Tim Tebow's Fire...Extinguished

Tim Tebow needed more than prayer last night after his team's 45-10 loss to the New England Patriots.

Well folks, we knew this day would come.  Tebowmania finally met its match and came to a crashing halt. The New England Patriots, led by the almighty Bill Belichick and the anointed one, Tom Brady at the helm, dismantled the feeble Denver Broncos, 45-10 at Gillette Stadium last night. How good was Tom Brady? Brady was so good last night, he even managed to kick a 48-yard pooch punt, which caught the ire of rookie standout linebacker, Von Miller. Brady threw for six touchdowns, which tied a playoff record held by Steve Young and Daryle Lamonica. Brady also set a record for most touchdown passes in the first half with five. It was a rough night all around for Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos. Tebow was constantly in trouble, getting sacked five times against the league's 31st-ranked defense. Tebow finished the game an unimpressive 9-26 for 136 yards with zero touchdowns and one fumble lost. New England also shutdown Tebow in the run game, as Tebow managed to rush for just 13 yards on 5 carries.

Brady, looked unfazed by the 24-degree temperature (12-degree with the wind chill) and showed why he's won two MVP's. Brady, who threw for 5,235 yards and 39 TD's this season, engineered a five-play, 80-yard touchdown drive after the Broncos won the coin toss and deferred to the Patriots. The drive lasted just 1:51 and was capped off by a 7-yard touchdown strike to Wes Welker. This proved to be a harbinger of things to come for this high octane offense. Pro-Bowl Tight End, Rob Gronkowski continued his dominant ways, catching three touchdowns for 145 yards on 10 receptions. New England's other Tight End, Aaron Hernandez, had 4 receptions for 55 yards and scored a touchdown. Hernandez also had 5 carries for 61 yards rushing, including a 43-yard run on the Patriots opening drive that brought the Patriots down to Denver's seven yard line. Former Super Bowl MVP, Deion Branch hauled in a 61-yard touchdown reception to complete Brady's six touchdown night. Brady would finish the night 26/34 for 363 yards. The Broncos lone touchdown came on a Willis McGahee on a 5-yard touchdown run. McGahee's touchdown made the score 14-7. It was the closest the Broncos would ever be in this game.

New England's 45-10 drubbing of the Broncos ended their three game playoff losing streak and snapped a two game home playoff losing streak at Gillette Stadium.  The game also ended the improbable run of Tim Tebow and his loyal disciples. Tebow was inserted as Denver's starting quarterback after the team went 1-4 through their first five games. Tebow went on to win six games in a row and six of eight overall. Tebow's win streak ended when the Broncos lost 41-23 to the New England Patriots back in week 15. The Broncos went on to lose their next two regular season games and backed into the playoffs following a Raiders loss. Tebowmania reached its crescendo after last week's come from behind overtime win against the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Denver rallied back to win on the first play in overtime when Tebow hit Demaryius Thomas in stride for an 80-yard touchdown reception.

New England (14-3) now sits one win away from earning a Super Bowl berth as they await the winner of today's Texans/Ravens game.  The winner of today's game will head to New England next Sunday at 3:30 PM. If the Patriots win next week, it will be their fifth appearance in the last eleven years and their first appearance since Super Bowl XLII, where the then undefeated Patriots lost to the New York Giants, 17-14.