# I Was Wrong- There's a BIG Downside to Letting Tim Tebow start **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [November 13, 2011, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-theres-a-big-downside-to-letting-tim-tebow-start/602840 "2011-11-13T22:35:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 24
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2011, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-theres-a-big-downside-to-letting-tim-tebow-start/602840/461 "2011-12-20T04:09:43Z")
> [@WreckingCrew](#): > > Eh, I know it was a meaningless play, down 18 with under 2 minutes - but a QB needs to know that if you are going for it on 4th and 17, he needs to throw the ball. Hell, just throwing it away would have saved 29 yards. 29 meaningless yards. Tebow has many flaws that he needs to correct, but trying to extend a play on 4th down is waaaaay down there on the list. ---
**Author:** ![Chicagojeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@Chicagojeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicagojeff)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2011, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-theres-a-big-downside-to-letting-tim-tebow-start/602840/462 "2011-12-22T15:15:28Z")
I gotta feel for John Elway… his plan was to play four games… when that imploded then get Quinn in their… he of course is a second stringer for life… then clear the decks and set yourself up for Matt Barkley… RGiii or maybe swing a big draft day deal for Luck… Now… he’s going to either make the playoff… or get to the last week… have to roll with Tebow next year… experience a 5-11 season and take a shot at UGA’s Aaron Murray… or whatever quality free agent qb he can wrangle… That sour look on John’s face is the conclusion that when the Tebow experiment is over he’ll have to put on a big black hat… ride into to town and shoot Timmy’s horse… ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2011, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-theres-a-big-downside-to-letting-tim-tebow-start/602840/463 "2011-12-23T03:03:03Z")
> [@Chicagojeff](#): > > then clear the decks and set yourself up for Matt Barkley This is still very much in the cards for Denver. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-theres-a-big-downside-to-letting-tim-tebow-start/602840/464 "2011-12-24T21:34:38Z")
14-40, 1 TD 4 INTs. Looks like those predicting a regression on the interceptions were right. Raiders won too, so hope is kindled for them. But since Denver will hold the key tiebreaker (record against common teams) if they are tied in the standings, Oakland has to win, Denver has to lose. ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-theres-a-big-downside-to-letting-tim-tebow-start/602840/465 "2011-12-24T22:22:43Z")
From earlier in the thread: > [@Hamlet](#): > > It’s simply a matter of removing Broncos wins that are due to defense (like I think their wins so far are) and those that are due to Tebow playing well. The 21 points (it’s actually 21.9) is the 16th rated team’s average points they give up, so my thinking was that if the defense doesn’t play great and just plays average, the Broncos will lose because Tebow can’t keep up. The Bronocs have already proven that they can win if their defense plays great. I just don’t think they can if their defense plays just average. > > If you can think of a better way to take the defense out of the equation, I’m open to suggestions. I just don’t want to lose a bet when the Broncos D plays great again and they get a win despite of Tebow instead of because of him. > [@Hamlet](#): > > If the DEFENSE gives up more than 21 (to eliminate special teams/pick 6’s, and fumbles that wouldn’t be the defenses fault) and they lose, we can call that a push. I’m not sure that’s a great measure of Tebow’s ability (or lack thereof), but that should work as a push. By my count, the Broncos defense gave up 19 points (Spiller’s TD, 4 Rayner FG’s), with the other 21 points coming off a punt return and the two interceptions returned for touchdowns. I think that means a win for me, and now we’re even going into week 17. I think it’s becoming more and more obvious that if the Broncos need to rely on their passing game to win, they won’t win with Tebow. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-theres-a-big-downside-to-letting-tim-tebow-start/602840/466 "2011-12-24T22:32:28Z")
His incompletions were pretty telling, too. On several longer throws (by long for Tebow, I mean more than 18.5 yards in the air), he way underthrew it. Receivers that were open. All he had to do was throw it as well as, say, Charlie Batch, leading the receiver. But nope. Receivers all had to stop or slow down, making defending the catch easy enough for even my own large hind end to do. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2011, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-theres-a-big-downside-to-letting-tim-tebow-start/602840/467 "2011-12-24T23:25:26Z")
Did anybody see any after-game interviews with Tebow? I was wondering if he started out by thanking Jesus for the loss the way he thanks Jesus for the wins. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2011, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-theres-a-big-downside-to-letting-tim-tebow-start/602840/468 "2011-12-25T00:33:15Z")
As much as i dislike the guy and religion in general that joke is getting extremely old. Athletes thank god for giving them the talent that allowed them to win. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2011, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-theres-a-big-downside-to-letting-tim-tebow-start/602840/469 "2011-12-25T01:11:37Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > Receivers that were open. All he had to do was throw it as well as, say, Charlie Batch, leading the receiver. But nope. Receivers all had to stop or slow down, making defending the catch easy enough for even my own large hind end to do. Oh the flip side, that’s also played into his low interception rate - er, at least until this game. Maybe his receivers have to do extra work to get the ball, but usually the defenders aren’t in good positions to get it, either. Getting interesting, though. Another loss combined with an Oakland win means the Broncos miss the playoffs. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2011, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-theres-a-big-downside-to-letting-tim-tebow-start/602840/470 "2011-12-25T01:14:55Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > As much as i dislike the guy and religion in general that joke is getting extremely old. Athletes thank god for giving them the talent that allowed them to win. Actually, I wasn’t making a joke. I sincerely wanted to know. I’d have much more respect for him and other proselytizing Christians if they DID thank Jesus after their losses as well as wins, and Tebow strikes me as the type to do just that. