The undefeated New England Patriots (1o-0) have six games remaining on their schedule, facing the Broncos, Eagles, Texans, Titans, Jets, and Dolphins. The Patriots may have to get their dormant ground game going, but it won’t be easy against a Broncos defense that is seventh against the rush.
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“Denver has been an impressive team to watch this week as they usually are”.
“Yeah, we’ve lost a lot of guys, and we’ve lost quite a few guys over the last three weeks”, Brady said, according to ESPN.com.
So forget Belichick and Brady, the real Patriots thorn in the Broncos’ side has been Rob Gronkowski. Once again, the “comeback kid” has led his team to a come-from-behind victory because 17 game-time seconds later Asante Samuel intercepted Kanell to end Denver’s already small hopes for a near-impossible comeback.
Brady did something similar before last year’s AFC Championship game against the Colts, and in case you’ve been under a rock for the last 11 months: that was the game the Patriots won 45-7, but that was also the game which kicked off the entire deflate-gate scandal that persists to this day. Without their sack leader and against Tom Brady, Denver needs a memorable performance from its secondary. “We have to be smart with the ball – that’s a huge key to the game, is them being able to take it off of you and return it for touchdowns and so forth”.
There is also an advantage for the Broncos due to playing at home. Brock Osweiler will continue to start in his place.
It looks like it will be a cold one Sunday night in Denver.
Last week, Osweiler stepped in against the hapless Chicago Bears in a 17-15 victory and managed the game on his way to a 20-of-27 effort for 250 yards and two scores. One thing he didn’t do was turn over the football, which Peyton was doing at an alarming pace until he went down with that pesky “foot injury”.
Since 2010, when he entered the league, Gronkowski has recorded 523 receiving yards and 46 touchdowns in the red zone in the regular season, both league-highs in the NFL.
Patriots CB Malcolm Butler vs. Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas: Butler is a bona fide No. 1 cornerback but the size-speed edge goes to Thomas. And if the New England secondary doesn’t have their hands full with that duo, add in the dual tight end threat of Owen Daniels and Vernon Davis, who combined for 10 receptions and 137 yards against the Bears. It should be noted that the Patriots are right behind them with 32 sacks, led by Chandler Jones’ 10 1/2. “I don’t think there’s anything the offense can really do to dictate what they do defensively”. All he has to do is knock off an unbeaten Patriots team in front of a national television audience, while trying to outsmart a coach that feasts on young, untested quarterbacks.
But even without three of their top offensive weapons, the Patriots present an whole new level of challenges for Osweiler and the Broncos.
Want some more wackiness? New England coach Bill Belichick could confuse Confucius, so prepping for the unexpected is part of the drill this week.
Get ready for something wild to happen Sunday night.
“I think they’ve got the main pieces and that’s Gronk and Tom Brady”, Denver nose tackle Sylvester Williams said.
“There’s just so much talent”.
Teams have tried to blitz Brady and the Bills hit him often, but his quick release, surprising elusiveness in the pocket and New England’s short passing game have played into the team’s success.
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The action began with the traditional Thanksgiving Thursday games.
