Twenty years from now, it might be interesting to see what people remember as they look back at the 2011-2012 NFL season. As time passes, which storyline captivated our attention?
Will people remember the rebirth of Alex Smith in San Francisco after years of struggles? Will it be Eli Manning finally joining the list of elite quarterbacks? Maybe we will remember the Green Bay Packers' quest for perfection and their run at back-to-back Super Bowls. Or it could be the New Orleans Saints assault on the offensive record books and a possible journey to a second Super Bowl in three years?
In 2032, it will be interesting to see if anyone brings up Tim Tebow, the NFL's tallest lightning rod of 2012.
After defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Tebow might have crashed the Internet. The Denver Broncos quarterback completed 10 of 21 passes for 316 yard with two touchdowns and a rushing touchdown.
It seems impossible to watch football and not have an opinion on Tebow. Looking at Facebook and Twitter, I am amazed how many people, even those who normally don't watch football, know Tebow.
No question, the majority of the chatter about Tebow concerns his religion. This young man (only 24 years old) has never hidden his religion. That makes some people either vigorously defend or attack him. It's interesting to watch: Regardless of where people stand, they feel validated by each of his wins or losses.
Do you want to know who hopes that Tebow-mania continues? The NFL hopes the Denver Broncos keep winning and so do the TV executives.
Television ratings for wildcard weekend were, well, wild. The New Orleans Saints bouncing the Detroit Lions on Saturday night drew a 19.3 rating in primetime. The New York Giants versus the Atlanta Falcons and the Cincinnati Bengals getting spanked by the Houston Texans didn't draw what the Saints did. Even with the huge New York market, the Giants only drew a 18.9 rating. With the eyes of Texas on Houston, it only managed a 15.3 rating.
The Denver Broncos against the Pittsburgh Steelers drew an outrageous 26 rating for CBS Sunday.
This week, the NFL could hit ratings gold as Tebow takes his show to New England to face the Patriots. Two of the NFL's most polarizing figures will be the face of this game: "Golden Boy" Tom Brady and "God's Boy" Tim Tebow will both draw eyeballs to the game. The Internet world will drop phrases such as Tebowed, Tebow Time and Tebowing.
Follow Bryan Flynn at http://www.jfpsports.com, Facebook and @jfpsports.
Legacy Comments
Walt, Of course the Steelers played a major part in the high ratings. Everyone loves to watch a good vs. evil match up. The Good being Tim Tebow and the Evil being Ben Roethlisberger. It was nice to see good triumph over evil. If you want to know about any teams I root for, Todd and I discussed it on JFP Radio. Check out the archives to find out. I was not drinking when I wrote this either. As always Walt it is great to hear your words of wisdom. Check out JFPSports.com to see who I took this weekend.
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Bryan my good buddy and sports hero I compliment you on another good column. I do find one major error though. You allege rather gleefully yet cluelessly that Teebowmania is responsible for the high television rating in the Broncos and Steelers game last week. My dear brother it was the aura, aurora and greatness of the Steelers Team and Nation that accounted for the high rating. Most of the nation expected the Steeler to have Teebow for lunch and the so called veil to be finally lifted off Tebow. They say if a dog keeps running under a bird's nest that eventually a dropping or two will fall from the sky and hit it. This is all beating the Steelers was, and the dog has died and birds removed their nests. Tebow will be come back to reality this weekend even though I hate the Patriots. Bryan who is your pro football team? And were you drinking when you made the error? probably so and I forgive you.
Walt2012-01-12T17:44:26-06:00