National Football League

Any doubt as to Tebow's lucky number?

Published Jan. 8, 2012 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Tim Tebowed and Denver rose as one.

The Broncos quarterback's 80-yard touchdown pass to receiver Demaryius Thomas on the first play of overtime against Pittsburgh both clinched Sunday's game and wrote another improbable chapter in Tebow's book of clutch plays to win high-pressure games.

His performance also borrowed a little magic from another famous book.

The devout Christian's stat line in Sunday's game mirrors the numbering of the Biblical passage that Tebow at times had painted on to his black eye paint during his career at the University of Florida — John 3:16.

The passage reads, according to the New American Standard Bible, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."

Officially, Tebow passed for 316 yards against the Steelers, completing 10 of 21 pass attempts — meaning he passed for 31.6 yards per completion.

After his final pass was caught and brilliantly taken downfield by Thomas, Tebow shrugged off three bad weeks — when he threw only one touchdown compared to four interceptions — and took a knee and prayed in his classic style.

"First and foremost, I just want to thank my savior, the Lord, Jesus Christ," Tebow said at the postgame news conference. "I am so thankful for the platform God has given me."

Next up for those on the Tebow bandwagon, a trip to New England to tackle Tom Brady and the Patriots in an AFC divisional playoff game on Saturday.