What to Watch For: Patriots vs. Broncos

Yes, it’s a matchup between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, but the sad news for fans is that Manning won’t be playing in this one because of an injury; however, substitute Brock Osweiler is an interesting figure himself. On the sideline for Denver, offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak and offensive line coach Rick Dennison. He started 36 games for Minnesota but struggled to live up to expectations, throwing 38 TD passes and 36 interceptions while completing only 59.8 percent of his passes. “Guys change it up and he adapts to different things that defenses do”. Belichick now has 12 – 11 with the Patriots and one with Cleveland. Early on, it looked as if Denver was able to do just that.

While many were hoping to watch Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning and Patriots quarterback Tom Brady square off on Sunday Night Football this season – there’s still a matchup to watch for: defense vs. defense. He was leaving a 2-6 team that was in turmoil and ready to bench its starting quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, to join a 7-0 Broncos team coming off their best win of the season, a 29-10 drubbing of the Packers.

Yet, the Broncos probably have not faced an offense like New England’s this year. This time, the unit ran three plays before the Broncos were back in possession of the football.

Brady is losing offensive weapons by the minute. This time, Denver couldn’t capitalize on the turnover and ended its drive with a missed 44-yard field goal attempt.

There is just something about Patriots-Broncos games that brings out some wackiness.

Last week, Brady was pressured on exactly half of his drop backs and was hit about 15 times. Returning to the ground game will be necessary to keep the Broncos from teeing off on Brady.

Without Julian Edelman, the Patriots have done a remarkable job of creating points on special teams over the past two weeks. Patriots 13, Broncos 17. 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. The lead, however, would last only three minutes as Deltha O’Neal returned a Ken Walter-punt 57 yards for the touchdown.

After a rough two-week stretch to open the season – the Steelers ran for 134 yards in Week 1, the Bills for 160 yards the next week – the Patriots were 28th in the league against the run.

A bold strategy – but one that made sense because all New England needed for the plan to work was a quick defensive stop. Even before Manning was hurt Denver was winning due to their defense this season, a defense that boasts the pass-rushing duo, OLB’s DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller.

That’s not keeping the New England Patriots quarterback from tipping his helmet to his long-time adversary. 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.

More importantly, though, the Patriots have won all five of those contests and have done so decisively, prevailing by an average score of 39-21.