We recently wrote about Touch and the repetitions of 318. Gabe, our friend at teapots happen, noted that 316 played a big role in the Denver Broncos win over the Pittsburgh Steelers Jan. 9 in an NFL playoff game.
If you take any interest at all in college or professional football, you’ve no doubt heard of Tim Tebow, the religious football star who rose to fame as quarterback with the Florida Gators. Tebow’s career was closely followed not only because of his record-breaking play on the field, but his in-your-face religious behavior. Instead of a stripe below his eyes to deter the glare of sunlight, Tebow painted the biblical reference 3:16 with his eye black. He was also a missionary in the off-season and a top student in the classroom.
However, Tebow’s career as a pro has been controversial. While he has pulled out six wins in a row after taking over the quarterback post for the Broncos, his playing style — lots of quarterback runs and few passes — has elicited a chorus of boos from critics. As a result of several last minute wins, the Broncos made it to the playoffs. However, they weren’t expected to win any post-season games, and the Steelers were heavy favorites.
What occurred that day was surprising, and many fans literally found religion. Here’s how one sportswriter covered the results of the game:
In all seriousness, you don’t have to be into football or God to find the events of Sunday’s Broncos/Steelers game a bit … um, how shall I put this?
Freaking bizarre? I mean, as much as I want to say, “Whatever, just a wacky coincidence,” I’m kind of afraid the heavens will smite me down with a bolt of lightning. Can you blame me?? Consider the details …
As you know, Tebow’s all about John 3:16 . Not only did he manage to win the game for the Broncos (a miracle indeed), he passed for 316 yards against the Steelers, setting an NFL playoff record with 31.6 yards per completion.
Yeah, that’s right: 3:16/316/31.6
Random coincidence or sign from the Almighty Creator? And if it was a message from on high, what is The Man Upstairs trying to tell us?
Well, here’s the actual verse:
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
+++
The writer went on to ask if this means that Tebow might be the second coming, that football is the forum for the return of Jesus. He quickly added that he was just joking. But there was speculation from some Christian pulpits that Tebow was a savior of Christianity, if not mankind, and God was praising Tebow’s efforts.
But by the following Saturday night, the ol’ Trickster stepped in to play a role in the saga. In spite of the series of 316 synchronicities that seemed to raise football fans’ awareness of a greater reality, the devilish Tom Brady and his New England Patriots walloped the Broncos 45-10. A humbled Tebow hung his head as he walked off the field at the end of the game, disappointing fans who for awhile thought that God might play favorites on the football field.
Add up that score and it equals 1. The Patriots won, they are the one. This coming Sunday, Tim Tebow will be watching the Patriots vs. Giants in the Super Bowl just like an ordinary fan.
















