Tim Tebow has been named by his peers as the most overrated player in the NFL. He is considered the most polarizing player in pro football, the quarterback voted most unlikely to succeed and the most awful, dreadful, atrocious, no-good passer in the game.

The problem is, of the quarterbacks who have started four or more games this season, Tebow has the third-highest winning percentage — .750. And in the other half-game he played at quarterback, the Broncos outscored the Chargers 14-6. So Tebow’s record actually is 3½-1.

The trouble is, Tebow just became the only quarterback in Broncos history to beat the Raiders and the Chiefs on the road in back-to- back games.

Tebow has won four of the seven overall games he has started. His predecessor, Kyle Orton, won four games in the last 18 he started.

The quandary is Tebow has won one more game in 2011 as a starter than the three quarterbacks coach John Fox started for the Panthers last year. And Tebow has one more victory this year than the Panthers’ current starter, who was the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft. Tebow has three more victories in 2011 than the successor to John Elway had in his first four starts in 1999.

Tebow gets no respect from opponents and a majority of media across the country. The locals are pulling hammies jumping on and off the bandwagon.

But, more important, he gets almost no love from his head coach or the executive vice president of the Broncos.

Fox refers to the team’s quarterback as Tebow “or whoever,” which certainly is an underwhelming vote of confidence. What if I wrote that next season the Broncos will be improved under Fox “or who- ever is the coach.”

Elway, who must be reminded that he never beat the Raiders and the Chiefs in back-to- back games, anywhere, any time, continues to be polite, but not gushing with praise about Tebow.

As we all have discovered in life, it’s tough when your bosses don’t even believe in you.

All Tebow has done this season is come within a two- point conversion of forcing the first game he entered in the second half into overtime, and winning three games as a starter — and ending the league’s longest drought without consecutive victories.

All Tebow has done is give the Broncos an honest chance of winning three games in 12 days — an unfathomable feat for this team.

All Tebow has done is provide the Broncos with the opportunity to win the AFC West and advance to the postseason for the first time since 2005.

The Chiefs are finished. Quarterback Matt Cassel could be lost with his hand injury for the rest of the season, and, at best, K.C. will win two games against a ridiculous schedule (Patriots, Bears, Jets and Broncos on the road; Steelers, Packers and Raiders at home).

The Chargers are wallowing in the sludge of four defeats. They have road games at Chicago, Jacksonville, Detroit and Oakland, and home games with the Broncos, the Bills and the Ravens. They should lose at least four and end up 7-9.

The Raiders, 5-4, have only three home games (Bears, Lions and Chargers, oh-my) and road games at Minnesota, Miami, Green Bay and Kansas City. The capricious Raiders can lose five.

Eight is enough for the Broncos.

And with Tebow at quarterback, they can win at home against the reeling Jets if the Broncos can get some support from the crowd, the Bears and the woeful Chiefs. The Patriots will be very difficult here. But the games at San Diego, Minnesota and Buffalo are possible upsets.

An 8-8 record could win the division. A 7-9 record took the NFC West last year. Given up for dead with a 1-4 record, the Broncos have risen from the ashes like the phoenix (but unlike the NFL team outside Phoenix).

All Tebow has done is make players around him better. In two games the league’s second-youngest offensive line has grown, allowing only one sack and blocking for 543 rushing yards; the defense has permitted an average of only 17 points per (with six sacks and three interceptions, while the Broncos had zero turnovers), and the special teams have been just that — special.

The lack of passing? That, too, shall pass, as the coaching staff lets Tebow do more. The .664 completion percentage and 88 touchdowns in college weren’t an aberration.

Tim Tebow just wins.

You want pretty? Go see Monet’s “Water Lilies” collection at the New York’s Museum of Modern Art.

Woody Paige: 303-954-1095 or wpaige@denverpost.com