Tim Tebow vs. Tom Brady: Why Both QBs Just Have the 'It' Factor

Tim Tebow and Tom Brady.

One is seen as a quarterback with tremendous running skills aided by underwhelming passing skills, but has unmeasurable intangibles.

The other is seen as the "golden boy," winning three Super Bowls in his first four seasons starting for the Patriots, while quickly establishing himself as one of the clutchest quarterbacks of all time by leading go-ahead drives in the fourth quarter of all three Super Bowl victories.

Tebow is a second-year player who looks to be leading the Broncos to their first playoff berth since 2005, while Brady is a 12th-year vet who has already entrenched himself as one of the greatest players of all time.

These two players couldn't be more different when it comes to their skills on the playing field.

One can run the football better than just about any quarterback in the league, the other can pass the football better than just about any quarterback in the league.

One barely completes 50 percent of his passes, the other can't run if his life depended upon it, but makes completing 67 percent of his passes look way too easy.

One is 245 pounds of brute strength; the other is, well, an unimpressive 225 pounds.

Brady is a two-time MVP, three-time Super Bowl champion and a two-time Super Bowl MVP. Even if Brady were to retire today, he would go down as a top 10 quarterback of all time, and arguably a top five player of all time.

Before the season began, the NFL Network held a weeks-long TV special naming the 100 best players in the game today. Brady was voted No. 1.

Tebow is 7-1 as a starter in 2011, leading the Broncos into the driver's seat of the AFC West division title. They had amassed an 8-24 record over the past 32 games before Tebow was named the full-time starter.

For those that aren't aware, that was the worst record in the NFL over the past two seasons.

Brady is obviously more established. Tebow is like that new kid on the block that everybody is infatuated with.

As different as these quarterbacks are, what is the one thing that these players share?

That "it" factor.

That "it" factor is something that can't be measured in statistics. It can't be measured by watching a player throw the football down the field at a practice or a combine.

It is something that is on display when your team is facing adversity. It is something that is on display when that player himself is facing adversity. It is something that can rally an entire team, just because of that one player's "it" factor.

Brady has "it."

His first season as a starting quarterback for a franchise that had gone 5-11 the previous season?

He led them to a Super Bowl victory over one of the greatest teams of all time in the 2001 Rams. In doing so, he led one of the greatest upsets in Super Bowl history and led the game-winning drive with just a minute or so remaining when everybody in the stadium, including John Madden, wanted him to just run out the clock so the Patriots could play for overtime.

Super Bowl 38 vs. the Carolina Panthers? Does the same thing.

Super Bowl 39 vs. the Philadelphia Eagles? Leads the go-ahead touchdown drive to put the game away in the fourth quarter.

It's 2007 and every non-Patriots fan hates you and New England for Spygate. What does Brady do?

Leads the team to a 16-0 record. Breaks the single-season touchdown record. Helps Randy Moss do the same for the receiving touchdown record. Goes one game, perhaps one drive away from leading his team to immortality and "greatest team of all time" status.

Tebow also has "it."

Down 15-0 with just five minutes remaining and you're having the worst possible game a quarterback can have?

Leads the team to a 18-15 victory in overtime, becoming the first quarterback to lead a team to victory after being down by 15 points with just a couple of minutes remaining since the merger in 1970.

Down by 10 points to the Raiders in the second half? No problem.

Complete only two passes against Kansas City and still win the game? Not even an issue.

Down 13-10 at your own 5-yard line with just five minutes remaining? Become the first quarterback to ever win a game on a 20-yard touchdown run with that amount of time remaining.

Lead fourth quarter comebacks against San Diego and Minnesota on the road? Nothing unusual.

Down 10-0 against Chicago with just over two minutes remaining after having gone 11 consecutive possessions of non-scoring football, then leading your team to victory in overtime?

That's what you call the "it" factor.

As different as these quarterbacks may be in size, personality, stats and skill sets, there is always one thing that these quarterbacks will have in common.

"It."