ReadAndReact’s 2012 NFL Divisional Playoff Picks
While the entire world seems to be gripped by Tebowmania (as evidenced by ESPN’s Tebow Hour and the latest, now-ubiquitous “Tebowie” skit by Jimmy Fallon), there are a few other quarterbacks with super bowl rings who will also be competing in the NFL’s divisional playoffs. Brady, Brees, Rodgers and Manning - you may have heard of them – will each take the field this weekend to try and lead their teams to the conference championships, despite being overshadowed in the media by their Jesus-loving Denver counterpart. And all of them are much better QBs than Tebow, by the way.
After jumping out to an early 3-1 lead with his Wild Card picks, The DarkHorse will try to keep it going for the Divisional round. Here are this weekend’s picks from R&R HQ (CLICK TO EMBIGGEN):
So, it seems our “experts” are split down the middle on the 49ers-Saints and Packers-Giants, while Artie is the only brave soul to ride the Tebow Centaurs to the promised land over New England, and steverodgers is the only one who likes the Texans over Baltimore.
Surprisingly, all of our super bowl picks are still alive, but that’s going to change on Sunday, when either the Packers or Giants will be sent packing. As always, these picks are purely for entertainment purposes … we are mediocre at this on our good days, so feel free to share your picks and mock us in the comments.
Broncos-Steelers Wild Card shocker: mic’d up (VIDEO)
When Tim Tebow and the Broncos upset the Pittsburgh Steelers in their wild card playoff match-up last Sunday, most people theorized that divine intervention had a something to do with it. But true football fans understood that it was actually the arrogance of coordinator Dick LeBeau and the Steelers defense – who stacked the box all day and challenged Denver to throw the ball downfield – that allowed Tebow to pass for 316 yards and 2 TDs (including 204 yards to Demaryius Thomas), and knock the defending AFC champs off their throne.
As usual, the NFL Films crew was on hand in Denver to capturing all the sights and sounds from the game for their super-awesome SoundFX program. For this contest, they had Ben Roethlisberger and Elvis Dumervil mic’d up, along with countless parabolic mics roaming the sideline to pick up all the extra-curriculars. So enjoy as we get to watch the action unfold through the eyes of the players and coaches on the field, in what will already go down as a game for the ages:
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
Your Obligatory Tim Tebow GIF post
On the heels of Sunday’s “Mile High Miracle”, the Tim Tebow photos, highlights, and most importantly, GIFs are everywhere this week as everyone’s favorite Jesus freak continues to make believers out of us all and dominate the national conversation.
So, without further adieu, here are the best Tebow GIFs from the Broncos playoff victory over the Steelers … enjoy!
- Timmy is FIRED UP!
- TIMMY SMASH!
- John Elway has seen the light!
MORE GIFs AFTER THE JUMP
Tim Tebow and the Broncos stun Steelers; Demaryius Thomas scores 80-yard OT game-winner (VIDEO)

Who's got two thumbs and is more popular than Jesus? THIS GUY! (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images via Yahoo.com)
Pretty much every “expert” in the media had written off Tim Tebow and the Broncos heading into this weekend’s Wild Card match-up against the the heavily favored Steelers. And for good reason. The magic seemed to have run out for Tebow and Denver, having lost their last three games in ugly fashion and backed their way into the playoffs, with Tebow’s fabled mystique noticeably deteriorating toward the end of the season.
Today, in an ironic role reversal, Tebow and the Broncos found themselves ahead early and having to fight off a furious comeback attempt by Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers. Tebow threw for one 2nd quarter score on a 30 yard bullet to Eddie Royal and ran for another to give Denver a 20-6 halftime lead. But Roethlisberger rallied Pittsburgh in the second half, tying the game on a 31-yard strike to Jericho Cotchery with just under 4 minutes remaining and sending things to overtime.
