PREGAME:
We’re back at Sports Authority Field at Mile High for today’s highly anticipated Week 15 matchup between the Broncos and Patriots.
We’ve got great football weather in Denver here today, with sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-50s.
As fans begin to file into the stadium, each seat has an orange, blue and silver pom-pom. With the sun reflecting off of them, it looks a bit like flashbulbs popping across the stadium. Should look pretty cool on TV.
Stay tuned as we keep you updated with all the latest info.
BRONCOS MOBILE APP: For those of you who follow the action on your smartphone, there’s a brand new — free — official Broncos mobile app. For more information on the app, check out this blog. On your smartphone, visit BroncosMobile.com to download it.
BRONCOS VS. PATRIOTS GAMECENTER: For play-by-play action and up-to-the-minute stats, check out the DenverBroncos.com Gamecenter. We’ll keep you updated here with scoring plays, drive recaps and all the fun bits and pieces you can’t get from looking at a box score.
BRONCOS ON TWITTER: Another option is to follow the @Denver_Broncos Twitter account. There are constant updates on there throughout the game. You don’t have to be on Twitter to read the posts, but if you are, you should follow the account for news throughout the week as well.
INACTIVES: The inactives for the Broncos have been released, and include safety Brian Dawkins.
COIN TOSS: The captains are at midfield. The Patriots call heads — and it’s heads. New England elects to defer, and the Broncos will receive to start the game.
PREGAME PHOTOS: Here’s a look at warmups from field level.
BRONCOS STRIKE FIRST: Tim Tebow capped the team’s first offensive drive with a 9-yard touchdown run. A botched snap on the extra point left the Broncos with a 6-0 lead.
PATRIOTS ANSWER: A 33-yard touchdown strike from Tom Brady to Chad Ochocinco gives the Patriots a 7-6 lead.
BRONCOS RETAKE LEAD: A 32-yard Lance Ball run — the back’s first career rushing touchdown — gives the Broncos the lead, 13-7.
INJURY UPDATE: Willis McGahee is probable to return with a leg injury.
PRATER EXTENDS DENVER LEAD: A 26-yard Matt Prater field goal capped off a 10-play drive to extend Denver’s lead to 16-7.
BRADY-TO-HERNANDEZ NARROWS GAP: A 1-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady to tight end Aaron Hernandez brings the score to 16-14 in favor of the Broncos.
PATRIOTS RETAKE LEAD: A 21-yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski gives New England a 17-16 lead.
BRADY SNEAK EARNS TD: After another fumble, the Patriots capitalized with a drive capped off by a 1-yard quarterback sneak by Brady for a touchdown.
GOSTKOWSKI TACKS ON THREE: A muffed punt with three seconds remaining in the first half gave the Patriots another chance at points, and Stephen Gostkowski converted with a 34-yard field goal to give the Patriots a 27-16 lead at the half.
CARTER’S FIRST SACK STOPS PATS: Quinton Carter’s first career sack was a timely one, bringing New England’s first drive of the second half to a half by forcing a punt.
UPDATE: McGahee has returned to the game, after being ruled probable with a leg injury in the first half.
WOODHEAD EXTENDS PATRIOTS LEAD: A 10-yard touchdown run by Danny Woodhead gives New England a 34-16 lead late in the third quarter.
DUMERVIL CONTINUES SACK STREAK: Elvis Dumervil laid one of the hardest hits of the game on a sack of Tom Brady, extending his streak to seven straight games with at least a half sack.
TEBOW RUNS IT IN: A 2-yard touchdown run by Tim Tebow capped off an 89-yard drive to trim New England’s lead to 34-23.
PATRIOTS SCORE LATE: BenJarvus Green-Ellis’ 1-yard touchdown run puts New England up 41-23 with 4:10 left in the fourth quarter.
FINAL: PATRIOTS 41, BRONCOS 23: New England has beaten Denver 41-23.
Well, that’s that… See you folks on Christmas Eve for the Bills…
im still proud but we need to get healthy and Tim needs more work with the WR’s and TE’s.
