Broncos QB Tim Tebow, fresh off his “Mile High Miracle,” challenges the Patriots’ three-time Super Bowl champ Tom Brady in an AFC Divisional playoff game tonight.
Track both quarterbacks here as their teams battle:
TEBOW
Telling comparison
With 9:05 left in the game, Tebow is averaging 4.8 yards per pass attempt compared to 10.6 for Brady.
Drive dies quickly
Trailing 35-7, the Broncos opened the second half with the ball. Result? Three-and-out and a punt. Tebow is 3-for-11 for 28 yards passing.
Ominous stat for Tebow
Late in first half, he’s averaging 3.5 yards per pass attempt. That won’t get it done. Looks like Broncos are afraid to let Tebow let loose.
Don’t pull the trigger
Facing a third down deep in their own territory in the second quarter, the Broncos go conservative with a Tebow keeper. Patriots were ready for it.
Tough sledding in early going
Broncos offense is completely out of synch in the early going. Tebow is 1-for-4 for 6 yards.
Tebow coughs it up
Trapped in the pocket, Tebow is stripped by Patriots’ Rob Ninkovich. Patriots recover fumble. A bad start for Tebow.
BRADY
Passing into history
Facing no pass rush and executing a terrific gameplan to perfection, Brady has tied the NFL postseason record with six TD passes. Oh, by the way, Tebow has three completed passes — total.
For the record
Brady just became the first QB in NFL history to throw five touchdowns in one half in a playoff game.
The last time a QB threw four TD passes in a half in a playoff game? Peyton Manning against the Broncos in the 2003 wild-card game. Final score of the game was Colts 41, Broncos 10. Manning finished with 377 yards, 5 TD passes and a 158.3 passer rating. Brady is topping Manning tonight.
Four and counting
Brady hit Deion Branch for a 61-yard TD pass late in the second quarter. That’s the fourth touchdown pass of the first half for Brady. He’s had the Broncos back on their heels since the beginning of the game.
Brady looks for Gronkowski early and often
Brady knows where to look: No. 87. His big tight end, Rob Gronkowski has 7 catches for 78 yards and two touchdowns midway through the second quarter.
Pick costs Patriots
A very bad pass by Brady was intercepted by the Broncos’ safety Quinton Carter, setting up first Broncos TD. Pats lead 14-7 early in the second.
Still perfect
It looks like child’s play for Brady. After two drives, he’s 8-for-8 with two TD passes. Broncos have no clue and look like they don’t know what hit them.
Brady off to perfect start
3-for-3, 32 yards and a touchdown pass. Not a good omen for the Broncos
THE STATS
Tebow
Final stats: 9-for-26, 136 yards, 0 TDs, 0 Int.
Brady
Final stats: 26-for-34 for 363 yards, TDs, 1 Int.