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2011, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-theres-a-big-downside-to-letting-tim-tebow-start/602840/471 "2011-12-25T01:38:21Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > Oh the flip side, that’s also played into his low interception rate - er, at least until this game. Maybe his receivers have to do extra work to get the ball, but usually the defenders aren’t in good positions to get it, either. > > Getting interesting, though. Another loss combined with an Oakland win means the Broncos miss the playoffs. I don’t think either one would get past the Steelers, Texans, or Ratbirds Jan 7/8th. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2011, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-theres-a-big-downside-to-letting-tim-tebow-start/602840/472 "2011-12-25T02:18:04Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > I don’t think either one would get past the Steelers, Texans, or Ratbirds Jan 7/8th. Ravens or Steelers, whichever gets the wild card instead of the division championship. It couldn’t be Houston, since conference champs don’t see each other in the wild card round. Not that it means anything at this point in the season, but the Raiders did beat the Texans earlier this season. And Houston is scoring under 20 points a game with Schaub out. But yes, neither Denver nor Oakland would really put up much of a showing against Pittsburgh or Baltimore, though with Roethlisberger out, things get interesting. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2011, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-theres-a-big-downside-to-letting-tim-tebow-start/602840/473 "2011-12-25T02:30:31Z")
Yeah, I was just looking at numbers. Funny how in both confs, a wildcard will have a better record than a div champ. Happens a lot, tho ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2011, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-theres-a-big-downside-to-letting-tim-tebow-start/602840/474 "2011-12-25T05:33:28Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > Did anybody see any after-game interviews with Tebow? I was wondering if he started out by thanking Jesus for the loss the way he thanks Jesus for the wins. I greatly dislike Tebow, and hate proselytizing even more, but at no point has Tebow done what you suggest. It’s a tired worn-out argument that isn’t close to accurate here. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2011, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-theres-a-big-downside-to-letting-tim-tebow-start/602840/475 "2011-12-25T05:38:43Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > I greatly dislike Tebow, and hate proselytizing even more, but at no point has Tebow done what you suggest. It’s a tired worn-out argument that isn’t close to accurate here. Since I don’t watch network sports coverage, just NFL RedZone and NFL Network, it was my understanding, based on comments in threads on this board and others, that Tebow makes a statement of thanks to Jesus in a lot, if not all, of his post-game interviews. If that impression was in error, I apologize. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2011, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-theres-a-big-downside-to-letting-tim-tebow-start/602840/476 "2011-12-25T06:02:35Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > Since I don’t watch network sports coverage, just NFL RedZone and NFL Network, it was my understanding, based on comments in threads on this board and others, that Tebow makes a statement of thanks to Jesus in a lot, if not all, of his post-game interviews. If that impression was in error, I apologize. I have never seen him point skyward in recognition of the Lord after throwing an interception or fumbling. In fact I’ve never noticed any proselytizing athlete do that. It would be a welcome sign of humility in the face of divine will, or if you prefer, recognition of the talent God provided to the opposition. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2011, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-theres-a-big-downside-to-letting-tim-tebow-start/602840/477 "2011-12-25T06:06:12Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > Since I don’t watch network sports coverage, just NFL RedZone and NFL Network, it was my understanding, based on comments in threads on this board and others, that Tebow makes a statement of thanks to Jesus in a lot, if not all, of his post-game interviews. If that impression was in error, I apologize. Giving thanks to Jesus, and giving thanks to Jesus _for the win today_ are two entirely different things. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2011, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-theres-a-big-downside-to-letting-tim-tebow-start/602840/478 "2011-12-25T06:08:51Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > Since I don’t watch network sports coverage, just NFL RedZone and NFL Network, it was my understanding, based on comments in threads on this board and others, that Tebow makes a statement of thanks to Jesus in a lot, if not all, of his post-game interviews. If that impression was in error, I apologize. He starts every interview by praising his “Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ” and ends every one with the salutation “God bless.” Every single one. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2011, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-theres-a-big-downside-to-letting-tim-tebow-start/602840/479 "2011-12-25T14:02:47Z")
Every time I’ve seen a reporter rush over to him walking off the field to pepper him with inanities, first thing out of his mouth is “I’d like to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.” Seems like a general opening for him. I wonder what he says at the McDonalds drive thru window? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2011, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-theres-a-big-downside-to-letting-tim-tebow-start/602840/480 "2011-12-25T14:18:45Z")
I think this just proves that even God doesn’t want to go to Buffalo. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-theres-a-big-downside-to-letting-tim-tebow-start/602840.md?page=23) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-theres-a-big-downside-to-letting-tim-tebow-start/602840.md?page=25)