Then came “Tebow Time”: with the Broncos’ season on the line, Timmy did what he does best and came up with a huge play when it mattered most. On the very first play of overtime, Tebow hit Demaryius Thomas in stride at the 40 yard line for an 80-yard walk-off touchdown, giving Denver a stunning 29-23 victory:
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
Fake Kyle Orton Says Goodbye to Denver (VIDEO)
After being released by the Broncos and picked up by the Kansas City Chiefs last week, Kyle Orton likely has some mixed feelings about his tenure in Denver. After all, Orton has been on a bit of a roller-coaster ride since joining the team, with Josh McDaniels, John Elway and (most of all) Tim Tebow making his football life anything but simple. So he’s probably looking forward to starting over in KC, and putting this chapter of his career behind him.
Fortunately for us, the guys over at comedy troupe Landlocked Pioneers put together this spoof video of Orton bidding a fond farewell to Denver, with a dead ringer playing the role of a surly, beer-swilling Kyle … who is also clearly hurting inside:
“My rockin Neckbeard!!!
And living in Colorado, I can tell you that they nailed the local references to IKEA and the DIA “demon horse”. Awesome.
Nick Novak relieves himself on the sideline during Chargers-Broncos game (PIC)
From the “when you gotta go, you gotta go” department, check out San Diego K Nick Novak taking a leak on the sideline during today’s Chargers-Broncos game (VIDEO HERE):
Following this broach in etiquette, Novak went on to miss a 53-yard field goal attempt in overtime that would have won the game for his team. On the ensuing drive, Tim Tebow led the Broncos downfield for the game winning score … as we’ll be hearing about forever, as part of the ever-growing Tebow lore.
But nice effort holding up the towel there, equipment guy. You’re parents must be so proud.
Tim Tebow Tebows after Tebowing the Tebows to Tebowry (VIDEO)
Oh boy … get ready, folks. If you thought Tim Tebow-mania had already reached its pinnacle in this country, you ain’t seen nothing’ yet.
Last night, after turning in his usual sub-par performance for 3-1/2 quarters, Tebow once again stepped up as the hero, leading the Broncos on game-winning 95-yard drive to defeat the Jets 17-13. Tebow capped the impressive drive himself with a 20-yard touchdown run (video below), and now, after leading his team to a 4-1 record as starter, even his biggest doubters are genuinely starting to believe that there’s something special about this kid.
Critics will continue to argue that Tebow doesn’t have an NFL caliber arm, and going 9-for-20 for 104 yards passing won’t exactly change anyone’s mind about that, but the bottom line in this game is winning, and you just can’t argue with his results. Tebow rushed for 58 yards on the final drive alone, but his greatest skill might be his ability to avoid the big mistake … something Mark Sanchez knows all about after throwing a crucial pick-six that may have cost the Jets the game. By not making costly turnovers, Tebow has been able to keep the Broncos in every game he’s played until the end, and that’s all you can really ask for from a quarterback in this league.
And as he proved once again against a talented Jets defense, Tebow’s ability to make the big play when its most needed is simply uncanny.
“I like winning,” Tebow said after his third comeback in a month, “but I wish it wasn’t this stressful.”
Well, if he keeps winning games like this – and evoking the comeback prowess of one John Elway for Denver fans – I think everyone will learn how to manage the stress level just fine.
PS – Lost in all this Tebow talk, it’s really the Broncos defense that won this game for Denver. Oh, and Von Miller is quietly running away with the defensive ROY award. Just sayin’ …
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP
Marissa Miller is the NFL’s Official Superfan … HOORAY!!! (VIDEO)
The NFL made one of its savviest marketing moves ever recently when it announced that Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Marissa Miller was hired as the newest spokesperson for the league.
Upon being named as the NFL’s “Official Superfan”, the fan response was one of joy but general confusion as to how and what, exactly, Miss Miller would be promoting. But given Miller’s status as one of the world’s hottest women, we naturally assumed that whatever she’d be doing, it would involve minimal attire and maximum skin, and that was good enough for us!
Well, the NFL has now released its first video featuring Miller – a devoted 49ers fan – behind-the-scenes at a photo shoot for this year’s London game between the Niners and the Broncos. And let’s just say we’ve never wanted to be a Frank Gore jersey more in our lives.
So sit back and enjoy over three minutes of pure NFL fandamonium … or what Marissa appropriately calls, “the new fantasy football”:
VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP















