Why Tim Tebow's Playoff Run Is Good for the NFL and the Pittsburgh Steelers

Tim Tebow is a polarizing player and individual, but he has unquestionably brought more attention to football than ever before.

His play has been both horrific and electrifying, and his off-field persona has sparked a serious debate about the role of religion in sports.

All this brings the NFL more interest than ever before. His Week 15 loss to the Patriots was one of the most watched regular-season games of all time, as everyone wanted to see if Tebow could handle a juggernaut of a team in the Patriots.

Tebow's success also works out well for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who will meet the Broncos in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs. With Ben Roethlisberger hobbled by an ankle injury, the Steelers could not hope to survive a shootout, but Ben should have just enough juice in him to handle the low-scoring Broncos.

Increased Revenues

When Tim Tebow plays, people watch. He has raised Nielsen ratings for the NFL and the Denver Broncos, and more viewers means more money.

Further, Tebow sells tickets. He has excited a fanbase that had little to be excited about for years, and Denver fans have come out in droves to support their new quarterback.

Finally, Tebow jerseys are among the most popular jerseys in the NFL. His appeal is universal, as both men and women can't wait to put on a Tim Tebow jersey. Even as a backup quarterback, his jersey sales were strong. With his recent success, they have gone through the roof.

The NFL is a business, and players like Tim Tebow are what keep that business afloat.

A Rejuvenated Denver Broncos Franchise

After Josh McDaniels' dismantling of the Denver Broncos franchise, Broncos fans had little to be excited about for years. With the mediocre Kyle Orton at quarterback, the Broncos looked to be going nowhere.

Enter Tim Tebow.

The fans' calls for Tebow were finally answered, and he did not disappoint. His miraculous comebacks gave Broncos fans hope again—something that cannot be overstated.

Even though he is just a marginal quarterback and his throwing motion is a disaster, Tebow is someone the fans can rally behind. As long as the fans believe in him, Tebow will have a place in Denver.

Endless Discussion

Everyone has an opinion on Tim Tebow, and people continue to listen to the discussions.

People may have tired of Tebowmania, but Terrell Suggs reignited the discussion with his harsh criticisms of Tebow. When a new perspective on Tebow comes up, people listen.

It seems that ESPN cannot go a single day without discussing Tebow, but Tebow has also inspired SNL sketches, news stories and even church sermons. With a widespread media reach, Tim Tebow has allowed the NFL to become a topic of discussion for everyone.

Allowing the Steelers Defense to Look Young Again

The Steelers defense is old and slow, but still incredibly dangerous. They haven't played their best football lately, but going against Tim Tebow, they should look like the impenetrable defense that we are accustomed to seeing.

Tim Tebow has led the Broncos to the 31st-ranked passing offense in the NFL. This has led to the Denver Broncos scoring less than 20 points per game. Worse still, Tebow could only manage three points against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Lost in Tebowmania is the fact that the Denver Broncos defense has been winning games, not the offense. Tebow has scraped by, doing just enough to keep the Broncos from losing.

Against the Steelers, Tebow won't be able to scrape by. The Steelers feast on young quarterbacks, and they should pressure Tebow and force him into numerous mistakes.

They are too big and strong for him to run over them, and they are too smart to fall for his tricks. The Steelers defense should dominate Tim Tebow.

Allowing Ben Roethlisberger to Play Conservative

Ben Roethlisberger has not been himself lately. After injuring his ankle, he has lacked mobility and has had trouble moving the ball as a result.

Luckily for Big Ben, the Steelers offense won't have to do much. As long as they avoid mistakes, they should be able to score just enough to win the game.

With Denver being stifled by the Steelers defense, Ben Roethlisberger will only have to do the bare minimum in this game. The Steelers will likely run the ball frequently, and the Broncos have not had great success against the run. This should allow Roethlisberger to relax and play mistake-free, conservative football.

Because the Steelers can afford to play conservative, Roethlisberger should be able to avoid reinjuring his ankle, allowing him to tune up for the rest of the playoffs.