The National Football League holds less of my attention every year -- baseball's more my speed nowadays -- but you can't get through the sports lags anymore without running into Tim Tebow. And, with plenty of Facebook friends based in Denver, I've heard plenty about Tebow Time.
There's plenty about the genuflections of Tebowing, as well as the straight-arrow, God-praising personality that's earnest for some and aggravating for others. And, of course, the last-second heroics that create a ratings bonanza for broadcasters and moving the Denver Broncos into a series of national games of the week.
What I'm not seeing is the obvious. In offering loads of praise and whooping it up with every pull-it-out-of-the-hat win, everyone -- from the passionate fan to big-shot sportswriters -- steers clear of the fact that Tim Tebow's a lucky guy. A very lucky guy.
I admit I'm not much of a Broncos fan anymore. I still haven't forgiven Edgar Kaiser for firing Red Miller as head coach 30 years ago (and the team for not elevating Miller or the late broadcaster Bob Martin to the Broncos Ring of Fame). And, for someone whose first memorable season as a fan included the thrills provided by Marlin "The Magician" Briscoe, I've seen better Broncos teams through the years.
What strikes me about this season, however, is the massive amount of happenstance involving the Broncos and Tebow. Even as a garden-variety fan, it's not hard to see that team's benefitted from a Berghof-sized picture window of opportunity that's unlikely to occur again anytime soon.
First, there's the AFC West division: It's lousy. The Kansas City Chiefs, last year's champs (yes, really), flubbed the first half of this season, and both the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders wasted early season momentum. Even Denver's winning streak leaves it only one game above mediocrity (and only two ahead of last-place Kansas City).
Second, Denver's nine wins come courtesy of a lot mediocrity; of 14 games to date, only five involve teams with winning records. Denver's standing against better-than-.500 teams is 2-3, and one of those wins (Cincinnati) is in the credit column of former Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton.
Third, Denver's recent winning streak also included missing quarterbacks, with Kansas City's Matt Cassel disappearing during the first game with the Broncos, and Jay Cutler of the Chicago Bears leaving the team before that matchup. Both were replaced by quarterbacks overwhelmed by any opponent on any given Sunday.
Fourth, the variation of the single-wing-and-a-prayer offense installed for Tebow proved to be a bit much for some NFL defenses, although the main product wasn't points; instead, it ate up the clock and, combined with Denver's sharp (and well-rested) defense, kept games low-scoring and close.
Yes, in the past few weeks, the ball's been more in the air when Denver's on offense, although that's also when facing bad and banged-up secondaries (including New England's). The Patriots also effectively stopped Tebow's option capabilities with schemes that are probably in heavy video rotation with coaches in Buffalo and Kansas City.
However, both teams have little to play for -- the Bills are already out of the playoff hunt, and the Chiefs will be done if Buffalo loses. The only thing Denver may need to fear is snow; Tebow Time has literally been a fair-weather phenomenon until now.
Not to totally discount a season with an outstanding athletic performance from Tim Tebow and a grinding defense, but the 2011 season for the Denver Broncos also involves a remarkable string of just-enough efforts against dull and uneven competition, along with a heapin' helpin' of, well, luck. At some point, the luck -- and the time -- will run out.
No comments:
Post a Comment