With Tim Tebow it isn’t worth getting caught up in the statistics usually used to analyze quarterbacks.
The Broncos second year quarterback has led Denver (6-5) to five wins in six games since becoming the team’s starter. Win No. 6 could come on Sunday afternoon at Mall of America Field against the Vikings (2-9).
It should come as no surprise that the born-again Christian does some of his best work on Sundays. It’s just the way he often looks doing the job that is unconventional by NFL quarterback standards. With a throwing motion only his mother could love, Tebow doesn’t look too pretty and neither do his stats. His passer rating is 80.5, way below the best in the NFL who are over 100, and Tebow has only tossed eight touchdown passes in six games.
But winning five of six games — often in dramatic fashion — is a pretty nice story for the Broncos who also have an improved defense and are contenders to win the AFC West. The five Tebow-led wins have come by a total of 21 points. Four of the triumphs are by a combined 14 points.
Tebow points toward the heavens on Sundays and Broncos fans gesture toward No. 15 as a savior (so far). The 24-year-old quarterback, who averages 5.8 yards rushing and has scored three touchdowns, won the Heisman Trophy and played on two national championship teams at Florida.
Tebow’s college success gave him a stage for promoting his faith. He’s spoken up for God in front of prison inmates and converts halfway around the world. In football locker rooms teammates have recognized his leadership and rallied around him.
Good things seem to happen for Tebow who at 6-3 and 236 pounds looks like a fullback trying to play quarterback. Playing with Tebow, the Broncos have bucked the NFL pass-happy formula to success — instead relying on a few timely throws, a lot of running (including by No. 15) and a tight defense. It all seems to work out even if Tebow has produced minimal yards and points. He’s only been intercepted once and although he’s fumbled five times, he’s recovered four.
The Broncos run the spread-option offense Tebow had so much success with at Florida. To Vikings veteran placekicker Ryan Longwell the switch to that offense is a smart move of fitting personnel to a scheme, not the other way around.
“I think the thing is there are so many people in this league that are so stubborn about running their system, no matter what the player can do well,” Longwell told Sports Headliners. “You gotta give credit to the Broncos and (head coach John) Fox and those guys for knowing they have a special, special player who can do something really well, and they’ve tweaked their offense to do it.”
So with all the success and momentum of Tebow and his teammates, dare we ask if God has become a Broncos fan?
“Well, it’s certainly hard to argue against it,” Longwell said. “There’s no reason to believe He isn’t.”