Broncos vs Patriots: Why Tim Tebow Time Was Always Bound to End in Disaster

Throughout the 2011 NFL season, Tim Tebow has been incredibly controversial, unconventional and, well, successful. The Denver Broncos won with Tebow at quarterback.

That all came to an end in the divisional round of the playoffs when the Broncos lost to the New England Patriots on Saturday night in a final score of 45-10. Some expected Tebow Time to come again and waited for lighting to strike.

But it never did.

And really, did Tebow ever have a chance? 

The Patriots were the No. 1 seed in the AFC, and the Broncos barely made the playoffs after winning just eight games in the regular season. 

Tebow was held back for a variety of reasons. Denver rarely looked pretty—even in its victories—and the Broncos looked especially ugly in defeat.

Yes, many thought Tebow could pull off the impossible, but in reality, he didn't have a prayer. Here's why...

Inability to Pass

Tim Tebow has been heavily criticized by analysts for his throwing ability. Tebow's slow, elongated release is most noticeable, and it is often costly. But that is far from Tebow's only flaw when it comes to passing the football.

The Florida product struggles to read defenses and isn't accurate when he does find an open receiver. Tebow's average arm strength doesn't help either, and he really isn't all that talented as a passer.

Decision-Making on the Option

Denver offensive coordinator Mike McCoy has been praised for his use of the option. It has been successful at times, but Tim Tebow is pretty bad at it.

Physically, Tebow is perfect for the option. He's big, fast, strong and can run. His decision-making is another story.

It seems like regardless of the situation, Tebow pitches the ball. Defenders will completely devote themselves to the running back, and Tebow will still pitch the football. This seriously hindered the Broncos' offensive success.

Surrounding Talent

It is said that the Broncos made the playoffs because of Tim Tebow, but really, they made it because they play in a terrible division. Denver doesn't have a very talented team, and they have a lot of work to do before they can consistently win.

On offense, the Broncos don't have much at running back or wide receiver. There isn't a single elite player to help out Tebow, and Denver's offensive line is nothing special either.

Defensively, Denver has Von Miller, Champ Bailey and Elvis Dumervil. Their other players are all average or below-average. This defense could never stop New England or any other good offense.

Tom Brady and the New England Offense

In case you haven't noticed, the New England Patriots have a pretty good offense. Tom Brady is one of the game's top three quarterbacks and is surrounded by some great talent. Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez all had excellent seasons.

The Patriots also have a great offensive line. All the linemen are fairly talented and work well together. Few offensive lines are better in pass-protection, and Brady can pick apart the best defense when he has time to throw.

There are only one or two offenses better than New England's. The Broncos could never stop the Patriots from scoring a ton of points, and there's nothing Tim Tebow could do about that.

Bill Belichick

As long as Bill Belichick is in New England, the Patriots will have a chance. Belichick has developed a reputation for being a genius, and rightfully so. Belichick did what Dick LeBeau could not—stop Tim Tebow.

It doesn't take a ton of talent to stop the option. It does take intelligence, awareness and perseverance. Belichick picks out players with these specific traits, and he coaches them up too. No coach is more focused on the intangibles.

But it's not just about stopping Tim Tebow. You can bet that Belichick spent the previous week motivating the Patriots by telling them how amazing everyone thought Tim Tebow was. How legendary he was, how great of a guy he was.

The score shows how effective that strategy was.