Fran Tarkenton Asks 'Does God Care Who Wins Football Games?'

The NFL playoffs resume Saturday when the San Francisco 49ers host the New Orleans Saints and the Denver Broncos travel to Massachusetts to challenge the New England Patriots. Sunday, the Houston Texans meet the Baltimore Ravens and the Green Bay Packers take on the New York Giants.

Former NFL great and Monday night football commentator Fran Tarkenton says Bronco quarterback and Christian devote Tim Tebow's displays of faith are not unique: On Tebow's team there is safety Brian Dawkins, who is also an openly devout Christian.

And Tarkenton himself, the son of a Pentecostal Holiness minister, says he prayed before each of the three Super Bowl games he played in as a quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings.

He writes in the Wall Street Journal:

As a player, though, I never understood why God would care who won a game between my team and another. It seemed like there were many far more important things going on in the world. There were religious guys on both teams. If God gets credit for the win, does he also take blame for defeat?