; Ryan might send seven down linemen against Tim Tebow. Maybe that’s an exaggeration. But it will be a challenge for the Jets, who had a short week to prepare for a peculiar but effective style that suits Tebow. Jets safety Jim Leonhard said, “As inconsistent as he is throwing the football, all of a sudden he’ll make a throw where you look at it and go, ‘Wow, that was impressive.’ ”

Number to Watch: 22

The combined sacks (8) and quarterback knockdowns (14) amassed by Broncos linebacker Von Miller — the most in the N.F.L., according to ProFootballFocus.com. The Jets’ pass protection was dreadful against New England, yielding five sacks and nine hits of Mark Sanchez, against a team with a suspect pass rush. The Broncos, with the dynamic duo of Miller and Elvis Dumervil — dubbed “Batman and Robin” by Miller — wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks. Sustained pressure against Sanchez, who showed little sense of pocket presence Sunday night, could spell doom.

Quotation of the Week

“Well, it doesn’t make much sense. It’d be like buying a Ferrari and pouring sugar in the gas tank.”

Broncos Coach JOHN FOX, when asked whether he and John Elway, the team’s vice president for football operations, did not want Tim Tebow to succeed because they did not draft him.

Week 9 Film Review: Palmer vs. Tebow

A closer look at Week 9, with the benefit of film analysis:

Raiders O vs. Broncos D

Raider fans who are worried about their team’s new franchise quarterback can actually feel optimistic. Carson Palmer was, for the most part, impressive in this game. His three interceptions were all explainable: the first was a case of a superstar cornerback, Champ Bailey, dominating a  callow wideout, Denarius Moore, in bump-and-run coverage. On the second interception, Moore tipped the ball over the middle (the throw was a tad high). The third pick was in garbage time in hurry-up mode, with Palmer being hit as he threw. These were not like the Palmer misreads that led to turnovers against the Chiefs two weeks ago. He showed poise, great pocket mobility and good touch. There were minor chemistry issues with the receivers. But keep in mind, Moore is young and still learning. Jacoby Ford (who was excellent in the first half) has missed some time, and T.J. Houshmandzadeh is a newcomer (who supplanted Darrius Heyward-Bey in the rotation but had trouble all afternoon getting separation).

Oakland’s run game was strong in the first half but tailed off after center Samson Satele’s injury reshuffled the interior front line (Stefan Wisniewski had been playing well at left guard but struggled after sliding over to center). This, along with a flood of penalties, compromised the flow of the offense. For the Broncos, a few notes: Von Miller was used as an inside blitzer, which proved to be a highly successful new wrinkle for this defense. The box score says that Elvis Dumervil, with his first 1.5 sacks of the season, came out of his slumber. He didn’t. The half-sack was produced by Miller and the full sack was a classic coverage sack. Dumervil was, however, part of a Broncos front seven that bogged down the run fairly well in the second half.

Broncos O vs. Raiders D

The Raiders will kick themselves after watching this film. Their run defense was outstanding for much of the game but fell apart late. They gave up two big runs to Tim Tebow and two to Willis McGahee on shotgun read options. Oakland’s linebacking group seemed completely unprepared for the read option, which is inexcusable given Denver’s limited passing weapons. It’s surprising that the Raiders did not shadow Tebow the way the Dolphins did. His scrambles were difference-making. Hard to fathom how a defense can be ill-prepared for Tebow’s runs. Daryl Blackstock, starting for injured middle linebacker Rolando McClain, was particularly bad. He was easily manipulated by the offense’s tactical deceits and lacked the speed to get outside or recover from his mistakes. The Broncos’ coaching staff did a great job of building a pro-Tebow game plan – and he responded. Tebow ran well, protected the football and, on three occasions, properly executed a throw that made the Raiders pay for mistakes in man coverage. Whether this sort of plan can work week to week remains to be seen.

Redskins O vs. 49ers D

The respective approaches seemed to suggest that both teams realized that the injury-riddled Redskins did not have enough firepower to outgun a staunch Niners defense. The Redskins did not even attempt to push the ball downfield (though John Beck, who seemed to play a tad hurriedly, did pass up a few open opportunities to do so). They also abandoned their run game after falling behind by two scores (they maybe would have abandoned it anyway considering their O-line could not get movement against nose tackle Isaac Sopoaga & Company). The Niners were equally conservative. They blitzed sparingly and dared the Skins to defeat basic 3-4 defensive zones. A great illustration of Washington’s aerial limitations was the fact that running back Roy Helu set a franchise record with 14 receptions. Helu is far from an accomplished receiving back. Niners inside linebackers Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman both stood out, as usual. They’re the first- and second-best 3-4 inside linebackers in the N.F.C. (the hard part is determining who is 1 and who is 1-A.)

