RUN, TIM, RUN: Tim Tebow scrambles for his life during a second-quarter series. (Anthony J. Causi)
RUN, TIM, RUN: Tim Tebow scrambles for his life during a second-quarter series. (Anthony J. Causi)
NASHVILLE — The Jets’ inexplicable and inexcusable misuse of Tim Tebow hit a calamitous low in last night’s turnover-infested 14-10 loss to the Titans at LP Field that eliminated them from playoff contention.
In the second quarter of the game, it finally happened: Tebow Time arrived for the Jets when, for the first time all season, he was given a full series to run the offense.
And though Tebow’s presence did not produce points, he was sent onto the field only one more time in the game despite Mark Sanchez tossing four interceptions — essentially throwing away what was left of the Jets’ season.
The only snap Tebow played in the second half came in the third quarter during one of the rare times Sanchez actually looked to be in a rhythm.
Sanchez was fresh off completing an 11-yard pass to Jeremy Kerley and a 22-yarder to Jeff Cumberland when suddenly there was Tebow sent onto the field by offensive coordinator Tony Sparano.
The Titans were called for offsides on the aborted play (negating a Tebow fumble), but there went the rhythm of the series. That was followed by two Sanchez incompletions and a sack to end the drive.
After the game, Jets head coach Rex Ryan stammered through the Tebow questions, saying nothing to clarify what Sparano was doing.
“That was planned,’’ Ryan said of giving Tebow at least one full series. “Then as the game went on, we were going to use him more, [but] I don’t think he had too many plays in the second half.’’
Tebow said of the second-quarter possession, “The series started off well. We made some first downs and were hoping to capitalize on that and score some points, but then we got backed up and we tried to make best of the situation to not make some bad plays worse, so I threw that one away.’’
Indeed, there was rich irony to the one pass Tebow threw because he did the smart thing on a third-and-16 and threw the ball away, far out of bounds.
Had Sanchez used the kind of discretion Tebow exercised under duress, the Jets might have won the game and remained alive in the playoff hunt for another week. Tebow’s one incomplete proved to be more resourceful than a number of Sanchez’s 28 passes.
Early on, this looked as if it might turn into Tebow’s most productive game as a Jet. He took his first snap in the first quarter on a third-and-1 and he ran up the middle for two yards and a first down.
Then, Tebow, who had not played more than three consecutive plays this season, was given that first full series when he returned to the field in the second quarter.
He handed off to Joe McKnight, who gained 11 yards, and he remained on the field. On the next play, Tebow kept the ball on an option play and gained 12 yards around right end. Still, he remained in the game and gained a yard on a keeper.
From there, it got worse. Tebow was sacked for a 2-yard loss. That was followed by a delay of game penalty, leaving the Jets in a third-and-16 hole. That was followed by the throw-away incomplete pass.
At the end of a miserable night for the Jets, what looked like a chance for Tebow to contribute more ended in just another display of how clueless the Jets have been in their use of their backup.
In what turned out to be a lackluster loss, a result that officially eliminated the Jets from the playoff contention they were laughably believed to be in, Tebow was again reduced to a footnote in the proceedings.
That, of course, was fitting considering his on-field contribution has been nothing more than a footnote to the entire season — despite all the attention he has garnered.
mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com