By now, it seems difficult to argue in good faith that Tim Tebow doesn’t deserve to start for the Denver Broncos. Once he develops a flair for the dramatic, an athletes won the battle of public opinion. It doesnt much matter whether hes prodigiously clutch or just lucky. In commanding the Broncos to a 18-15 overtime win over Miami, Tebow was a little bit of both. After three-and-a-half awful quarters he suddenly came alive, passing for 121 yards on 9-for-14 passing to even the score with just 17 seconds left. He even ran in the game-tying 2-point conversion. Afterward, players on both sides were deferential to Tebows ability. Nonbelievers, what more do you need?  Of course, the starstruck comeback doesnt come without a few necessary disclaimers: Tebow was really ineffective for most of the game, and the Dolphins might be the worst team in the league. “To celebrate a win over the 2011 Dolphins is to open a ’61 Chateau Latour for putting your jeans on in the morning,” writes the Journals Jason Gay, who still counts himself as intrigued by Tebowmania as the next guy. “There will be proclamations but the reality is Tebow and the Broncos played about five good minutes on Sunday, and it was enough to come back against a dreary club that hasn’t beaten anyone.” What mostly matters is that everyone was waiting for him to fail … and he didnt. Fans on Colorados Front Range shouldnt book their Super Bowl packages any time soon, but the Broncos are only two games back in a weak AFC West.  Speaking of which, the Oakland Raiders could use some of their own good news under center. Their two quarterbacks combined to throw six interceptions in a 28-0 home loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. After Kyle Bollers comically awful start (his first throw was a 59-yard pick six), the recently acquired Carson Palmer, who wasnt expected to see much-if-any game time, made his untimely debut in the third quarter. True, he only joined the team a few days ago. But even a mediocre performance wouldve repelled some of the overwhelming criticism Oakland received after paying a steep price for the former Pro Bowler. His three interceptions did not quiet anyone. And now, Darren McFaddens sprained right foot makes the Raiders fast start seem even more distant. “The only welcome news wrapped within this 28-0 gift handed to the Chiefs Sunday before a restless crowd of 57,361 came at the very end, when the clock went to zeroes and the Raiders trudged off the field into the sweet and warm embrace of the bye week,” Monte Poole writes for the Oakland Tribune.  With the NFL trumpeting its goal of overseas expansion, the actual play during the now-annual London game can feel like something of an afterthought. Someone in your family probably asked whether it counted. What a pleasant surprise then that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made it a game against the Chicago Bears. After trailing 21-5 heading into the fourth quarter, the Bucs scored twice and held Chicago to a field goal, putting them within six for one final drive. Marching down field, they got inside Bears territory before QB Josh Freeman threw his fourth interception of the day, effectively ending it. Halfway exciting is better than Seahawks-Browns, though, and English fans shouldnt be disappointed. “Expanding the NFL International series to two games is a stretch and placing a team in London is a poor idea, but one regular-season contest a year is just right. London is a great city, Wembley Stadium is terrific, and the locals have a decent interest in American football,” writes ESPN Chicagos Jeff Dickerson. “But the NFL needs to be careful not to overplay its hand.”  The World Series hasnt been tied at two games apiece since 2003, when the Florida Marlins beat the New York Yankees in six. By this point in almost a decades worth of Series, the better team has usually revealed itself. But four games in this October, the Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals are matching each other punch for punch. The Rangers gave up 16 runs in their Game 3 loss; just a day later, they held St. Louis scoreless in a 4-0 Game 4 win. Derek Hollands mustache continued its streak of excellence by being present for its owners 8 ⅓ scoreless innings, and suddenly its a three-game series. There are no easy narratives in this one; its simply good baseball. “We’ve actually only had one Game 6 since [2003]  Phillies and Yanks in 2009  and we haven’t gone the distance since the Angels and Giants took seven games to sort things out in 2002,” Kevin Karduk writes for Yahoo. “While we still won’t know for another two games if a Game 7 will be necessary, it certainly feels like we’re headed that way.”  Its rare that an athlete can say hes the best and the best-paid: for every Kobe and A-Rod, theres a Rashard and Hampton just behind. No. 1-ranked golfer Luke Donalds claim to excellence is pretty unimpeachable, though. After hitting six birdies in a row to highlight a remarkable victory at the Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals Classic, Donald will likely become the first golfer in history to top the PGA and European money lists in the same season. That probably means hell be the PGA Tour Player of the Year, as well. “Nobody won more tournaments, more money or had a lower stroke average. Nobody had more top-10 finishes, with 14 in 19 starts, than Donald. That’s two more top-10 finishes, in seven fewer starts, than [Webb] Simpson, who was second on that list,” Steve Elling writes for CBS Sports.  The New Zealand All Blacks have dominated rugby for more than 100 years. But theyve traditionally disappointed at the Rugby World Cup. After winning the inaugural Cup in 1987, they came up short again and again  if you saw “Invictus” (a big if), youll remember them as the team that lost to Matt Damons South African champions. For a rugby-loving nation, this is somewhat unforgivable. (Imagine if U.S. basketball hadnt won gold since the Reagan years.) But the streak is over. Yesterday, the All Blacks defeated France, sending long-waiting Kiwis into spasms of joy. “As a pile of black jerseys bounced up and down on the grass before their jubilant supporters, it was as if two decades of frustration was being sent up to the night sky above Eden Park Stadium,” Jonathan Clegg writes for the Journal. “New Zealand is finally back at the top of the sport it loves more than any other.”  Found a good column from the world of sports? Don’t keep it to yourself  write to us at dailyfixlinks@gmail.com and we’ll consider your find for inclusion in the Daily Fix. You can email Jeremy at jeremypaulgordon@gmail.com.
Tim Tebow's win for Denver in his first 2011 start at quarterback has the league talking. Plus: Derek Holland pitches the game of his life for Texas; golfer Luke Donald's in the money; and more.