49ers O vs. Redskins D

The Niners are still using the same high school-style offense that they were criticized for in our earlier film reviews this season. Yours truly asserted that it was not a sustainable winning formula. Obviously, yours truly has been proved wrong. Sunday’s game at Washington was the epitome of effective ball-control offense. Alex Smith managed the game extremely well. He was not able to push the ball downfield – save for a 30-yard touchdown to fullback Bruce Miller on a wheel route that linebacker Rocky McIntosh incorrectly guessed would be a curl in the flats – in large part because the Niners sent only three receivers on routes and kept extra guys in to pass protect. When the throws weren’t there – and they often weren’t – Smith bought himself a little time and threw the ball away. In San Francisco, this is considered good quarterbacking. The Niners can afford to play this way because they have a great defense and meat-and-potatoes run game. They showcased an array of different run-play alignments and motions out of 22 personnel (two backs, two tight ends). They knew the Redskins would be a tough defense to run against, so they manufactured yards through creative design. Smart coaching, sound execution. That’s the 2011 Niners in a nutshell.

Texans O vs. Browns D

This was one where you watched two series and wondered why you decided to break down this game. The stats book told the story. Houston rushed for an easy 261 yards. Their offensive line had no trouble moving Cleveland’s front four off the ball. Right guard Mike Brisiel looked like an All-Pro in the first half, and center Chris Myers won battle after battle inside. As a defender, if you can’t hold your ground and force Myers to play in a phone booth, you’ll fall victim to his shrewd ability to create angles on lateral movement in the run game. He’s tailor-made for a zone scheme. The Browns should be concerned about their linebacking corps and really concerned about their pass rush. When Jabaal Sheard gets neutralized (as he was all afternoon), there’s absolutely no pressure on the quarterback. Another concern is the first-round rookie defensive tackle Phil Taylor. He has not shown up on film all season despite frequently facing blockers one-on-one.

Browns O vs. Texans D

This game was essentially over as soon as Houston scored its second touchdown. No team is less equipped to play from behind than Cleveland. Their quarterback lacks top-level arm strength, their receivers’ speed is bankrupt and the offensive line’s lack of athleticism at left guard and on the right side becomes problematic when opposing pass rushers tee off. This is what happened Sunday. In the first half, Texans backup defensive linemen Earl Mitchell and Tim Jamison stood out in the way they got off blocks. In the second half, outside linebackers Connor Barwin and Brooks Reed (especially Reed) took over. They’re a fast,  energetic duo. No games are easy supposed to be easy in the N.F.L., but this one was.

Titans O vs. Bengals D
(Time did not permit review of Titans D vs. Bengals O)

After a very solid first half, the Titans were taken out of rhythm and frustrated throughout the last 30 minutes. The Bengals’ defensive line, led by Domata Peko as he defeated one-on-one blocking in the middle, stonewalled the Titans’ offensive line and kept Chris Johnson bottled up. Johnson had looked like his old self in the first half, turning the corner outside, juking defenders in the open field  and eating up yards with relatively quick acceleration. The Bengals blitzed infrequently, played a lot of traditional coverage and dared the Titans’ receiving targets to beat them. At face value, Tennessee does not have a good downfield pass game. None of the wideouts have the proper combination of speed and route running polish, and Matt Hasselbeck is not a great precision passer beyond the underneath/intermediate levels. They’ve been able to manufacture a few big plays thanks to creative route combinations drawn up by offensive coordinator Chris Palmer, but those can only take you so far. In the end, it’s about having the players. The setting was favorable for Tennessee, as Cincy’s pass rush was quiet until the fourth quarter.

