Sportswriters and ballplayers have nothing in common so much as an urge to utter four favorite words:

TRUST IN TEBOW

• Broncos 29, Steelers 23 (OT)
• Tebow 3:16 says I told you so
• Biblical numerology key to win?
• Updated playoff schedule
• Gallery: Another Mile High miracle
• Video: See the game winner
• Our first look at new OT rule

I told you so.

It’s become the coin of the realm in this business. Nothing inspires such opportunistic passion as a chance to hate the doubters and doubt the haters. I generalize, sure, but just the same, I find that most people in the press box (hell, yes, myself included) and the locker room would rather be right — or merely perceived as right — than be good. Sacred seems the chance to prove the doubters wrong. Hating can be hilarious; it offers a chance to tweet some one-liners. Then again, what’s mean-spirited fun to one man becomes motivation to another.

The exception — a glorious one, I would argue — is Tim Tebow, who threw for two touchdowns (including the 80-yard game-winner on the first snap of overtime) and 316 yards to lead the Denver Broncos past the heavily favored Pittsburgh Steelers 29-23 in overtime Sunday at Sports Authority Stadium. He was not intercepted. He did not fumble. What’s more, he ran for 50 yards, a number that includes four first downs, one of them a touchdown.

Yes, football is a team game. Tebow would be the first to tell you that. Just the same, he was the reason the Broncos won. He was 6 for 22 for 60 yards seven days ago against the Kansas City Chiefs. But he was masterful against the Steelers. That was the difference.