DENVER (CBS4)- A new survey puts Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow at the top of the list for the most desired celebrity neighbor.

But he’s not thinking about that. Tebow is too busy thinking about the upcoming New Year’s Day game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

The Broncos need to beat the Chiefs in order to make it to the playoffs if the Oakland Raiders win against the San Diego Chargers. If the Raiders lose, the Broncos will clinch a playoff spot whether they win or lose.

Tebow will be facing the man he replaced, Kyle Orton, on Sunday. Tebow is coming off his worst game of the year after he threw three interceptions and a fumble against the Buffalo Bills on Christmas Eve.

“Part of being motivated and learning from mistakes and past failures and also learning from losses. Having that feeling and let that disappointment drive you in practice and meetings to watch more to do more. So I don’t know if you just want to let everything go and just continue to be the same person. I think you need to let it eat at you a little bit because it can make you better as a player, as a person,” said Tebow.

The survey by Zillow.com shows many Americans think Tebow would be a good neighbor. Eleven percent of the respondents said they would like to live next to Tebow. He even beat out “Friends” star Jennifer Aniston and celebrity couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.

Oakland Raiders’ fans everywhere are patiently, or impatiently, waiting for New Year’s Day to arrive. Forget the big New Year’s Eve bash, we just want to watch the Silver and Black defeat the San Diego Chargers, while the Kansas City Chiefs blow out the crumbling Denver Broncos on January 1, 2012.

There are still three more days before we find out how this will play out, and the closer we get the stronger my belief becomes that we’ll get our wish.

First, let’s look at the scenario in Denver. Even though Kansas City isn’t playing for a playoff berth, they have strong reasons for wanting a victory at Sports Authority Field. The Chiefs’ quarterback Kyle Orton is returning to play against the team that dumped him for Tebow, and that’s has to sting more than a little.

Orton is out to prove that Denver made a big mistake in thinking that Tebow was their savior. The Broncos were lucky in more than a few of their wins with the young quarterback at the helm, but he’s started to crumble quickly. Denver was stomped in their last two losses, 40-14 by the Buffalo Bills and 41-23 by the New England Patriots. On top of that, their players have really taken a beating, and they’re dealing with a lot of injuries.

The Chiefs’ interim coach, Romeo Crennel, needs the win to save his job, and even Orton may not keep his in 2012 if the team doesn’t do well in Denver. That’s quite a bit of motivation. Is it enough for Kansas City to get the victory? I believe it is.

The biggest concern for the Raiders, of course, is their game against the Chargers. While the team has been inconsistent this year to say the least, they’ve were able to beat San Diego on the road, and won both of their games against the Chargers in 2010.

The Silver and Black will be on fire for this one. The players showed they have heart in the game on Christmas Eve, and they were also extremely resilient. Quarterback Carson Palmer does well against San Diego, and potentially having two exceptional receivers on the field in Denarius Moore and Jacoby Ford, could turn this game into a high scoring offensive show for the Raiders.

Palmer commented on Wednesday, “So this is a big moment for this team and our fans and the fact that we get to play at home is obviously a huge advantage any time we get to play in front of our fans in that stadium because they can be so loud. So it’s exciting, this whole team’s excited.”

After so many years without the hope of even being in the playoffs, the Silver and Black have given us an exciting 2011, and the team could take their season farther than we even thought was possible. Just believe.

K.C. Dermody grew up in the Bay Area of California, and has been an Oakland Raiders fan from the time she could walk. She has continued her loyalty to the team through its many ups and downs over the decades, and has been privileged to meet several of her favorite players, including famed quarterback, Jim Plunkett . Follow her at www.facebook.com/KCDermodyWriter or on Twitter @kcdermody.

More from this contributor:

Oakland Raiders’ Jacoby Ford Back at Practice: Who Will Return to Face the Chargers? Fan’s Look

Three Oakland Raiders Selected to the Pro Bowl: Fan reaction

Oakland Raiders’ Janikowski Nominated for Never Say Never Moment: Fan’s Look

Oakland Raiders Give Fans the Best Christmas Present: A Defeat of the Kansas City Chiefs – Fan’s Take

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There’s a quarterback Tim Tebow can’t wait to meet while in
Buffalo for a pivotal late-season game. A special guest showing up
at his request.

And no, it’s not former Bills star Jim Kelly.