Cowboys O vs. Seahawks D

DeMarco Murray looks like the real deal. He has a subtle suddenness to his game and can quickly drum up forceful downhill momentum when he hits the accelerator. He’s a true north/south runner with some faint hints of east-west mobility. For the second time in three weeks, Murray benefited from excellent blocking. Left guard Montrae Holland stood out on a few pull blocks, and throughout the game, all of the Dallas linemen were able to successfully make contact with Seattle’s second level defenders. Tackles Doug Free and Tyron Smith rendered Seattle’s pass rushers, including Chris Clemons, irrelevant. Seahawks corners Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner did a solid job in press coverage, but Tony Romo made just enough big plays through the air. It was not a great game for Seattle’s safeties.

Seahawks O vs. Cowboys D

It has been the same issue week in and week out with this offense: an inability to mount sustainable drives through the air. The Cowboys, with their incredibly wide-ranging assortment of personnel packages and presnap looks, made Tarvaris Jackson think too much. Jackson likes to see the receiver get open in order to pull the trigger. He doesn’t anticipate throwing windows well. Normally that leads to sacks. But in this one, Seattle’s front five did a good job…so Jackson’s  progressions instead led to more incompletions. The one time the Cowboys did blitz and pressure Jackson, he underthrew a blanketed Sidney Rice, resulting in an interception. The Cowboys shouldn’t feel completely content with their performance. Their defensive line did not quite make enough big plays, and their inside linebackers, playing without Sean Lee, looked out of place a few times in coverage and were consistently handled in the run game.

Andy Benoit is an NFL analyst for CBSSports.com and founder of NFLTouchdown.com. He can be reached at andy.benoit@NFLTouchdown.com or @Andy_Benoit.

 

Mocking Tim Tebow

First, some background on why two Detroit players might have poked fun at Tim Tebow during the Lions’ rout of the Broncos on Sunday:

Pat Graham, The Associated Press:

DENVER — Tim Tebow inspired a phenomenon when he dropped to a knee and began praying as his teammates wildly celebrated around him after an improbable overtime victory in Miami last weekend.

That was simply Tebow “Tebowing,” a phrase coined by a fan sitting in a bar in New York watching the popular yet polarizing quarterback rally the Denver Broncos.

Jared Kleinstein was mesmerized by Tebow’s peaceful demeanor kneeling on the turf amid all the chaos that ensued. He launched a website in which fans could submit photos of themselves “Tebowing,” which means getting down on a knee and praying, even if everyone else around you is doing something completely different.

And later in the article:

On Friday after practice, Tebow said he appreciated the spirit of the website.

“Yeah, some people don’t necessarily take it seriously but they’re on their knee praying, so who knows what you’re going to think about after that and how that can affect you?” Tebow said. “Hopefully, it’s a good example for people.”

The Lions’ Stephen Tulloch (after a sack) and Tony Scheffler (after a touchdown catch) imitated the one-knee prayer Sunday. They might have also been inspired by a portrayal of the Lions-Broncos matchup on the N.F.L.’s Web site as good versus evil.

In his own way, the Denver Post columnist Mark Kiszla mocked Tebow: (He also called him the worst quarterback in the N.F.L.)

So maybe we need a new definition for Tebowing.

It’s a prayer for mercy.

Please, in the name of heaven, bring us somebody who can actually play quarterback.

Extra point  Is it all in good fun?  Tebow invites scrutiny with the very public nature of his religious beliefs, his evangelistic side. But let’s imagine that a player displayed a Muslim religious ritual or one based on Hinduism? Would it be fair to mock those displays as well? If not, why is it fair game for Tebow?

Does Tim Tebow Look Like an N.F.L. Starter to You?

Just to be clear: Matt Prater won Sunday’s Broncos game with a 52-yard field goal in overtime. Tim Tebow did not snap for it, hold for it or kick it.

But he will get most of the credit for the win anyway.

The unstoppable force that is the Tebow Legend got a new chapter on Sunday, when he shrugged off a day full of wayward passes and crunching sacks in his first start this season to direct a comeback that gave the Broncos an 18-15 victory over the Dolphins. Denver emerged from the game with a victory, but does Coach John Fox still need a quarterback?

Judy Battista covered the game for The Times, and she summed up the good and the bad of Tebow’s day in a few quick paragraphs:

For 55 minutes, Tim Tebow had barely looked like a functioning N.F.L quarterback. He took sacks and threw poorly. He was hesitant and overwhelmed.

The Broncos’ coaching staff, which had made him the starter just two weeks ago, had so little confidence in him that through three quarters, he attempted just eight passes.

