Jock Itch The Broncos are over the fence and into a playoff victory

Many football seasons ago, there was a Ministry show in Denver where a huge metal cage surrounded the band. As the group, which was at the height of its powers at the time, ground out its special blend of metal, punk, and industrial, fans climbed the fence and were driven back into the crowd. One lad scaled the fence and got over the top of it, then shambled down the other side to stand facing the band. It was quite a trek—one the band probably didn’t think anyone was capable of making—but when he landed on the other side, he didn’t know what to do. The band didn’t know what to do either. He wasn’t supposed to make it to the other side. And neither were your Denver Broncos.

The Denver Broncos advanced to the next round of the NFL playoffs with an exhilarating overtime win against the Pittsburgh Steelers this past Sunday at Mile High. Be honest, you didn’t see that coming. Not to mention the fact that the Broncos did it in an unlikely way, via Tim Tebow’s arm. Tebow threw the ball all day and gashed Pittsburgh’s vaunted and top-ranked defense for 316 passing yards, including an 80-yard catch and run by Demaryius Thomas that sealed the deal on the first play of overtime.

Last week it was pretty clear that Tebow did not have the QB job locked down for next season, but after Sunday’s performance—almost 400 offensive yards and three TDs (two passing, one rushing)—he should get a permanent parking space over at Dove Valley. No matter what happens when the Broncos travel to Gillette Stadium to take on the Patriots next Saturday, it’s a pretty sure bet that he’ll be back after one of the most exciting playoff victories in Broncos history.

And what’s up with Tebow anyway? I know he doesn’t nearly get the press he deserves, but his performance against the Steelers was inspired. Given what we saw in the three weeks prior, it seems like Tebow can only perform when he knows no one expects him to do well. Before the first Patriots game Dec. 18, even some of the staunchest Tebow critics were giving him faint praise, and he seemed to regress in his abilities soon after. So, for his sake, it’s a good thing the Broncos won’t be favored against New England. If Tebow needs doubters to help him play better, he should still have plenty going into this week.

While it was an unfair characterization to say all Broncos fans wanted was another Elway, they did want another winner. Fans in Denver have grown accustomed to having a winning team with a winner at the helm. That hasn’t been the case in a long time in the Mile High City, and Tebow has brought that back in a big way. He’s the guy who gave everyone in Broncos Country hope when it was all about used up, and that means more than anything.

In restoring that hope, Broncos fans are just like the kid at the Ministry concert who landed on the other side of a fence. We didn’t think we’d be able to scale it, yet during the madness and discord of the NFL playoffs, here we are. The Broncos’ season was a good story that slid into a nightmare, but it’s now gotten back on track for that fairytale ending. When the two teams met back in December, the Patriots pulled away pretty easily once the Broncos started coughing up the ball. But, as we just witnessed Sunday, anything can happen in the playoffs. So whether it’s the next round of the tournament or getting to the other side of Ministry’s fence, you made it. Enjoy the show.