The Sports Xchange

Tim Tebow made a strong case for the Philadelphia Eagles’ No. 3 quarterback job by throwing two touchdown passes in the preseason finale Thursday night.

Tebow and Matt Barkley are competing to be the third quarterback on the roster behind Sam Bradford and Mark Sanchez.

Tebow completed 11 of 17 passes for 189 yards with one interception and added 32 rushing yards on four carries as the Eagles fell to the New York Jets 24-18 in MetLife Stadium. Barkley went 4-for-9 for 45 yards with an interception.

“I’m not going to worry about what I can’t control,” Tebow said after the game. “It’s a blessing being able to come out here and play this game that I love. It was a lot of fun out there tonight. It was a blast.”

The NFL deadline to reduce rosters is Saturday at 4 p.m. ET and Eagles coach Chip Kelly likely will decide between Tebow and Barkley as his third-string quarterback.

Tebow, who hasn’t played in a regular-season game since 2012, quoted Philippians 4:6 when asked whether he would be anxious Friday while awaiting his fate.

“I try not to be anxious at all,” Tebow said. “That’s what the Bible says. ‘Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.’ If he said, `Be anxious for nothing,’ I’m going to try to do that.”

Tebow finished the preseason completing 21 of 36 passes for 286 yards. He threw two touchdown passes and one interception, all in Thursday’s loss to the Jets.

Barkley completed 27 of 52 attempts for 351 yards with two interceptions during the preseason.

Kelly had the quarterbacks alternate quarters Thursday night. Barkley played the first and third quarters, and Tebow played the second and fourth quarters.

“I thought it was the fairest way to do it,” Kelly said, adding that he wouldn’t assess the quarterbacks’ play until he sees the game video. “I thought it was up-and-down with both guys.”