Steelers vs. Broncos: Denver Foolish to Even Consider Benching Tim Tebow

The Denver Broncos don't stand much of a chance against the playoff-tested Pittsburgh Steelers in their wild-card showdown today.

Since Denver's last playoff appearance in 2005, Pittsburgh has won two Super Bowls and appeared in a third.

Their quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, is as clutch as they come and their defense continues to be their driving force. It is easy to see why, too.

Not only does Pittsburgh have elite talent, but they also have consistency. Not just as a team, but as an organization.

It is safe to say that the Broncos, who late last season benched former starter Kyle Orton for Tim Tebow but named Orton the 2011 starter until Tebow took over again this year in Week 7, have none of that.

Even after Tebow turned a 1-4 start into a playoff appearance, the Broncos have refused to commit to him as their quarterback. In fact, there is even talk of him being benched for Brady Quinn in today's Wild Card Game should Tebow struggle early.

According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, coach John Fox is prepared to make that switch:

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One source said that the Broncos have a package for Quinn to be used in second-and-long or third-and-long situations.

Now, multiple sources tell PFT that coach John Fox is prepared to bench Tebow, if he struggles once again.

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Tebow's struggles of late are well-documented, but coach Fox would be a fool to bench his starting quarterback against Pittsburgh.

For starters, Brady Quinn is a career 52-percent passer with 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He's failed to hold a starting job during his career and he's never appeared in the postseason. 

Why the Broncos believe thrusting him into a playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers is going to be successful is beyond me.

Quinn is certainly a more traditional quarterback presence, but he hasn't played in an NFL game since December of 2009.

How they could (potentially) make that type of decision for a playoff game isn't just desperate; it is foolish.

The Broncos' defensive turnaround played a big part in their success this season, but Tebow's late-game heroics cannot be denied.

He may be an unorthodox quarterback, but he's proven that he can win games and he's earned the right to finish out this season under center.

If Tebow fails to perform today against the Steelers, at least the Broncos organization will have something to take away from this game and season. But if they opt to bench him for Brady Quinn, they'll start another offseason with inconsistency and uncertainty.

This is same problem that has plagued this organization since their decision-maker, John Elway, retired.

Not only has Tebow earned the right to play out this season, the Broncos have the right to let their fans see exactly what they have or don't have.

Benching Tim Tebow against the Steelers won't just be the storyline of the Wild Card Game, it will add more uncertainty to the Broncos' future.