Tebow is bringing in Jacob Rainey, a highly touted prep player
from a private school in Virginia who had part of his right leg
amputated after a severe knee injury during a fall scrimmage.

Tebow is looking forward to chatting with Rainey before and
again after the Denver Broncos’ game against the Bills on
Saturday.

For as dedicated as Tebow is about improving on the field, he’s
just as devoted to his engagements off it.

That’s why losses really don’t linger. He’s already turned the
page after the Broncos’ 41-23 home loss to Tom Brady and the New
England Patriots on Sunday.

“I’ll move on and continue to be positive and everything,” Tebow
said Tuesday.

As if he knows any other way.

Tebow has become the center of the football universe since
guiding the Broncos (8-6) from the brink of playoff extinction back
into contention. Denver leads the AFC West by a game over Oakland
and San Diego after rebounding from a 1-4 start under Kyle Orton.
The Broncos are in prime position to make the playoffs for the
first time since the 2005 season.

Tebow’s name and image have been popping up all over as he’s
appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated, been mentioned at the
Republican debate in Iowa and spoofed during a “Saturday Night
Live” skit in which the show playfully mocks his faith.

Although Tebow hasn’t seen the clip yet, his teammates have
watched it.

“I’ve heard some players have been laughing about it a little
bit,” Tebow said.

Tebow doesn’t mind all the attention. It gives him a platform
for his causes, such as the Tim Tebow Foundation’s “Wish 15″
program. On Sunday, he brought in Kelly Faughnan, who is dealing
with tumors and seizures.

“It gives her an opportunity to have a good time and gives her a
little hope and puts a smile on her face,” Tebow said. “Ultimately,
that’s what’s important. As hard as it is to say it, that’s more
important than even winning or losing the game.”

With every passing game, Tebow steadily improves in the passing
department.

Sure, his mechanics are still rough and his style unorthodox.
But he’s making far better reads and decisions than he was several
weeks ago.

“He’s not afraid, no stranger to hard work,” coach John Fox
said. “He works as hard as any player I’ve ever coached.”

Tebow even received quite a backing from the boss himself, John
Elway, who gave his strongest indication yet in an interview with
The Associated Press that he believes Tebow can transform from a
scrambling quarterback into a pocket passer.

That meant a lot to the young quarterback.

“Mr. Elway is obviously one of the best to ever play the game.
To get any compliment from him is extremely nice,” said Tebow, 5-0
on the road since taking over the starting job. “He’s been around
this game a long time. That’s nice to hear.”

Bills coach Chan Gailey applauds Denver’s bold choice of
switching to the unconventional option offense to better fit
Tebow’s unique skill set. Gailey always believed that approach
could be successful _ for a short window anyway.

“I thought the first team that had guts enough to try it, it was
going to work for about two years,” Gailey said. “Then, defensive
coaches in the NFL would catch up to it a little bit. Then, it
would be a struggle.”

Tebow has proficiently run this offense, just like he did at
Florida, where he won the Heisman and two national titles. He has
rushed for 610 yards this season, the most by a Denver quarterback
and easily surpassing Elway’s best mark (304 yards in 1987).

To Gailey, there’s just one potential flaw with using the read
option _ keeping the quarterback healthy. That’s a reason why it
really hasn’t been tried to the extent it has until now.

But Tebow’s built to deliver a few wallops, too.

“It’s a long season. You take a lot of hits. You take a lot of
hits when you’re not running option football,” Gailey said. “Can
the guy make (it through) the season? That’s the key. But he’s the
ultimate wildcat kind of guy. He can run it and he can throw it
from the quarterback position. He creates a big problem for
defenses.”

The biggest challenge remains keeping him in the pocket.
Allowing Tebow to escape presents all sorts of headaches.

Because that’s what makes Tebow so explosive, when he’s able to
make things happen with his feet.

“The last time I judged quarterbacks, which has been every day
of my life it seems like, you’re judged by winning football games,”
Gailey said. “That’s what he does. He wins football games. It’s
probably not in the fashion that everyone in the NFL is used to,
but he’s leading his team to victory and that’s an important factor
for playing the quarterback position.”

Winning isn’t everything to Tebow.

His faith and foundation are just as high of priorities, too.
Tebow’s foundation is teaming up with CURE International to build a
children’s hospital in the Philippines, where Tebow was born. He
also inspires inmates through jailhouse talks.

