No, we won’t get the Peyton Manning vs. Bill Belichick & Tom Brady storyline that we’ve enjoyed for the last 14 years, but this game will pit one of the NFL’s best offenses against one of the league’s best defenses.
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What? Peyton is not playing?
That’s not keeping the New England Patriots quarterback from tipping his helmet to his longtime adversary.
As many of us correctly predicted, the change in quarterback did in fact improve the running game. With top-end talent matching up against the Patriots’ fourth-string wide receivers, the advantage clearly goes to the Broncos. The Broncos defense is giving up just 18.3 points per game, second to New England’s 18.2 points per game average.
Talib and Gronkowski played together in New England in 2012 and 2013, and now Talib is part of the NFL’s best defense, according to Football Outsiders.
When two units that do so many things well meet on the field, things generally come down to a handful of individual matchups and this game is no different.
With Peyton Manning out until at least mid-December, the Denver Broncos bolstered their depth at quarterback by signing Christian Ponder on Wednesday. He’s suffering from a torn plantar fascia with an iffy timetable for a return to full health.
With Brock Osweiler getting his second start of his career he has the impossible task of taking down the undefeated New England Patriots. The game will begin Sunday, Nov 29 at 8:30 p.m. ET and can be seen on NBC.
For the Broncos, the key players on the injury report besides Manning are former Eagles Pro Bowl guard Evan Mathis and linebacker DeMarcus Ware who remained out of practice.
Weather: The Denver winter has arrived.
In other words, this should be a low-scoring battle with the temperatures expected in the low 20s and the possibility of snow in Denver.
AGELESS ARM: While Manning’s season at age 39 has been a misadventure, Brady’s season at age 38 is rolling along just fine, with 25 touchdown throws and just four interceptions. I think the refs make mistakes too, so it’s just one of those things.
The Patriots could use that bye, especially, given their current injury crisis.
The Patriots didn’t need that highlight catch. “He’s talking me through all of his past experiences against the Patriots”.
Manning faces a hard recovery given the nature of his injury. He was out here at practice once again helping me out, asking me questions. Osweiler, in his first National Football League start, led the Broncos to a narrow, 17-15 victory against the Chicago Bears last Sunday, throwing for a pair of touchdowns and 250 yards, completing 20 out of 27. The tight ends combined for 10 receptions and 137 yards.
If he does indeed put up numbers worth noting, Osweiler will likely have to find wide receiver Demaryius Thomas down the field a few times. Expect both Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson to get plenty of work against the Patriots front seven in this Sunday night matchup.
The Bills were able to hold Gronkowski to only two catches and the Broncos have the ability to take him away as well. The Broncos love to bring pressure and lead the league with 34 sacks.
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The 11 guys on the Broncos’ defense hope to instill a little fear of their own.
