Patriots lose Gronkowski, then game

The New England Patriots quarterback put an image of himself on the mascot of the Indianapolis Colts last season and tried the same joke again this year with the Denver Broncos mascot, but with much worse results. This game was a potential playoff preview, and we could see the same matchup down the road.

“Every game you play, you learn stuff from”, Brady said on Dennis & Callahan Monday. “Our fingers are crossed”, Brady said.

This also benefits the Patriots due to their struggles with injuries to key players. It was 7-0 after one.

Baldwin caught six passes for 145 yards and three touchdowns, while teammate Jermaine Kearse added four receptions for 47 yards and two touchdowns. On Thanksgiving Day, I can recall telling my girlfriend’s cousin’s husband (if there’s a word for that, let me know), that the Panthers would lose to a Cowboys team who would be thrilled to have Tony Romo back and that the Patriots would just keep on winning because that’s what they do. The Broncos ferociously attacked the Patriots first offensive possession.

Against New England, which brought the NFL’s third-ranked run defense into Denver, the Broncos ran for 179 yards on 32 carries and three touchdowns. We were headed to overtime.

The difference was Denver’s running game – 179 total yards, including a season-high 113 from Anderson. Now, instead of worrying how chasing a ideal record might affect their run at a second straight title, the Patriots can focus exclusively on keeping the No. 1 seed.

The Stars: Anderson deserves top honors here.

Raiders 24, Titans 21: In Nashville, Tennessee, Derek Carr threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Seth Roberts with 1:21 left.

According to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report, one Denver player says Osweiler makes throws Manning can not.

In the win over Denver on Sunday Night Football, Osweiler was 23-of-42 for 270 yards with one touchdown pass and one interception.

Manning found a way to contribute to the Broncos’ Sunday night win. New England will face the Eagles in Week 13 and it remains to be seen just how short-handed they will be.

Roethlisberger threw for 456 yards – the most ever against the Seahawks – but was pulled with 2 minutes left and taken to the locker room for concussion protocol.

“The biggest thing is you don’t want to panic, I think down 14 points going into the fourth quarter against the Patriots, it would be easy to try to force things and Brock didn’t”, left tackle Ryan Harris said. However, Gronkowski was able to walk to the team bus unaided after the game and Brady was upbeat about his chances of returning to action in the near future.