All-season favourite Tim Tebow takes Denver Broncos home with NFL’s fastest overtime finish – NFL Recap
The Denver Broncos defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in their crucial American Football Conference (AFC) wild-card ties, 29-23, at the Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado, on Sunday, January 08, 2012.
It was again down to the performance of all-season favourite, Broncos’ quarterback, Tim Tebow, at the end, to make a difference for both sides; taking his team through to the second round of playoff, and ousting their visitors, the Steelers, from the league
for good until next season.
The game, which turned out to be a thriller, tilted both ways during its official time, which then led to an overtime finish.
However, it did not take much time for Tebow to end the game in the Broncos favour.
It was the fastest overtime finish in the history of the National Football League (NFL).
Into over-time, both teams were tied 23 points each, it was the last 80-yards touchdown pass that Tebow connected with Demaryius Thomas that made the decision final.
It certainly stunned the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are still to come to terms with their defining loss.
The 80-yard pass was hauled in by Thomas at Ike Taylor and then to safety, Ryan Mundy. At the end, it was the classical finish by the league’s most well-known, Tim Tebow.
Celebration only came natural for the team that worked so hard throughout the season and it was certainly thrilling to watch.
Tebow had been making headlines since the beginning of the 2011 regular NFL season for his superb performance. He has assumed almost status of a football tycoon, a cult, for his exceptional skills of the game.
However, his performance in the Steelers’ game was one of highest marks of his performance and a record in the Broncos franchise history.
"I was just saying, 'Man trust your speed. Trust your speed. Don't cut back. Don't cut back.' And he kept it straight. He outran the guy," said Willis McGahee said of the Tebow run. “I was like, 'Oh my God, is he still running?' Please just go. Please.
Please."
It was for the fourth time that Tim Tebow has helped his side claim a victory in overtime. He achieved this distinction three times in the regular season.
Overall, Tebow managed to complete 10 of 21 passes, while Thomas hauled in for about four of them in between with 204 yards.
He replaced Decker, who became a causality of Steelers linebacker, James Harrison, who is known for his daring tackles. Tebow’s 80-yard score was his record as a pro footballer.
Steelers QB, Ben Roethlisberger, despite his ankle injury problems played in for his side. He rallied for two touchdowns to meet the deficit of 10 points in last 10 minutes till closure of the game to tie it at 23 points each.
The Steelers, however, went on to lose the toss for the over time play and then the game at the hands Tebow.
Earlier, the quarterback led his side to score 20 points, in the second quarter of the game. They were at 13 points in first quarter, but courtesy of the mighty Tebow, they extended the lead to, 20-6.
However, the Steelers with the help of Big Ben caught up on the Broncos and managed to tie the score at 23-23 points at the end of regulation time. Ben finished with 22 out of 40 passes with a total of 289 yards including a touchdown.
It was one of the poorer performances by the Steelers defence, which ranked at the top of the NFL defence ratings during the regular season.
They, however, had a couple of problems on the injury front. In addition to having fitness problems with their QB, who played the game despite being unfit, their Pro Bowl center, Maurkice Pouncey, was also out due to an ankle injury.
Tags: