Broncos and Tebow Pull Off Stunner in OT Win over Pittsburgh

What a day for Broncos fans. In a game where no one-including myself- gave the Broncos no chance to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver pulled off one of the great upsets in playoff history. The Broncos defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 29-23 in overtime to win the AFC Wild Card Game at Mile High, and they advance to the Divisional Playoffs against New England next Saturday Night. Where to start with this game? There were so many twists, turns, controversial calls, great plays, and drama that this game will go down as an instant classic. It will certainly live on in Denver lore. It may be Tim Tebow's defining moment in Denver, but we'll get to that more later on. The game started out like a lot of people thought. The Steelers drove the ball twice in the first quarter, but the defense was able to hold the Steelers to two field goals and a 6-0 Steeler lead. The Broncos went three and out twice in the first quarter, and it looked like the same Broncos offense we saw the last few weeks. The turning point for the Broncos and in this game was when Tebow hit Demaryius Thomas for a 51 yard bomb on 3rd and 12. It kind of woke up the Broncos and the crowd. From there, Tebow hit Eddie Royal on a beautiful 30 yard touchdown pass, and the Broncos took a 7-6 lead. The Broncos used that momentum and hammered the Steelers in the second quarter. After a Mike Wallace bobble on a big pass play, Denver forced a Steelers punt. Tebow responded with a 58 yard hookup to Thomas. Tebow ran it in from 8 yards out, and Denver took a 14-6 lead. Ben Roethlisberger got picked off the next series, and Denver converted a field goal to take a 17-6 lead. After a great tackle by Quinton Carter on Mike Wallace on a third down, the Broncos took possession again, and Tebow went back up top. This time he hit Daniel Fells for a gain of 40 yards on a bootleg, and the Broncos were on the move again. After the drive stalled, another Matt Prater field goal gave the Broncos a 20-6 lead. Pittsburgh was moving the ball near the end of the half, but a bad snap on a shotgun play pushed the Steelers out of field goal range. After a Broncos punt to start the half, the controversial part of the game appeared. A lateral to Mike Wallace was ruled an incomplete pass, and the whistle blew, so the Broncos couldn't challenge it and claim a fumble recovery. It was an unfortunate series of events for Denver, and of course the Steelers responded with a touchdown drive. Wallace capped it off with a short touchdown run after Isaac Redman got them down to the one. The Broncos responded and drove the ball down the field effectively, and they were able to get a field goal and that give them a 23-13 lead with 13:10 left in the 4th quarter. The Broncos were able to hold the Steelers to a field goal and the lead stood at 23-16. The Broncos were moving the ball again, but Willis McGahee fumbled at the Pittsburgh 40 yard line with only 7:35 left in the game. You knew the Steelers would take advantage. After the Steelers moved the ball into Denver territory, there was another crucial moment in the game. Big Ben threw deep into the end zone for Mike Wallace, and Champ Bailey undercut the route, and he inexplicably dropped the interception. It could have ended the game, and the Steelers took advantage. Roethlisberger hit Jerricho Cotchery with a 31 yard touchdown and the game was tied at 23. Tebow missed a wide open Thomas on a third down throw, and the Steelers had one more shot to win it late. Big Ben hit Antonio Brown for 17 and Emmanuel Sanders for 18 down to the Broncos 45. A huge sack by Elvis Dumervil essentially knocked the Steelers out of field goal range, and they settled for overtime. In overtime, the Broncos won the toss and it took one play: Tebow to Demaryius Thomas, 80 yards, game over. It was one of the greatest plays in Broncos history, and it was one of the most stunning ways to end the game. It was an amazing finish to an amazing game. The Broncos deserved to win, and they bucked all the odds and pulled off a tremendous upset. Denver heads to New England next week in the Divisional Playoffs on Saturday Night in primetime. There are so many things to talk about in this game. Here are my thoughts and observations on this great game..........

1) Tebow played his best overall game of his career. He finished 10-21 for a whopping 316 yards, 2 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, and he added 50 yards rushing and one touchdown run. He threw the ball deep all day long. John Elway told him to pull the trigger and Tebow did just that. He was sensational all game long. His throw to Thomas in overtime will go down as one of the great moments of playoff history.

2) There were so many twists and turns in the game. For me, the Tebow throw to Thomas in the second quarter really was the big play that changed this game. Backed up on your own 18 and facing a 3rd and 12, Tebow lofted a perfect 51 yard pass to Thomas, and it set up their first touchdown to take a 7-6 lead.

3) The second quarter was always a problem for Denver all year, but they outscored Pittsburgh 20-0 in the second quarter, and it was highlighted by a defense that forced punt, interception, punt, and punt. It was a great quarter for the defense, and Quinton Carter's pick of Big Ben was a huge play in the game.

4) You knew the Steelers were going to come back and make this game close. Roethlisberger was a warrior out there. He willed his team back into this game playing on one ankle. If he could have made one or two more plays late in the fourth quarter, then the Steelers would have pulled this game out.

5) How about all the other twists and turns? Consider these key plays: Tebow to Thomas for 51 yards, Tebow to Thomas for 58 yards, Big Ben's pick, the bad shotgun snap for Pitt at the end of the half, the Mike Wallace lateral ruling, McGahee's fumble, Champ Bailey's dropped pick, Dumvervil's late sack of Big Ben, and Tebow's throw to Thomas in overtime.

6) If the Broncos have "The Drive" and "The Fumble," then I think this one should go with....."The Throw." 25 years from now when people will think of this game people will remember Tebow to Thomas in overtime a.k.a "The Throw."

7) The crowd was awesome all game long, and give credit for the Broncos' fans for stepping up their game yesterday. The shots of the crowd after Thomas' catch and run were just amazing. The stadium and the fans were going absolutely crazy. It was awesome to watch.

8) I loved Jim Nantz's call of the Tebow throw. Plus, Phil Simms yelling "He's got him!" just as Tebow was releasing the ball was great.

9) The Broncos defense played well at times-especially when they needed to. They made the stops when they had to in the red zone, and forced some field goals. They did get gashed in the second half by the Steelers run game, but they got big sacks when they needed them. Robert Ayers played one of the best games of his young career.

10) Let's face it: This game was about Tim Tebow. The pressure was on him all week. Elway talked about pulling the trigger. All I heard about the day of the game was how Brady Quinn was going to replace Tebow at one point, and this game was going to be the final chapter in Tebow's run for the Broncos. Well, he responded with his finest moment. He only completed 10 passes, but he threw for 316 yards and two touchdowns. He threw the ball deep all day long, and he was sensational with his throws all game. He responded in the biggest moment, and he deserves all the credit he gets. Tebow Time is here to stay.

11) Ike Taylor had an awful day for the Steelers. He got burnt by Demaryius Thomas all night long, and he killed the Steelers. Dick Lebeau didn't have his finest hour, and James Harrison didn't have a clue how to stop Tebow on the zone read plays. The Steelers defense got ripped up by Tebow and the Broncos offense. The Broncos offense had the Steelers off guard all game long.

12) This game will rank as one of the most dramatic and great NFL Playoff games in history. What a game it was. As far as Broncos history, this one is up there with "The Drive," "The Fumble," and "The Drive Part 2 (Elway over the Oilers)." This game ranks up there with most of them, and it was one of the greatest wins in recent Broncos history. This win ranks higher then the 2005 AFC Divisional win over the Patriots. Put it this way: I will be watching this game over and over this winter, spring, and summer.

13) Denver gets its' first playoff win since 2005, and now they head to the Divisional Round to face the Pats on Saturday Night.