This Saturday the Denver Broncos (8-8) get to continue their Cinderella story in the AFC playoffs against a familiar foe… the New England Patriots (13-3). Tim Tebow led the Broncos to an unprecedented upset of the Pittsburg Steelers last Saturday. Tim threw for over 316 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a quasi-miraculous overtime, 80-yard game winning pass. Being a wildcard team and having an (8-8) record has certainly earned the Broncos the spot of top underdog. Some are claiming divine intervention; some are claiming that Tim Tebow is indeed nothing less than superhuman. But the fact of the matter is, Denver is an exceptionally well balanced football team. The Broncos have an unbelievable rushing attack, not surprising for a team lead by Tim Tebow. Additionally, the Bronco’s defense could be considered one of the best in the league. Injuries and turnovers have been the bane of the Broncos season.  However, anyone who has watched the Broncos since Tebow has taken the reins knows that he’s definitely not a one man show; their regular season and playoff success can be attributed to a team effort.

In order for Denver to emerge victorious from this squabble on Saturday, they must, and I repeat, must prevent turnovers. In fact, the Denver is 0-5 in games where they have committed more than three turnovers. On the contrast, the team is actually 5-1 when committing 1 or less. Not committing turnovers seems like a no-brainer.  But during the December 15^th meeting of these two teams during the regular season, Denver turnovers resulted in 13 Patriot points and a 41-23 loss. The end result was a 3-game slide that nearly cost the Broncos a berth in the playoffs. In a stunning twist of fate, an Oakland Raider loss allowed the Broncos to march onward, and now we have a rematch.

If Tom Brady and New England want to win this Saturday night scuffle they may just have their work cut out for them. The Patriots last victory came from beating Buffalo 49-21. Having lost in their last 3 playoff attempts, just like Denver, the Patriots are out to prove something. Tom Brady’s pass-attack is the cornerstone of the Patriots offense and its success is certainly enhanced by the assistance of former Gator turned New England tight-end, Aaron Hernandez. Noticeably, the Patriots seem to fare better when they at least attempt to mix in the run. The teams rush attack has been so effective that in games where they rushed at least 27 times, their record is 7-0. Perhaps the team’s biggest weakness is the Patriots defense, which has been relatively inconsistent throughout the year. Pass defense, especially long pass defense seems to be their most overwhelming issue. In regard to the Broncos, as stated previously, it’s not a one man show; simply eliminating Tim Tebow’s effectiveness will not guarantee victory. But, considering Tebow, his unpredictable playing style, and his versatility are very difficult to prepare for, not to mention his innate leadership ability and absolute desire to win. Strangely enough… Vegas has the Broncos as a 13.5 point favorite, should be interesting.