Denver Broncos vs New England Patriots: Tim is Good, but Tom is a Legend

Over the last seven weeks, I have written a handful of Tim Tebow articles commending him on his heroics, skills and utter will to win games. The day before he was given the starting job, I predicted the Broncos to win at least six games the remainder of the season, and most readers laughed up a storm. Who was Tim going to throw to? Could he even throw the ball? Who was Tim going to hand the ball off to? What was that defense going to do?

At that point, not only were the playoffs a distant dream, but even being competitive in the division seemed to be hard to imagine. Now, just eight weeks later, Tim Tebow has led the Broncos to an astounding 7-1 record. Whether Tim is running the ball, passing the ball, or Tebowing, he has simply played lights out. He leads the team, has the well-documented “it” factor and has entirely changed the culture of the Denver Broncos. He runs when he needs to, reads the coverage on option plays and makes the game-changing plays with the game on the line.

All this being said, comparing a second year Tim to a legendary Tom Brady is simply not fair.

Let me be clear—this is not a knock on Tim Tebow. I have utmost respect for him, and think he will be a playmaker in the NFL for years to come. But comparing his skills and talents to Tom Brady is completely ridiculous. Over the last decade, Tom Brady has won three Super Bowls along with two Super Bowl MVP awards. Additionally, regardless of his recent uncharacteristic early playoff exits, he is unquestionably the best quarterback of the 2000s.

As of today, Aaron Rodgers is the closest thing we have to Tom Brady. His absurd winning percentage, consecutive win streaks, passing touchdowns in a single season and consecutive attempt streak without an interception are just some of the records Brady holds.

When these two quarterbacks go head-to-head this weekend, a lot is on the line. The Patriots continue to face pressure to win the Patriot way, and the Broncos are yearning for another “we have made it” type victory. There is no question that if the Broncos beat the Patriots, they officially become legitimate contenders in the AFC.

Will this be the year that the Broncos can beat the perennial Steelers, Ravens or Patriots in the playoffs? Probably not. But expect this to be the first of many years of divisional dominance and frequent competitors in the AFC.

My prediction for this Sunday’s game is to see Tom Brady lead the Patriots to a 31-21 victory. In this game, Tebow will not have the opportunity for fourth quarter heroics because Brady will simply put too many points up against a strong Broncos defense. When all is said and done, this will be a great maturing experience for the Broncos, and a game that they can learn from during their playoff run this year.