This time, Broncos-Patriots matchup is all about defense

08 November 2015: Denver Broncos Linebacker Lerentee McCray (55) [18722] in action during a game between the Denver Broncos and the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN. They’re 10-0 and we’re 8-2, so it’s definitely a five-star matchup.

“Like I told you (media) guys last week, at the end of the day, it’s just a football game”, he said. “And I’m not at that point yet”.

“It’s a progession”, Ware said.

Broncos announced last week that Manning would be ruled out for the foreseeable future with a foot injury picked up in the defeat to Kansas City Chiefs, with Brock Osweiler promoted to starter in his absence.

The tight ends were an afterthought for much of the season as they had to stay in to help a battered offensive line protect a scuffling Peyton Manning. Manning is expected to wear the cast for at least 10 days.

The report added that Manning was back in Denver last Tuesday where he met with Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak and the team’s medical’s staff. Osweiler sat behind Manning for three years while Brady learned from Drew Bledsoe.

“We’ll (decide) that tomorrow morning”. WHAT BOOKS SAY:”We’ve seen a serious divide here among our clients as the public is unsurprisingly on the Pats while the wiseguys are looking toward Denver. He’s engaged in the meetings, engaged in game plans, knows what’s going on”. Just out there today. Peyton has been a great teammate and obviously I love having him around me. He’s done his part. “That’s why it’s been so fun to play in this offense with him”.

Left guard Evan Mathis is questionable; Kubiak said Mathis will test his puffy ankle in warmups.

“[We want to] keep Tom Brady rattled, keep the timing between him and [Rob Gronkowski] off, beat him up a bit, and take care of the other guys”. “I think no one’s going to be wearing that number for a long time around here”. Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips said he hopes to have Ware back Sunday, but that appears to be an optimistic projection. “He’s talking me through all of his past experiences against the Patriots”.

We’ve digested out feasts from earlier this week, and with Thanksgiving out of the way, now is when the football season really begins for those teams eyeing a postseason run.

Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (ankle/finger) is probable after missing last week’s game at Chicago. He was helping me out at practice, asking me questions.

Osweiler did enough to get the win against the Bears, but the Patriots are of a different echelon.

“The chemistry is good”.

“There’s nobody that has more respect for Peyton than me, outside of probably his parents, his brother”, Brady said Wednesday. Their balanced offense, with a revitalized Chris Johnson running the ball, Carson Palmer connecting with Larry Fitzgerald and John Brown, will severely test the 49ers. With a win on Sunday the Patriots would essentially lock down a first-round bye in the playoffs barring a weird late-season collapse. “So, it’s going to pay off”. That’s the beauty of being here and I saw it right away. “But what I like about Brock is that he comes in with confidence and swagger….” He’s poised in the game. And he’s not tentative. He’s not intimidated to mess up or scared to make big plays down the field.

But so were the tight ends, big pass plays, and a relatively balanced offensive approach.

With Brock in, the defenders have to cover more of the field and it has led to more open routes, easy throws, and most importantly an impactful running game.