(Reuters) - Tim Tebow had a triumphant homecoming by rallying the Denver Broncos to an 18-15 overtime win against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday as the National Football League's (NFL) quarterback carousel continued to spin.
Making his first start of the season, the former Heisman Trophy winner who led the University of Florida to a national title in 2009 produced the magic that many football fans have come to expect with an unlikely comeback that set up a 52-yard overtime field goal and left Miami winless.
As the NFL season approaches the midway point, teams opted to reshuffle the quarterback deck with mixed success.
John Beck, making his first NFL start in four years for the Washington Redskins, had little to celebrate as the Carolina Panthers romped to a 33-20 win.
Later on Sunday, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder makes his first career start in place of Donovan McNabb against the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers while former Pro Bowl quarterback Carson Palmer is expected to make his debut in a Raiders uniform against the Kansas City Chiefs after being traded earlier in the week.
The Detroit Lions could also be looking at bringing in a backup next week after Matthew Stafford limped off the field with an apparent ankle injury in a 23-16 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
The loss of Stafford would be a massive blow to the Lions, who have lost two straight after opening the season with five consecutive wins.
In London, the focus was on elusive running back Matt Forte who scampered for 145 yards and a touchdown as the Chicago Bears stopped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-18 in front of an enthusiastic packed house a Wembley Stadium.
On the other side of the Atlantic, however, the football spotlight was firmly focused on Miami and Tebow's much hyped return to Florida and the stadium where he helped win a BCS national championship.
Tebow's homecoming looked to be an unmitigated disaster as Miami built a 15-0 lead and the Denver quarterback struggled, completing just three of eight pass attempts for 24 yards through three quarters.
A fan favorite in Denver and Florida, coaches have been less enamored with Tebow, whose passing ability has not often matched his enthusiasm and athleticism.
But Tebow proved his doubters wrong by firing two touchdown passes in the final three minutes of the fourth quarter then charging across for a two-point convert to force overtime.
Mark Sanchez, another quarterback under attack by the media, silenced his critics by tossing three touchdown passes to wide receiver Plaxico Burress as the New York Jets rallied for a 27-21 win over the San Diego Chargers.
Burress, back in the NFL after serving a 20-month prison sentence on gun charges, was Sanchez's go-to man as the Jets struck for 17 unanswered second half points to improve to 4-3 and get back in the fight for top spot in the AFC East.
(Writing by Steve Keating in Toronto; Editing by Frank Pingue)
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