ShareThisPrepare for a hefty dose of Tim Tebow talk this week, even if Bill Belichick isn't about to get caught up in it.
Belichick's New England Patriots have won five straight games and are closing in on another AFC East title, but the only topic on the minds of Pats' fans this week is how the team will handle a quarterback who has completed the fewest passes in the NFL.
Tebow isn't defined by completions, quarterback ratings or any other statistic. The only stat he thrives on is wins, and the second-year Denver Broncos quarterback has led his team to seven victories in his eight starts, three in overtime.
Those fourth-quarter comeback wins have led many football fans to believe there is something mystical, even magical, going on in the Mile High City where Tebow and the Broncos are all anyone is talking about.
Belichick will be asked all week about Tebow. To his credit, he's always liked the 236-pound left-hander, going back to his Heisman Trophy season at the University of Florida. Even so, Belichick was in no mood to rave about his next opponent and spent Monday deflecting the Tebow Talk and praising the Broncos' attack as a whole.
"The big thing is his won/loss record," said Belichick. "He's doing things to make his team win in critical situations. Not only him, but the rest of the team as well."
Asked what Tebow is doing to spark his team, Belichick said: "He doesn't turn the ball over, and he makes a lot of positive plays for his team and he wins a lot of games. That's a good place to start."
Belichick's players are already in lock step with their coach. Linebacker Dane Fletcher was asked about the Tebow phenomenon, and he all but sniffed when he heard Tebow's name.
"Everybody tries to make it this whole Tebow Time. It's their team. It's the whole team and how they're doing it instead of one guy," Fletcher said.
Preparing for a Tebow-led offense is a major switch for any defense. He leads an attack that emphasizes the NFL's top rushing game (156.2 yards) and field position. He's rushed for 517 yards (5.5 per carry) and three touchdowns. Then, usually with his team trailing late in the game, he'll start throwing. That's when the magic happens.
In a 13-10 overtime win against the Bears Sunday, Tebow spent the first three quarters calling loads of running plays and completing just 3 of 16 passes for 45 yards and an interception. In the fourth quarter and overtime, he sliced up the Bears with 18 completions in 24 attempts for 191 yards and a TD.
The Patriots certainly do not want to be in a tight game with the Broncos. Tebow and his teammates seem to thrive in high-pressure, high-excitement situations, and the defense has allowed 13 points or less in four of the last five games.
Speaking on his weekly radio show, defensive star Vince Wilfork said the Patriots need a strong week of practice to prepare for what is the NFL's most fascinating, confounding player and his teammates.
"One thing I can tell you about Tebow, he's a winner, point-blank," said Wilfork. "He's faced the same thing this year, you know 'He's not a typical quarterback, he can't do this, he can't do that.' He wins. Regardless of where he's been, he wins. You have to respect that.
"They have a bunch of guys around him, also. It's not just about Tebow," Wilfork added. "A lot of credit has to go to the defense. The defense stepped up big time. Tebow gets all the credit, but trust me, it's everyone in that locker room."
(Contact Kevin McNamara at kmcnamar(at)providencejournal.com. For more stories visit scrippsnews.com)
Must credit The Providence Journal
