As usual, Denver Broncos-New England Patriots matchup is pressure-packed

They’ve been doing a great job all season. We’re going to have to come out and be ready every game. That’s why they can win on days where Brady, Gronkowski, and Blount combine for just 219 yards.

With an offensive-minded head coach, there’s no excuse for scoring three points in this huge matchup and all of its playoff implications.

As great as the Patriots defense has looked in the last three games, it remains to be seen if they can look as good against a better QB with more size, skill, and toughness at receiver. Yes, the same Jordan Norwood that was activated in favor of Kalif Raymond this morning.

The Chiefs came away with a memorable, insane 30-27 overtime win.

“When you kill yourselves with two early turnovers, and you’re not pointing up points, it’s hard to win games”. Denver is 6-1 straight up and against the spread in their last seven games at home against the New England Patriots.

Divided or not, the Broncos are destined for a fall if their offense continues sputtering the way it has in recent weeks. I don’t know if [we] ever kept [Tom] Brady under 16 points, and we did that today.

Yet none of these numbers are salve for the Broncos’ wounds – nor should they be.

Denver’s defense is ranked second in the National Football League in yards allowed, first in passing defense and fourth in points allowed per game.

According to SB Nation, the Patriots enter this game as the favorite, which suits the Broncos just fine. That’s what makes us so good.

“I guess we’re beating ourselves”.

“That’s not gonna take us anywhere, beefin’ with the offense”, Aqib Talib said in front of his locker.

It wasn’t Brady’s most convincing performance, but the team rallied for the road victory.

Denver’s problem was sustaining drives, and was particularly bad in the second half: It was just 2 of 12 on third downs, with both of the conversions coming in the first half (it was 0 for 6 in the second); the Broncos picked up just five (of 15) first downs in the second half; their first 15 plays in the second picked up just nine yards.

“We got on the plane last night and knowing how we finished a year ago with two losses to the Jets and Miami, nobody wants to take their foot off the gas pedal”.

The Broncos’ struggles are most noticeable on the offensive side of the ball, particularly in the running game, where they are having difficulty establishing a consistent threat since the early-season injury loss of C.J. In all likelihood, the defense will end up facing a more significant test – and that, as a true cynic would say, is when they would get exposed. It caught the Broncos off guard during a 2012 game in Foxborough.

“We’re a playoff team”, he said. “We need to find a way to do better”. They’ve scored 13 points while losing their last two games, leaving them in need of wins and help if they’re going to make it back to the postseason. “We all understand that”. The Broncos held a potent Titans offense scoreless in the second half, but the offense went scoreless during the first three quarters and a fourth-quarter rally came up short.