Why Bill Belichick Is Too Smart to Let Tim Tebow Terrorize New England Patriots

Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos enter Sunday's matchup with the New England Patriots on an improbably six-game win streak. But if anyone can draw up a defense to stop Denver's Tebow-based offense, it's Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.

While the Patriots are currently dead-last in the NFL in total defense (allowing 416.0 yards per game) almost all of that damage has come through the air. The Pats are last in the league in passing defense, surrendering 308.7 yards per game. But against the run, which is where Tebow and the Broncos make their money, New England ranks 13th, allowing just 107.3 yards per game.

Denver's offense went through a transformation when Tebow took over and now the Broncos boast the NFL's top rushing offense (averaging 156.2 yards per game). The problem is, Belichick and the Patriots should be able to at least slow down the Broncos on the ground. The team's defense is simply too good and too well-coached to be beaten by such a run-focused attack.

That means that Tebow is going to have to be successful through the air if the Broncos (8-5) hope to beat the Patriots (10-3). He hasn't proven he can win a game that way against a good team. Belichick is almost certain to force Tebow to beat his team via the pass.

Despite his team not turning in great numbers on defense this season, Belichick is undoubtedly one of the league's top defensive minds. I'm sure he will look at stopping Tebow as a big-time challenge and I expect him to draw something up that will stop the second-year quarterback from getting another win.