Tim Tebow Proves Critics Wrong With Accuracy
Tim Tebow critics have often debated that his inaccurate passing skills have prevented him from being a solid NFL QB, but he has gone a long way to proving them wrong with a precise pass to clinch an overtime win for his team in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.
The polarizing Christian QB managed to throw a career-high 316 yards and two touchdown passes in Denver’s 29-23 OT win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tebow’s 80-yard touchdown pass to Broncos’ wide receiver Demaryius Thomas clinched the game for his team on Sunday.
Although Tebow’s passing accuracy secured the win for his team on Sunday, his throwing skills have been publicly ridiculed. In a recent Saturday Night Live spoof, a fictitious Jesus Christ gave Tebow some advice, one week before a losing streak with his team.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
“Stretch. Get the arm warm, read the playbook. Do you read that,” the fictional holy figure asked a Tebow character on the show. “You don't win unless (Matt Prater) hits a 59-yarder.”
However, criticism of Tebow’s passing game started even before he was appointed to the starting QB position on his team. Merril Hoge, ESPN analyst, engaged in the public scrutiny of Tebow when fans were calling for the Christian QB to start over Kyle Orton in August.
“He is awful as far as accuracy goes and what's kind of even more disturbing, he's probably worse moving and running around with the football and throwing than he is from the pocket,” Hoge said in a statement on the ESPN network.
The analyst also souned off on Tebow via Twitter, saying that it would be embarrassing for him to lead the Broncos’ offense over Orton.
“Sitting watching tape of Bronco offense from last year,” Hoge tweeted in August. “Orton or Tebow? It's embarrassing to think the broncos could win with Tebow!!"
Despite the multitude of criticism Tebow has received this season, the QB managed to take his team to the 2011-2012 NFL playoffs Wild Card round, and win for the first time in the franchise history.
Willis McGahee, Broncos’ RB, stood up to Tebow’s critics after the QB clinched a win for the team during the first round of the playoffs on Sunday.
"They say he couldn't throw. They said we wouldn't be able to run the ball on them,” McGahee explained. “We did that. I wonder what they're going to say next week."
Tebow, however, focused on faith rather than unbelief after his win.
"One of the great things about our team is we're a team that constantly believes," Tebow said.
