Why being a Christian makes Tim Tebow a better QB

Yesterday, I wrote about how Christians should slow down a bit on the Tebow-fest and acknowledge that not all criticism of him is criticism of his faith. Too many are viewing Bronco wins as a victory for Jesus and act as if God were on the field causing Tim Tebow's team to win. God is not guiding Tebow's throws to his receivers during the fourth quarter. There is a way, however, that Tebow's faith is making him more successful as an NFL quarterback.

After reading a piece that both criticizes and (somewhat) praises the Broncos quarterback, I feel like I have stumbled across one of the ways in which his Christianity has made him a better NFL QB than he would be otherwise - humility.

This article on the phenomenon of "Tebow Time," the late game situations where Tebow sees a jump in his performance, brings up some valid points, though I do feel it is a bit too critical. The writer chalks most of it up to Tebow struggling when the opposing defense is aggressive, but then is able to pad his stats and make plays when many defenses shift to "prevent mode" late in the game.

That may play a role in Tebow's increased performance in the fourth quarter and overtime, but most teams only play prevent defense when they have a sizable lead. Denver has been making comebacks and securing wins after being behind 3 to 10 points. Defenses aren't slacking off with small leads like that.

At the beginning of the article, however, the writer does point to a characteristic of Tebow's game that alludes to his obvious faith in Christ and the resulting humility.

If a quarterback doesn't have the skill and anticipation to make meaningful NFL-caliber throws, everyone in their right mind usually calls for that guy to become a "game manager" focused on not losing the team the game with costly turnovers and errors. Early game situations marked by grossly inaccurate passes and an inability to diagnose coverages and pressure schemes aren't necessarily a death blow to Tebow's reputation or his legitimacy.

Countless quarterbacks have been asked to become game managers but have chosen to perilously overstep their bounds just to escape the label, even at the expense of team wins. Meanwhile, Tebow is not scared to prioritize ball security over his stat line or his reputation as an NFL quarterback. If he has to use his legs to get first downs and avoid turnovers, it beats the potentially disastrous alternative. To deny the value of that dedication would be to ignore a key aspect of Tebow's impact: he allows his defense to do their job and keep the game close. Tebow Time is real in large part because he is committed to his role as a game manager. [Emphasis mine]

Tebow, while committed to being the best NFL quarterback he can be, is not going to sacrifice the good of the team (wins) on the altar of personal accomplishments (stats). His Christ-driven humility allows him to focus on doing whatever he needs to do to see his team win games.

Imagine if Tebow was a self-absorbed QB. He could be pointing people to his Heisman Trophy and two national championships, while he forces throws down field in an attempt to get more passing yards and big plays. There is a chance that his numbers would look better, but there is also the chance that he would throw more interceptions and allow the opposing team to score more often.

Angels are not in the endzone, as it were, helping Tebow's receivers get open. It is not a miracle that the Broncos have won numerous close games, including several fourth quarter comebacks. Tebow does not win football games because he has "God on his side," but he may win football games because he has God on the inside.

The former Florida Gator recognizes football as a priority in his life, but not the priority. His faith in Christ drives him in all that he does, including his play for the Denver Broncos. His faith enables him to remain humble and focus on team goals more than individual achievements.

In short, Tim Tebow is a better NFL quarterback than he could be because Tim Tebow is a better follower of Christ than he could be.