The Tim Tebow phenomenon has captivated the NFL, and even Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz is taking notice.
Schwartz said Monday he has watched Tebow play part of one game (a Thursday night win over the New York Jets last month) since the Lions handed the Denver Broncos their last loss in late October. He followed Denver?s Tebow-led comeback over the Chicago Bears on his phone Sunday.
It has been hard to ignore the most talked-about player in the league and a team that has won six straight games to take control of the AFC West.
?I think there?s a lot of different formulas for winning in the NFL,? Schwartz said. ?Some people are going to outscore people, some people are going to win pitching duels. Some people have different formulas. Their formula seems to be hang in there for 58 minutes and then win it in the last two or overtime.?
Despite an unorthodox style and with the help of a stingy defense, Tebow has rallied the Broncos from double-digit deficits four times in eight starts. The Lions are the only team to beat Denver since Tebow took over at quarterback from Kyle Orton, sacking him seven times and mocking his prayerful prose in a 45-10 blowout.
Since that defeat, the Broncos have gone to a more conservative, run-heavy offense that better suits Tebow?s skills.
?They?re finding a way to keep it close, finding a way to win the game and, again, with the scrutiny that everybody?s under in this league and the interest in this league, people need stories other than who won and who lost,? Schwartz said. ?But I think that probably the biggest thing that the Tebow story does for me is it just says, 'Hey, what?s the most important thing? Winning.' And that?s the only stat that truly matters in every aspect of this game.?
Contact Dave Birkett: 313-222-8831 or dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @freeplions.
Join Free Press sports writer Carlos Monarrez for a live blog of the Lions-Raiders game Sunday afternoon at freep.com/sports.
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