But with five minutes left and the Miami Dolphins playing prevent defense, Tebow turned into the player who inspires fans to erect billboards and opposing teams to honor him when he visits, rallying the Broncos to two touchdowns.

And when Denver lined up for the 2-point attempt that would send the game to overtime, it seemed that only the Dolphins had never seen highlights from Tebow’s Heisman Trophy-winning career. They had their defense spread across the field, leaving gaping holes between each player. Tebow took the snap and ran off right tackle, untouched, for the conversion.

From there, the result seemed a fait accompli.

Of course the Broncos won. Because nothing ever seems to go wrong for Tebow, especially in Florida, where he could probably run for governor — and win. Tebow won a state title in high school, two B.C.S. crowns and a Heisman Trophy with the Gators, then scrubbed the state’s beaches clean using only a washcloth and warded off hurricanes by standing on the sand and staring them down as they pondered coming ashore. (O.K., only parts of that sentence are true, although maybe some in Florida would argue that all of it is.)

But Tebow doesn’t play in Florida anymore. He plays in Denver, and Sunday’s victory made the Broncos’ Tebow conundrum only more maddening. Is he the miscast fullback/quarterback who threw for only 24 yards in the first three quarters on Sunday, when he had more sacks (4) than completions (3)? Or is he the proven winner who directed drives of 80 and 56 yards to force overtime.

Sure, Sunday’s comeback was stirring — “Denver and Tebow have won!” the CBS announcer Kevin Harlan said as Prater’s field goal sailed through — but Gregg Rosenthal of Pro Football Talk laid most of the credit for Tebow’s success at the feet of a horrible performance by the Dolphins.

When Tebow missed throws, he often missed them by 10-15 yards. The Broncos wouldn’t let him throw on third down. It was one of the worst 55 minutes of quarterback play I’ve ever seen. At one point, the crowd chanted “Tebow sucks.” He didn’t remotely look like an NFL quarterback.

Jim Rome wrote on Twitter:

Tim Tebow looked like an H-back trying to play QB for most of the game. Credit for beating the NFL’s worst, I guess. He has a long way to goMon Oct 24 02:05:58 via webJim Rome
jimrome

… and then said half of his responses said: “Hater.”

But Yahoo’s Jason Cole, noting Tebow was intermittently awful and inspiring, wrote that Tebow may be winning over some of the people that matter, like the Broncos executive John Elway, who Cole notes “knows more than a few things about improbable comebacks.

While some people, including Denver coach John Fox, will talk about “competitive spirit” and how Tebow has the “it” factor you need to be great, here’s something to consider: Denver rallied in this game after finally taking the shackles off Tebow. He was put in the four-receiver, shotgun offense he was so good in at Florida and was allowed to play without thinking.

“You’re reacting more than thinking,” Elway said.

Or as Denver safety Brian Dawkins said: “When it gets to crunch time, he trusts what he sees, and that’s what I see [from him]. He trust things and he’ll let it just fly. Early on in the game, he was maybe second-guessing things. But at the end of the day, he’s a guy who’s going to continue to fight, continue to scrap and use his arm, his legs or whatever to get the job done.”

The fans spoke clearly on The Denver Post’s Web site, where readers voting in a poll wanted Tebow to remain the starter — and with fewer restrictions — by at least a four-to-one margin. But count SI.com’s Don Banks among the skeptics:

Are the Broncos really any closer to knowing if Tebow is their long-term answer at quarterback based on Sunday’s rollercoaster ride against the still-winless Dolphins? I don’t think so. How can they be? They saw Tebow struggle mightily for most of the game, with woefully inaccurate passing, poor pocket presence and a case of happy feet that surfaced again and again.

And while none other than LeBron James took to Twitter to call Tebow “a winner” — prompting a stream of invective from others, especially in Miami, who pointed out that he hasn’t earned the right to talk on that subject — but even Tebow acknowledged he still has a long way to go as a quarterback.

“I need to get a lot better, that’s for sure,” Tebow told reporters. “It’s my fault that we were in that position in the first place. I just have to play better in the first three quarters so we don’t have to make that comeback in the fourth.”

Extra point: Would you want Tebow running the controls of your team, no matter what it looked like, on the chance that he might regularly find a way to win?

