http://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2011/11/28/2590865/von-miller-and-denver-defense-not-tim-tebow-deserves-credit-forVon Miller And Denver Defense, Not Tim Tebow, Deserves Credit For Broncos Success
By Matt Conner - Editor
In short, the Denver Broncos are winning with a strong defense and a solid running game -- the very things teams like the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers have relied upon for years.
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Nov 28, 2011 - Sometimes it feels as if I'm not in on the joke, or if everyone else is watching a game I'm not. He's not accurate at all. The playcalling is rather odd at key moments. The offensive execution is often poor. Yet Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos offense continue to receive the lion's share of attention for the Broncos' unexpected winning streak and ascension to relevance in the AFC playoff conversation. Unfortunately, Tim Tebow is as responsible for the Broncos winning streak as Tamba Hali is for the Chiefs losing streak.
In today's win over the San Diego Chargers, for instance, Tebow went 9 for 18 for 143 passing yards and 1 touchdown. Overall, he's 65 for 143 which makes for a 45 percent completion rate. Just to put this in perspective, Blaine Gabbert -- yes, Blaine Gabbert -- is 33rd in the NFL (out of 32 teams) with 48 percent. In other words, the worst passer in the NFL is three percentage points better than Tim Tebow.
Of course, that's picking one statistic and painting it in the worst light. Tebow has limited his turnovers (only one in six games). He's also a threat to run that teams have to account for. But all this to say that it's not Tebow lifting the team upon his shoulders a la Peyton Manning or Tom Brady. Instead, it's about the Denver defense that has stifled one opponent after another, anchored by a pass rush featuring rookie Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil.
Thus far on the season, the No. 2 pick in the NFL Draft has 58 tackles, 3 forced fumbles and 10.5 sacks -- tremendous numbers for any player. For a rookie, however, those are signs that the Broncos have the next elite level pass rusher they were hoping for. Placed opposite Elvis Dumervil, who has 5.5 sacks over the last four weeks, and you have a force on both sides that opposing teams simply cannot account for.
Overall, the Broncos defense has continued to hold opponents in key situations, giving the offense time to perform in the end. They're getting after the passer. They're shutting down opponents in key situations. And the running game has begun to show signs of life with Willis McGahee showing that he can help move the chains if the defense can keep it close.
In short, the Denver Broncos are winning with a strong defense and a solid running game -- the very things teams like the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers have relied upon for years. Tim Tebow is a nice guy who was one of the greatest college football players of all time. Right now, the best thing he's doing is minimizing mistakes and allowing the impact players on the team -- despite the lack of attention they receive -- to
