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Denver Broncos: Counting down team’s top 3 Wild Card round moments

By Travis Wakeman

DENVER, CO - JANUARY 08: Tim Tebow #15 of the Denver Broncos talks to the media after defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers in overtime of the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on January 8, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. The Denver Broncos defeated the the Pittsburgh Steelers in overtime 23 - 29. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JANUARY 08: Tim Tebow #15 of the Denver Broncos talks to the media after defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers in overtime of the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on January 8, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. The Denver Broncos defeated the the Pittsburgh Steelers in overtime 23 - 29. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /
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Denver Broncos, Tim Tebow, Wild Card
DENVER, CO – JANUARY 08: Quarterback Tim Tebow #15 of the Denver Broncos carries the ball during the AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on January 8, 2012 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /

Denver pulls off OT win over Steelers

This game is impossible to forget for a variety of reasons.

Heading into the 2011 playoffs, the Broncos had squeaked into the playoffs with just an 8-8 record. Though they had won a weak AFC West division and gotten a home playoff game as a result, the defending AFC champions, the Pittsburgh Steelers, were on the other side of the field.

The Broncos had Tim Tebow who “couldn’t throw” at quarterback. He had been at the helm of an amazing, almost unbelievable season that year but surely, it was all about to come to an end, right?

Tebow had the best game of his career, throwing for 316 yards and two touchdowns on the day. He also  added 50 yards rushing.

But for as good as he was, the Steelers went toe to toe with the Broncos and were able to force overtime late in the game. This was the year the league changed the overtime rules where if the team that got the ball first didn’t score a touchdown, the other team would get a chance to possess the ball.

Of course, a touchdown by the team that did get the ball first would end in sudden death. What about a touchdown on the very first play?

That would lead to a play that will live in Broncos lore for eternity.

Tebow hit Demaryius Thomas on an 80-yard touchdown pass to win the game. No matter how many times you see the play, it still gives you chills. You can also easily make an argument that it is the greatest play in the history of the Broncos, outside of maybe John Elway’s helicopter dive in Super Bowl XXXII.

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