N.F.L. Week 3 Film Review, Including Jets-Raiders

A closer look at some of the games in Week 3, via film analysis.

Jets O vs. Raiders D

The Jets came out with a very identifiable approach. In the run game, it was sweeps outside to take advantage of the offensive tackles’ athleticism and get Shonn Greene going downhill (he can be terrific when he has momentum). In the pass game, Mark Sanchez rolled out off play-fakes. This was all the Jets did through the air in the first half. The logic behind it was smart. The Raiders play almost exclusively man coverage. Play-action extends the play and forces defensive backs to hold their man coverage longer. Also, if the linebackers bite on the fake, the nature of man-defense usually carries them out of position. The Jets had a good formula, but the Raiders caught on in the second half. The linebackers did a better job of identifying LaDainian Tomlinson’s routes out of the backfield. That was critical because the corners were already stifling Jets receivers (Santonio Holmes was nowhere to be found in this one). Oakland also anticipated Sanchez’s designed pocket movement, which led to four second-half sacks.

Raiders O vs. Jets D
It was a solid performance by the Raiders in which they took advantage of favorable field position and made a few timely big plays. They finished with a somewhat misleading 234 yards rushing. Twenty-seven of those yards came off a lucky Darren McFadden scramble from an unsuccessful halfback option pass and 23 came off an outstanding improvisational scamper by Denarius Moore on a reverse. Earlier in the game, McFadden got 70 yards on one spectacular outside run (pure speed on that play). The Jet linebackers need to play better.

The Raiders’ offensive line won the trench battle, both with stellar run-blocking (center Samson Satele had his best game in years) and in identifying the Jets’ pass-rushing concepts. This was important considering the Raiders came in knowing that they wouldn’t be able to throw on Darrelle Revis and knowing, as usual, that they often wouldn’t ask Jason Campbell to make more than two, sometimes three, reads on a given play.

Vikings O vs. Lions D
You can talk about Minnesota’s play-calling all you want, but this game was dictated by Detroit’s outstanding defensive line. The Lions realized after the first quarter that their down four could readily outperform Minnesota’s down five. Thus, the Lions were able to play seven men in coverage, which allowed their cornerbacks to tighten on wideouts Michael Jenkins and Bernard Berrian (two guys who struggle to get downfield against good coverage). Detroit also curtailed Minnesota’s rushing attack by having defensive backs fly into the run front on the outside (the Vikings were running almost exclusively outside in the second half because Ndamukong Suh and Corey Williams owned the trenches). The defensive backs often did not take down Adrian Peterson, but their presence forced him to stop his feet, which is the only reason Detroit’s fast outside backers (Justin Durant and DeAndre Levy) were able to reach him. This is a great illustration of the type of problems that a meager offensive line and limited receiving corps will continue to cause for the Vikings in 2011.

Lions O vs. Vikings D
Detroit spent most of the game throwing between the numbers out of three-receiver shotgun sets. They clearly liked the matchup of tight end Brandon Pettigrew (a big, plodding but effective runner) against Viking linebackers. Jahvid Best’s contributions came in the receiving department, as the Lions knew they didn’t have a powerful enough front line to move the Vikings off the ball in the ground game. Minnesota’s defensive front four was outstanding. Ends Jared Allen and Brian Robison both reached the quarterback with speed off the edge and held their ground consistently against the run. The Vikings, however, did not have a cornerback who could match Calvin Johnson’s athleticism (most teams don’t) or an answer for Detroit’s inside passing game. Over all, Matthew Stafford did a good job reading the field.

49ers O vs. Bengals D
The Niners’ victory was a product of their defense’s effort. The offense went in with a “don’t botch it” gameplan. In that sense, they succeeded; their only turnover was a Frank Gore fumble that gave the Bengals three extra points in the fourth quarter. Still, it was an unsettlingly rudimentary gameplan for an offense that didn’t even bother attacking vertically. The passing game ran through Vernon Davis, who consistently got open thanks to his ability to execute a variety of routes from a variety of alignments. That was the only creative aspect to the plan – and, as it turned out, the only one San Francisco needed. San Francisco’s offensive line must play with more consistency, and Alex Smith must make quicker (much quicker) decisions in the pocket.

