What we found out is that the Broncos are an even stronger contender to the New England Patriots in the AFC with their new quarterback.
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The Patriots suffered their first loss of the season last night losing to Denver 30 – 24 in overtime. Anderson galloped 48 yards to seal the 30-24 final result that clinched the Broncos’ fourth consecutive winning season and their 28th overall. After the All-Pro tight end went down in the fourth quarter, the Patriots inserted Asante Cleveland into the game. Ward and Williams were in walking boots post-game. Osweiler threw to him 13 times. Brady later cashed in on the turnover with a flawless pass to Scott Chandler in the corner of the end zone, making it 14-0 Patriots. Denver had trailed 21-7 earlier in the quarter.
Fourth quarter, 14:50 left: Brandon Bolden catches a pass out of the backfield and goes 63 yards for a touchdown. If you put in a Patriots uniform – whether you’re Brady or the recently acquired Chris Harper – the coach expects that you will be able to handle your role when called upon. “It was no good in that situation, so I just checked to the second play, and the offensive line and C.J. did a hell of a job”.
Just 1:09 min. left in the game, Brock Osweiler passes the ball to Caldwell, who scores a touchdown and turns the game around for the Broncos, putting them at a 24-21 lead over the Patriots. “The object was to get a W and that’s what we did”.
3 things we learned1.
New York Jets safety Calvin Pryor’s hellacious first-quarter hit on Rishard Matthews left the Miami Dolphins receiver prone on the ground for several minutes – and while Matthews was being tended to by trainers, Pryor was several feet away celebrating. For the most part they accomplished that, with Anderson and Hillman combining for _ yards and _ touchdowns on _ carries. But they could not overcome all three at the same time against the Broncos. It was ultimately the running game that won it for Denver, with Anderson scoring the walkoff touchdown.
People can debate Belichick’s greatness as a coach and most will boil it down to X’s and O’s and an nearly encyclopedic knowledge of the game itself but to me, the four-time Super Bowl victor laps the field with his managing of personalities much like Phil Jackson once did in the National Basketball Association.
Coming into the game the 10-0 Pats were without star receivers Julian Edelman as well as his replacement Danny Amendola plus starting left tackle Nate Solder, running back Dion Lewis and linebacker Jamie Collins among others yet 11-0 was in their sights.
So it was no surprise that, following the overtime loss, Brady didn’t make excuses in addressing the loss and Gronk’s injury.
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It’s the sight no one wanted to see, and it happened Sunday night out in Denver. In only his second career start, Osweiler threw for 270 yards and a score. When the third quarter began, the snow cover was thick that NBC busted out its CGI yard markers. Oh and prior to the game Tom Brady’s four game suspension will be imposed thus preserving Brady/Manning 16 until the AFC Championship game.
