WRAL Sports Fan

If QBs get all the credit, where's the love for Yates?

By Joe Ovies
Dec 12, 2011

Former North Carolina quarterback T.J. Yates is making the most out of his opportunity in Houston. Elevated to starter after injuries to Matt Schaub and Matt Leinart, Yates is 2-0 as a starter for the Texans. On Sunday, he threw the game-tying touchdown pass from 6 yards out with seconds to go in the game. The Texans won with the extra point, improving to 10-3 and wrapped up the AFC South title.

Yates wasn't limited. He was asked to make big throws down-field. He delivered. Too bad his parents got the worst seats in the house to watch it.

In this so-called "Year of the Quarterback," thanks to ESPN, you'd think Yates' story would get a little more attention. He's a player that has come full circle, from getting booed in Chapel Hill to NFL starting QB. Instead, the narrative for Houston is about how resilient the overall team has been. Which is very much the case. Losing Mario Williams and Schaub for the season, along with Andre Johnson for an extended period of time, and managing to take the division (as weak as it is) is rather impressive. Still, how about some props?

Contrast that to Tebowmania, where an individual is getting all the credit for a series of inexplicable wins in Denver.

Perhaps the inexplicable part is the reason why what the Broncos are doing has been boiled down to Tim Tebow. They weren't winning before he started, they're winning since. Neve mind the defense, the running game or anything else the supporting cast is doing in Denver. It's passion, will or whatever that is making everything turn up Tebow in Denver.

Even the head-scratching play of their opponents.

It's tricky to discuss Tebow. Even though this is not meant to be an anti-Tebow rant. I'm not going to be like the Chicago defense, sore after losing to a "running back." There is a more level-headed look at what is transpiring in Denver, but comment section will undoubtedly devolve into cries of hateration. Tebow is doing his part, bouncing back from a slow start where he completed only 3 passes before the 4th quarter (keep in mind there were at least 5 dropped balls in that stretch). Nobody in the con column of the Tebow debate wants to believe this, but he's actually improving every so slightly as a passer.

But here is what drives me crazy -- all of the things breaking in favor of the Broncos are being overlooked to drive a ridiculous narrative.

Take Marion Barber, who ran out of bounds as time was ticking off the clock or his game-changing fumble in overtime. I guess Tebow's passion forced the turnover.

Take Broncos kicker Matt Prater. His leg won the game, kicking a 59 yard field goal and a 51 yard field goal in overtime. I guess Tebow's leadership guided the football through the cold, thin air. 

Take Denver's defense, which keeps these games incredibly close and allows John Fox to coach the kind of games he loves. All Tebow though.

The bottom line here is that the Broncos, as a team, should be praised for this insane run. There is no way Denver can keep winning like this, as a bizarre disruptive force in the NFL that defies explanation. But in the meantime, it's rather fun to watch.