Bengals O vs. 49ers D
After Cincinnati’s impressive opening drive, San Francisco’s secondary closed off the intermediate quick routes and took away Andy Dalton’s simplistic first reads. Dalton proved to be far less effective when he wasn’t able to make throws from a clean pocket. That might be a consequence of his mediocre arm strength (which is usually a key aspect of improvisational quarterbacking). Dalton is accurate, but his inexperience is showing. If the Bengals had this game to do over again, they almost certainly would not have waited until late in the fourth quarter to split out tight end Jermaine Gresham and feature him in the passing attack. He was a killer late in the fourth. Credit the 49ers front seven for another strong game. End Ray McDonald and outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks were particularly impressive. McDonald was in attack mode all afternoon and outplayed right tackle Andre Smith (who needs to get meaner and use his raw power). The agile Brooks consistently got in the backfield against both the run and pass.

Broncos O vs. Titans D
The Broncos couldn’t overcome their lack of firepower. With Knowshon Moreno out, there was no backfield speed to rely on. Virtually every time Willis McGahee took the handoff and finally got back to the line of scrimmage, he’d be met by a heap of bodies. Fullback Spencer Larsen did not get great movement as a lead-blocker, and the Broncos offensive line as a whole had trouble displacing Tennessee’s low-leveraged defensive tackles (Shaun Smith was particularly impressive). With no backfield or outside speed to work with, Kyle Orton was compelled to dink and dunk in the flats. That’s always an easy formula to defend, especially for a Titans D that has firm tackling corners and solid pass-defending outside linebackers.

Titans O vs. Broncos D
The Titans should be very encouraged by what they saw from Matt Hasselbeck. After struggling to grasp a new system in August, he has found his comfort zone. Hasselbeck was confident and efficient in his reads and benefitted from a few impressive catches by Nate Washington. It’s encouraging that Tennessee was able to move the ball respectably despite losing receiver Kenny Britt early and getting nothing out of their run game. The explanation for this week’s stagnant run game is that Chris Johnson was, for whatever reason, slower out of the backfield than usual. He’s having to see the holes before he shifts into top gear. In the N.F.L., you have to instinctively locate the hole the second the ball is snapped. Johnson didn’t have great help; Tennessee’s interior offensive linemen were unable to generate movement and power. Broncos defensive tackle Broderick Bunkley played extremely well on running downs, while Joe Mays played exactly how you want your 4-3 Mike ‘backer to play.

Ravens O vs. Rams D
With aging cornerback Al Harris and undrafted second-year pro Darian Stewart having prominent roles in the Rams’ secondary this game, Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron came out firing deep. The Ravens executed a lot of deliberately designed big plays, mainly off play-action. Rookie wideout Torrey Smith, who was not relevant the first two games this season, filled in for an injured Lee Evans and lit the world on fire. Smith has natural instincts for tracking the ball and can accelerate late in his sprint. After Smith scored three first-quarter touchdowns, the Rams rolled safety help to his side and started losing one-on-one matchups underneath to Ed Dickson and Anquan Boldin.

To give you an idea of just how aggressive the Ravens were through the air, Smith’s second and third touchdowns were both preceded by unsuccessful deep bombs in his direction. It was a barrage of deep strikes. Clearly, Cameron and Jim Harbaugh have developed more trust in Joe Flacco. Baltimore’s dynamic passing attack opened up the run game and made life easy for Ray Rice and Ricky Williams. Right guard Marshal Yanda was terrific as a playside run-blocker. As for the Rams, no players stood out – they were all back on their heels in the first quarter and, strategically, a step behind with their blitzes in the second and third quarters.

Rams O vs. Ravens D
Just as with the other side of the ball, Baltimore outcoached and outperformed St. Louis. Physically, the Rams didn’t have an answer for the voracious and supple Terrell Suggs or the immovable Terrence Cody (the second-year pro appears to be blossoming quickly). Strategically, they couldn’t solve Baltimore’s presnap disguises. When the Rams had base personnel on the field, the Ravens played coverage; when the Rams had extra receivers, the Ravens blitzed. Both tactics seemed to catch Josh McDaniels and Company off-guard. Part of the problem is the Rams receivers don’t have enough quickness to consistently create separation on their own.

Andy Benoit is an N.F.L. analyst for CBSSports.com and founder of NFLTouchdown.com. He can be reached at andy.benoit@NFLTouchdown.com or @Andy_Benoit.