Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow's Week 14 fourth-quarter and overtime performance is the 2011 GMC Never Say Never Moment of the Year, the NFL announced. The GMC Never Say Never Moment of the Year is the best moment or play of the year that represents determination and perseverance. The award was announced in Indianapolis, the site of Super Bowl XLVI, at the inaugural NFL Honors awards show on NBC.
Late-game rallies and epic finishes were the norm for Tebow and the Denver Broncos in 2011, and Week 14's win over the Chicago Bears provided a particular highlight. The Broncos faced a 10-point deficit with just over two minutes to play in regulation, but they were able to pull it all together late to earn a victory. Tebow first connected with wide receiver Demaryius Thomas for a score, and then kicker Matt Prater kicked a 59-yard field goal to force overtime. Prater would then connect on a 51-yard attempt in the extra period to deliver Denver its sixth straight win and seventh in eight games since Tebow took over as the team's starting quarterback.
Tebow's performance was selected from among five moments by voters on NFL.com/gmc. The five finalists were selected among 17 of the most memorable GMC Never Say Never Moments during the 2011 NFL season. Each week the NFL selected three nominees for the moments of the week on which the fans voted for the winner on NFL.com/GMC. The other four moments nominated for GMC Never Say Never Moment of the Year are in bold in the chart below.
NEVER SAY NEVER MOMENT NOMINEES
Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers
Clay Matthews ends Saints comeback attempt: After a pass interference call in the end zone gave the New Orleans Saints one last untimed down at the 1-yard line to possibly force overtime on the defending Super Bowl champions, Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews led a surge through the Saints' line of scrimmage to stuff rookie running back Mark Ingram and seal a Packers victory.
Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys
Resilient Romo leads Cowboys to OT victory: A week after falling to the New York Jets in a game in which he turned the ball over twice in the deciding fourth quarter, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo was forced from the game against the San Francisco 49ers with a cracked rib and a punctured lung. But that didn't stop him from returning and leading a gutsy comeback. Under his direction and leadership, the Cowboys pulled off an improbable 27-24 victory in overtime.
Jason Campbell, Oakland Raiders
Raiders honor Al Davis with emotional win: A day after the death of Al Davis, the Oakland Raiders provided a fitting tribute with a thrilling victory over the Houston Texans, and an emotional remembrance of the late owner. Down 17-15 entering the fourth quarter, quarterback Jason Campbell hit wide receiver Chaz Schilens for an 18-yard scoring play to give Oakland a lead it would never relinquish.
Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens
Late-game heroics lead to sweep of Steelers: The embattled Flacco struggled during Sunday's tilt against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but with his team trailing 20-16 with a bit more than two minutes remaining in the game, Flacco put together a scoring drive during which he overcame a few ill-timed drops to deliver the game-winning touchdown strike to rookie wide receiver Torrey Smith, who three plays prior to the score had mishandled a potential touchdown pass. The Flacco-to-Smith connection with eight seconds left gave Baltimore a 23-20 win and completed a sweep of their bitter rivals.
Tim Tebow, Denver Broncos
Tebow Time strikes again: Late-game rallies and epic finishes are becoming the norm for quarterback Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos. Once again in Week 14, the Broncos faced a fourth-quarter deficit, only to pull it all together late to earn a victory. Tebow was aided by kicker Matt Prater, who kicked a 59-yard field goal to force overtime and then connected on a 51-yard attempt to deliver Denver its sixth straight win and seventh in eight games since Tebow took over as the team's starting quarterback.