Tim Tebow: Why Tebow Time Will Run out vs. the Patriots

Caught up in Tebow Mania, more than a few pundits have declared the Denver Broncos will defeat the New England Patriots in Week 15.

The reality is, such a thought is preposterous and shows just how much Tim Tebow has influenced the nation.

I understand the Broncos have won the last six games behind their second-year miracle worker. I understand the Patriots haven't exactly looked dominant the last couple of weeks against the Indianapolis Colts and Washington Redskins. I understand the Broncos have a young, emerging defense.

But we need to catch ourselves, people. The thought that the 8-5 Broncos would defeat the Patriots is hard for me to even fathom.

First of all, we have to look at whom the Broncos have faced. They've faced only two explosive offenses, the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions, and they lost to both teams by a combined score of 94-33.

It's not a matter of if the Broncos have beaten good teams; they have. They've beaten the Cincinnati Bengals, Oakland Raiders and New York Jets.

But the reality is all these teams have played into the Broncos' strengths. In the Bengals' and Jets' cases in particular, they didn't have the kind of overpowering offenses to distance themselves from the Broncos, leaving themselves open to losses in the closing minutes.

We have already discovered that Tebow and Co. have a knack for changing the outcomes of games in the second half. However, what happens if they fall behind by too much early on?

That's what I expect to happen against the Patriots, who are averaging 30.5 points per game this season, third best in the NFL.

There is the issue of Tom Brady's little argument on the sideline with offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Bill O'Brien in the closing minutes of Sunday's game. However, the Patriots have never been the type of team that falls apart. Instead, what doesn't kill them makes them stronger.

I've been just as amazed as anyone about the resurgence of the Denver Broncos, but the plain and simple fact is the Patriots are still worlds better at this point.