Tebow, Patriots Share The Love
BOSTON (CBS) - The New England Patriots were able to contain Tim Tebow on Sunday, something no other team in the NFL had been able to do the last two months.
After the Broncos ran wild in the first quarter, racking up 167-yards on the ground, the New England D changed things up, and it made all the difference in the world.
The Broncos turned the ball over three times in the second quarter, two by way of fumble and one off a muffed punt, giving New England 13 points and a 27-16 halftime lead.
"We did have things going pretty well early. [We] scored on our first three possessions, and we felt like we were moving the ball pretty well, but then we put [the ball] on the ground, and that's something you can't do versus a great team and Tom Brady and Bill Belichick," said Tebow, who finished the day with 194 yards through the air and another 93 on the ground. "Besides that, we were right there with them, and there's a lot of great things that we can take out of this game and try to improve and get better. I think every time there's a setback it's just more of an opportunity for a new step up and to make something even bigger and better."
Read:Defensive Adjustments Pay Off
Tebow had high praise for the defense that made him look human on Sunday.
"You know that Brady is going to make his plays. So we were just focused, and it was unfortunate that our next two possessions, guys made great plays. You've got to give them props for it, but at the same time we've just got to hang onto the ball. That's my fault, and I'll get that straight," he said.
After the game, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady met Tebow at midfield, and offered him some words of wisdom.
"He was very complimentary. He was very nice," Tebow said of Brady. "What a great quarterback, and what a class act he is, and for a lot of young quarterbacks, he does a lot of great things to look up to and try to emulate."
Tebow also got some love from Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.
"He said very nice things, as well, and he's always been very supportive," said the Broncos QB. "He just said that he believes in me, and [to] keep fighting, and he's proud of how I played and stuff like that. It's very nice coming from a coach like that."
"He does a heck of a job," said Belichick. "We know he can run. We know he can throw. He hurt us with some play-action. He's a good quarterback. He certainly gave us plenty of problems. Hopefully, we gave him some, too."
Highs & Lows: Tebow Contained
Vince wilfork also spoke highly of Tebow during his postgame press conference, and said despite the loss, Tebow knows how to win.
"He's a very, very good athlete. I said it last week, he's a winner. If you look at his whole resume, he knows how to win," said nose tackle Vince Wilfork. "Anytime you speak to a team, or little kids about winning, I'm sure his name is going to come up."
But the praise didn't come without Wilfork "Tebowing" during the game, something Vince doesn't think the Broncos QB will mind.
"Yeah, I Tebowed," Wilfork said. "Absolutely. You kidding me? Absolutely. Trust me, everybody in the world was hearing about this guy."
"I'm pretty sure I won't be the last one, and I wasn't the first one," said Wilfork. "That's what he does. He put it out there. I wanted to steal it. I don't think he'll mind. Just one play."
Read: Pats Enjoy "Hat and T-Shirt Day"
Tune into the Patriots-Dolphins game Saturday, December 24 on 98.5 The Sports Hub and WBZ-TV. Pregame coverage begins at 9:00am on WBZ-TV with Patriots Gameday, with coverage beginning on 98.5 at 10:00am. After the game, tune in to The Postgame Show on the Hub, and Patriots Fifth Quarter on WBZ-TV.