“Ultimately, that’s taking my platform and using it for
something good, more so than any `SNL’ skit or any magazine,” Tebow
said.

As for what he wanted for the holidays, Tebow didn’t
hesitate.

“To use my platform for good,” he said, “and to beat the
Bills.”

___

AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton contributed to this
report.

BOSTON (CBS) – WBZ-TV’s Levan Reid breaks down the Patriots matchup with the Denver Broncos quarter-by-quarter.

Third Quarter

The Highs

- The Patriots defense held the Broncos on their first possession of the quarter. Tebow was running around and keeping plays alive, but the Pats stayed in their lanes. Mark Anderson had a big sack to end the drive.

- The Pats make the most of their second possession of the quarter and get on the board.  BenJarvus Green-Ellis with a 21-yard reception, and then they finish it off with a 10-yard Danny Woodhead dash for his first touchdown of the season.

The Lows

-  The Pats got the ball to start the quarter and were a bit shaky.  They get helped by a illegal hands to the face call.  Stevan Ridley has a good run, but they end up turning the ball over on downs.  Brady was sacked twice in this sequence;  once by Von Miller and then again by Quinton Carter.

34-16 New England after three….

Second Quarter

The Highs

- First possession of the quarter for the Patriots and they move the ball.  A great diving catch by Wes Welker that puts the ball at the one, and the drive ends with a one-yard touchdown pass from Brady to Aaron Hernandez, his sixth touchdown catch of the season.

- On Denver’s second possession of the quarter, they fumble the ball on their very first play and the Pats recover.  Ron Brace caused it and Rob Ninkovich recovers. Pats turn it into three points.

- Denver’s third possession of the quarter and they fumble again.  Mark Anderson with the hit on Tebow, who fumbles the ball and Anderson recovers it. Patriots would make the most of it too. Hernandez comes up with a huge play on fourth down for 25 yards and Brady finishes the deal with a one-yard QB sneak. #12 celebrates with a Gronk-like spike.  That’s 17 unanswered points for the Pats.

- Denver’s fourth possession of the quarter and they go three and out.  Bad set of plays as they pass the ball twice and run once.  They only take 12 seconds off the clock and gives the Pats a chance to score.

- Pats get the ball in the for the last possession of the half and they end up punting. But on the punt, the Bronco fumble and the Pats get the ball back and kick a field goal to end the half. It was the craziest half of football I have ever seen…

The Lows

- The Broncos open the quarter and by putting three points on the board.  Matt Prater with a 26-yard field goal.  At that point, the Broncos had put points on the board in every possession.

Patriots lead 24-16 at the half

First Quarter

The Highs

- On their first possession the Patriots get on the board.  Big third down play where Tom Brady hits Aaron Hernandez for 46 yards.  The drive ends with a 33 yard touchdown pass to Chad Ochocinco. Pats come out throwing and it pays off.

The Lows

- The Broncos get the ball first and they run the ball down the field and eat up yardage.  Tim Tebow breaks a tackle and runs the ball in from 8 yards out.  The Broncos get on the board.  They miss the extra point.  Nine plays on that drive and the Broncos run it eight times.

Read: Pats-Broncos Predictions

- On the Broncos second possession they score again.  The Pats defense may be the worst defense I have ever seen.  Big yardage, a run for 29, a pass for 22 and a run to the end zone for 32.  The Patriots can’t stop them at all right now. Two drives for the Broncos offense and 133 rushing yards.

- On the Second possession for the Pats offense they get nothing.  This could be a big problem because the defense is playing catch up the whole game.

- Andre Carter, on what would be the last play of the quarter gets hurt.  Looks like a bad leg injury because they have to bring out the cart to take him off the field.  Not good for the already struggling New England D.

- Broncos have 218 total yards after the first quarter.

Broncos up 13 to 7 after one

Tune in to the Patriots-Broncos game Sunday on WBZ-TV and 98.5 The Sports Hub at 4:15pm. After the game, tune in to The Postgame Show on 98.5 and Patriots Fifth Quarter on MyTV38.

BOSTON (CBS) – The CBS Boston sports team makes their predictions for the New England Patriots big matchup in Denver against Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos.

Walt Perkins, WBZ NewsRadio 1030

It is crunch time in the NFL, that time of year when the better teams find a way to win.

