Steelers vs. Broncos: Tim Tebow Proves He's a Franchise QB

Tim Tebow made a fad a standard.

Troy Polamalu, James Harrison and the Pittsburgh Steelers defense were fully expected to expose the lie that is the Denver Broncos offense.  Instead, they exposed the truth that Tebow is a legitimate franchise quarterback.

Against the No. 1 pass defense in the entire NFL, the quarterback labeled a running back under center threw for 316 passing yards and two touchdowns including the 80-yard game-winner in overtime.  Tebow added 50 yards and another touchdown on the ground, and the Broncos shocked the football universe, knocking off the Steelers 29-26.

If he would’ve been shut down by the Steelers, John Elway may have just pulled the plug on the Tebow experiment.  But after success on a win-or-go-home stage against the best defense in the league, not a soul should doubt his credibility as the Broncos' franchise QB.

In the vast majority of Tebow victories this season, critics claimed that the quarterback’s teammates bailed him out.  Against the Steelers, he bailed them out.  Up seven points in the fourth quarter, Denver’s offense was driving before a Willis McGahee fumble led to a Ben Roethlisberger-touchdown pass to tie the game.

The Broncos had blown a 20-6 halftime lead just like that.  But in OT, the inaccurate, erratic Tebow threw an 18-yard dart to Demaryius Thomas in stride, and the freak athlete wide receiver did the rest.

An elite defense was supposed to be able to abuse Tebow.  The New York Jets and Chicago Bears weren’t good enough, but the Steelers…welcome to the slaughterhouse.  But apparently a defense with five Pro Bowlers isn't good enough either.

Denver’s game against the New England Patriots next round is irrelevant for Tebow’s future.  If Dick Lebeau, the greatest defensive mind in the league, can’t shut down the Broncos' gimmick offense, then it isn’t a gimmick.  The run-heavy, unorthodox offensive attack is here to stay and so is its general.

David Daniels is a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

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