Tim Tebow: Why the Legend Has to End with a Super Bowl Victory

“Tebow Time.” That would likely be the title if the Denver Broncos' 2011 season was made into a movie tomorrow. However, without a Super Bowl win, the movie would lack the feel-good happy ending.

When Tim Tebow took over for Kyle Orton as the Broncos' starting quarterback midway through the season, no one expected the results that followed: a six-game winning streak and a playoff berth.

For starters, the quarterback had been overlooked by two Denver coaching staffs, had little NFL experience and was not a proven pro passer.

Despite the odds, Tebow prevailed and a national level of infatuation for the young quarterback ensued. His team has his back and his style, though unorthodox, was winning games (to no discredit of the Broncos defense.) And so, after multiple miraculous victories, “Tebow Time” was born.

The “Tebow Time” catch phrase NFL fans came to know, love and use frequently was once again brought alive today. Leading for most of the game, Denver allowed Pittsburgh to sneak back in and nearly pull of the win before the Broncos defense managed a big stop to force overtime.

As soon as the coin tossed in the Broncos’ favor, overtime instantly became “Tebow Time,” (with a little help from Demaryius Thomas.) Winning the toss, the Broncos elected to receive the ball first and all it took was a single opportunity for Tebow to once again pull off a miracle.

On the first play, Tebow set up in shotgun, received the snap, dropped back and let it fly to Thomas, who proceeded to gather 80 yards for the touchdown and the win.

The win earned the Broncos another playoff game next week, against the New England Patriots.

As a refresher, New England was the team who originally ended Tebow’s impressive six-game win streak during the regular season, scoring 41 points and holding the quarterback to no touchdowns on 11/22 passing.

Tebow did manage 93 yards and two rushing touchdowns against the Pats, but that was not enough to set up even the possibility of a glamorous finish.  

The Broncos lost 41-23 and proceeded to go into a three-game skid to finish the regular season, a result which many believed was the end of the Tebow phenomenon.

Then today happened, the heroics came back to life and Denver reopened the storybook, adding yet another chapter.

The Broncos take down the Steelers, Tebow throws a game-winner on the first play of overtime and finishes with 316 passing yards against the best defense in the NFL.  Not only were Tebow’s 316 the most passing yards allowed by the Steelers all season, but making the story just a little bit more interesting, John 3:16 happens to be Tebow’s favorite biblical verse.

And so, the Tebow magic continues a little longer. However, if the results against New England next week resemble anything near that of the two teams’ Week 15 matchup, this sensational story will come to an abrupt ending, losing much of its glamour.

In the playoffs, only one team prevails; therefore, the only team who finishes with a happy ending are the Super Bowl champions.