Tim Tebow: Why Tebow Is the Broncos' Only Hope

Tim Tebow would’ve, could’ve and should’ve been the difference in the Denver Broncos loss to the Tennessee Titans. Failing to start Tebow isn’t what killed Denver in the end. But after a poor performance by Kyle Orton and another painful loss, handing over the reins to the former Florida Gator is the way to go.

Early in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s contest, the Broncos held a 14 to 10 lead with the football on the Titans own two yard-line with four downs to get into the end zone. The game was in the bag; with Chris Johnson ineffective and Kenny Britt out for the game after a knee injury, Tennessee didn’t have had enough firepower to come back down two scores. 

With four downs and just two yards to go, that is where Denver should’ve turned to Tebow.

There isn’t a chance in the world given four shots at the goal line that the powerful Tebow would’ve failed to find pay dirt. His ability in short yardage situations is what set him apart in college. He carried that success to the NFL where he rushed for six touchdowns last season.

Instead of inserting Tebow into the game for an automatic touchdown though, the stubborn John Fox stuck with Orton. An in-completion and two stuffed Willis McGahee runs later and it was fourth and goal on the one. 

Instead of simply taking a seven-point lead with a chip-shot field goal, Fox went for the kill and paid the price. Tennessee’s front-seven held strong on a goal line stand to remember and the Titans rode that momentum to a 17-14 victory.

Following a Matt Hasselbeck go-ahead touchdown, Orton had over four minutes to orchestrate a game-winning drive; he couldn’t even put together a game-tying drive though. On the Titans 39-yard line, Orton’s second interception of the day ended Denver’s comeback hopes. The 28-year old passer is not a franchise-caliber quarterback and must be replaced.

Orton has a passer rating of 79.1 this season. In his rookie season, Tebow recorded a passer rating of 82.1. How Orton is in another league as quarterback than Tebow I’ll never know.

Tebow is more of a dual threat, a better leader, the fiercer competitor and harder worker. When Orton’s superior ability to throw the football and read a defense fails, turning to the quarterback who’s better at everything else is the right decision. 

The Broncos are 1-2 and about to be 1-4 as they’ll be forced to face off against the Green Bay Packers and San Diego Chargers the next two weeks; Tebow is Denver’s only hope to salvage their season.

David Daniels is a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report and a Syndicated Writer.  Follow him on Twitter.