The Patriots have flourished in December. They have traditionally found a way to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Kind of like what the Denver Broncos are experiencing this year with quarterback Tim Tebow. The much-maligned southpaw has led his team to six straight wins; most in dramatic fashion (three games were settled in overtime).

Read: Pats-Broncos Preview

The Patriots have a QB who knows a thing or 12 (get it?) about fourth quarter comebacks. Tom Brady has engineered a few while at the helm of the good ship Patriots.

However, both players will be the first to tell you that they can’t – and don’t – get the job done without the help of their teammates. That means all of their teammates who toil on both sides of the ball.

This season has been a little different for Brady and the offense. The defense has struggled. It has given up more plays in excess of 20 yards than any other team in the NFL.

The Patriots have succeeded this season because the offense has been able to exploit virtually every defense it faces.  It will need to do that in Denver, as well.  The best way to keep Tebow from engineering any last-minute heroics is to make the margin so large he doesn’t have a prayer, so to speak.

The Broncos have a solid defense but not solid enough to contain Brady and his offense. In the end, it will be the Patriots quarterback taking a knee and it won’t be a genuflection reflection. It will be to watch the final seconds tick off the scoreboard for their 11^th win of the season.

Patriots 41, Broncos 24

Steve Burton, WBZ-TV Sports

The Patriots head to Denver, which is never a fun place for Tom Brady. In fact, he is just 1-5 career against the Broncos.

The Pats have to play all 60-minutes on Sunday or Tim Tebow will make them pay. The kid just gets it done in the fourth quarter. The offense needs to get ahead early and take any “Tebow Magic” out of the equation.

With Deion Branch out, I hope Chad Ochocinco can factor into the Patriots offense. There is no doubt Rob Gronkowski will have a big game, but it would be nice to see Ocho finally get involved. While the Broncos defense has played well, Brady should exorcise his Mile High demons and put up Brady-like numbers.

Stats: Pats-Broncos Head to Head

The Pats defense will have a tough test containing Tebow, and need to make him throw. As bad as the New England secondary has been, Tebow has been just as bad throwing the ball. The guys on the line will have to make sure they contain him, and when he gets to them make sure he goes down. Don’t be surprised if the Pats have someone spying on Tebow throughout the afternoon.

This game should be  a fun one to watch, just as long as it isn’t close in the end. It’s been great watching these Denver comebacks from afar, but no one wants to see another one this weekend.

Dan Roche, WBZ-TV Sports

I would love to see this game live up to the non-stop hype it received this week,

Part of me thinks that the Patriots will win fairly comfortably because Denver hasn’t faced many good teams during this Tebow-led 7-1 run. The best team they faced was a Jets team that was reeling and coming off a Sunday night game and had to pay on a Thursday night.

Read: Dan Roche’s December Thoughts

With that said, Tim Tebow and the Broncos are a dangerous team. They believe in him. He makes plays when he has to and others around him respond. Granted, Chicago running back Marian Barber gave Denver a chance by running out-of-bounds when Denver couldn’t stop the clock last week. But, give credit to Denver. The team (yes, team) led by Tebow took advantage and pulled out a win.

The one factor here is the Patriots have their own weapon/leader/competitor in Tom Brady. Brady can win this game…maybe more so thanTebow. He has to play well.

Can the Pats defense stop Tebow? Yes. For 60 minutes? Probably not. I see the Pats hanging on…..barely.

Pats 27-24 

Levan Reid, WBZ-TV Sports

Okay, I know the hype around Tim Tebow and this game. First and foremost, Tebow has done a great job of helping the Broncos turn their fortunes around. He was a winner in college and he is showing that he can be a winner in the pros.

The Pats though are built to beat a team like this. Outside of last week, they have been very good against the run. They should have problems with Willis McGahee and Tebow but not struggle.

Read: Levan Reid’s Patriots Blog

After last weeks tussle on the sideline, Tom Brady has someting to prove and he will go for it early. Pats put up points and take Denver out of their gameplan. They win this one.

Tune in to the Patriots-Broncos game Sunday on WBZ-TV and 98.5 The Sports Hub at 4:15pm. Pregame coverage begins Sunday morning at 11:30am on WBZ-TV with Patriots Gameday; pregame coverage on the Hub begins at 1pm. After the game, tune in to The Postgame Show on 98.5 and Patriots Fifth Quarter on MyTV38.