A pier 6 brawl almost broke out at my weekly poker game last week. Friends who gather together weekly to escape their wives and families for a few hours of male bonding, were about to come to blows over this thing called TEBOW.
You know how people say don't talk politics or religion unless you're ready to go to war. Now TEBOW has become the third entry into the war cocktail. Everyone has an opinion. Everyone takes a side. No bystanders. It’s visceral.
Tebow is a lightning rod because of his faith. Angels love him. Devils hate him. But is it that simple?
The Broncos didn’t do Tebow any favors taking him in the 1st round of the 2010 draft. Pretty much everybody thought the Broncos over-reached to select him. They gave up numerous picks to get back into the 1st round to grab him.
Then Josh McDaniels, the coach that had faith in him, was fired last season. In 2011 Kyle Orton won the starting job but sucked so bad at the start of the season, that the Broncos had to give the job to Tebow. And all Tebow has done is WIN.
He wins, epically, ugly, atrociously, mind bogglingly, bafflingly, electrically, religiously.
The scientists love him, and the artists hate him.
After arguing the Tebow thing all during the poker game, we then took the argument to the Internet. We found articles supporting our arguments and sent them to each other. And when the Tebows miraculously beat the Bears last Sunday all hell broke loose. We got no work done on Monday. It was Tebow emails all day. Which led me to send this email.
“My 2 cents. He's like a handicapped, retarded, underdog, Rudy. He is "excelling" at something he has no business excelling at. And it’s entertaining as hell to watch. No coincidence that they are winning with him. Change of style, limiting turnovers, and Miller/Dumervil mixed with Tebow will win you a lot of games.
When they get to the playoffs they will lose by 20. Better teams in a lose-and-go- home format will sell out to beat them!"
The Football Science
The Broncos will make the playoffs because the above formula they are using is solid for the regular season. The formula will pretty much get you a 9-7 record every season.
Play action passes are a QB’s best friend; ask any QB. They slow down the pass rush, and gives the QB more time to scan the field. So can you imagine an offense where there is a threat to run the ball on every play. The defense always has to look for the run even on normal passing downs and distances. Defenses can’t use specialized personnel so they end up having to over use their starters. The game is more physical. The offensive line gets to attack, instead of being attacked. Defense linemen love to attack passing offenses because they can be the hammer. But when they play a running team like the Broncos they end up being the nail. This takes a toll, and in the fourth quarter they are exhausted.
Tebow knows this. He is playing the rope-a-dope and it’s working to perfection. Plus Defense Coordinators don’t want to wreck their schemes for one game against Denver during the regular season. They put in a few wrinkles and hope for the best. But in the playoff when a Super Bowl is at stake a team will button up and go to work on the Broncos.
So from a football sense there is an explanation for what’s going on in the mile high city.
The Football Divinity
But I will acknowledge this…
The Broncos are getting every break in these close games, and Tebow takes full advantage of each of them. I can’t watch the start of Broncos games, but you can better believe I’m tuned into the fourth quarter. These fourth quarters have been unreal. Chicago had Tebow dead to rights last Sunday, but we didn’t account for the resurrection.
There are intagibles that can't be taught or measured. There is a certain synergy when there is a true leader in place that can drain every ounce of potential from himself and his followers. Belief can make strange things happen.
Tebow Time is real. It's sofaking fun. Let's just enjoy it while it lasts. It's a moment in time that we can all share.
Now lets see if the anti-Christ Belichick can drive a stake through this guys heart this week.
