Tim Tebow: Predicting Which Week Jet's Backup QB Will Win Starting Job - Bleacher Report

Tim Tebow will win the starting quarterback job for the New York Jets, and the team’s schedule reveals exactly when this will happen.

It took John Fox and the Denver Broncos four-and-a-half games last season to replace Kyle Orton with Tebow. Given the amount the Jets have invested in incumbent starter Mark Sanchez, he will likely last longer than this. 

In order to draft Sanchez in 2009, the Jets traded first and second-round picks in addition to three players in order to jump from No. 17 to the No. 5. With New York clearly showing its intention to build the offense around Sanchez, he was quickly given the nickname “Sanchize.”

But when the Jets acquired Tebow this summer, Sanchez’ permanent hold on the starting quarterback position was called into question by the media, despite head coach Rex Ryan’s assertion that there was no quarterback controversy.

Sanchez has not performed all that well in his first three seasons in the NFL. He has managed to improve each season, but did not make much of a leap this past year in comparison to his sophomore campaign.

In 2011, Sanchez completed 56.7 percent of his passes and earned 3,474 passing yards. He tossed 26 touchdowns and 18 interceptions while earning a 78.2 passer rating.

The Jets offense has a patchwork offensive line and a concerning lack of depth at wide receiver, and the running backs do not appear ready to carry the load for the offense. 

Drew Hallowell/Getty Images

Sanchez will likely have little help this season, and this will cause him to struggle. It is not entirely his fault, but he is not the type of quarterback who can elevate an offense by himself.

This will be evident in the Jets’ season opener when the team faces a revamped Buffalo Bills defense. The calls for Tebow will start early when they lose this game.

The next game is on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and this will not be a pleasing game for Jets fans. The first half of the season will also include games against the San Francisco 49ers, Houston Texans and New England Patriots. 

With the exception of the Patriots, all of these teams have fantastic defenses with fearsome pass rushers. The hapless Jets' offensive line will be drastically overmatched, and Sanchez will be on his back for the majority of these games. 

Will Tim Tebow start for the Jets this season?

Will Tim Tebow start for the Jets this season?

• No, Sanchez will be the starter all year

• Yes, and he will take over in the first four weeks

• Yes, he will take over between Week 5 and Week 8

• Yes, he will take over in the second half of the season

• Total votes: 1,142

Assuming the team will take care of its two matchups with the Miami Dolphins and the Indianapolis Colts, New York faces the danger of entering the bye week with a 3-5 record. In this position, two losses could knock them out of playoff contention.

With lackluster start and so much on the line going forward, in addition to the suffocating pressure of the New York media, Ryan will have no choice but to turn the page on Sanchez and start Tebow.

Going into the bye week, it will be clear that Sanchez is powerless to coax any production out of an offensive unit with little talent, and the Jets coaches will hope that Tebow can go on another magical run this season. Tebow will be the Jets starter against the Seahawks in Week 9.