You can’t win EVERY game. Even GB knows that now
We beat Chiefs we win the West…we own tiebreakers against the Faders and Bolts!
Bassackwards today,we score early and get outscored late!
Irony would be Orton leading them to victory over us…
I think Brady respects Tebow alot because he was also not to be a good qb and he knows how it feels
The playoff damage is minimal just wonder about the spirit after a butt whooping like this
i think this game solved the question is it the D or tebow that won those last 6 games!! the D looked horrible!! I hope tebow can learn from brady
I just don’t want us to miss playoffs like 08. But we seriously beat ourselves. We were rolling em. Not turnning over was why we were good
go broncos!
I think Tebow was good receivers need to get open a little quicker
i hope he works in the off season with virgil green and julious thomas
Come back Dawk we miss you
Exactly what I’m worried about Carnage
We didn’t play solid football today. We are on to next week, lot of work ahead. See you all next game. 4Eva out
They still running long developing routes. NE kept blitzing Mayo. When the RB step up. Mayo runs toward the T on the side he is on. Then the DE stunts around mayo.
We need to stop that. Cuz other teams are gonna be running that same D against us.
Maybe im not the only one worried because this was a true definition of the game getting away from you. I mean we scored on them at will on our first 2 drives. But to fumble back to back to back and give up like 17 points in less than 5 minutes, while they get the ball after the half … no team can survive that. Thats insurmountable. So im not worried about the loss. Im worried about some injuries and the psychie of the players but other than that … Just a game that go away from us it happened. And Brady did wat he does … Altho I saw alot of holds on our rushers but … wateva.
Just undesciplined football … i missed the 3rd quarter but what I liked was less drops to no drops from the receivers. And I liked that the announcers finally caught on that Tebows accuracy is not poor … I have been sayign this forever … they told him not to turn the ball over … he throws it where either his receiver can get it … or nobody … and sometimes its in the dirt. Just doing what they ask him to do … but if you watch him throw and play u will see he is capable of making the tightest of throws … Can’t wait for this saturday… we need to get back on track … this is not an easy game by any means.
I was however unbelievably disgusted by the coverage on the Tight Ends and the missed tackles on the Tight ends. It was a poor display all around.
TRB
Just let it get out of hand … making a few big plays, then giving it back by penalty or sack – on both O and D … wow – lucky for us the Lions came back … but – as I said 2 weeks ago – look out for the Chargers – they’ll most likely win out … we REALLY need one more win … remember a couple of years ago, only needing to win 1 out of 3, and we couldn’t get it done … it happens …
As for today, I was a muffed punt and a bad center snap on an extra-point from picking the exact score … sure sorry about that … but the game sure developed differently than I thought it would … I thought for sure we’d pressure Brady … shows what an OL that knows what they’re doing can accomplish … but we do have a very bright future …
Do you notice how Tebow takes the OB instead of the extra yard or two now, as opposed to early on when he just put his shoulder down and went for it?? … I’m sure that’s listening to coaching – he must have been told that if he wanted a future in the NFL, only do it when you have to …
Buffalo next week will be like playing in a refrigerator …
Tebow showed today that he IS an NFL qb and should definitly be our franchise QB!!
Maybe im the only one NOT worried***
ofcourse he didn’t sizzla … have u forgotten … pats D is the worst in the league … at least thats all u gonna hear.
like i said earlier one fumble by a rb turned the whole game around
If we could minimize our turnovers and dropped passes we are tough to beat. In the end we are still a young team. We’re all right I’m super excited and pumped about the future of my Broncos!!!!
We draft a rb that can stay on the field and some Dbacks….LOOK OUT!!
I don’t think the Chargers win out. they play the Ravens tonight then the Lions on the road next week,then at the Raiders in 2 weeks!
We beat KC we are locked in!!!
AFC Champions!!!!
we need dbs bad that can tackle
Phil Simms was comparing how TTebow and Brady throw the same today..WHAT!!!
nothing wrong with the qb today
AFC WEST Champions!!!
Yeah he didn’t throw 3 interceptions like Ely did LOL.
Hey Bay don’t be too critical. Lots of errors.
The only thing we need is a HEAD COACH!
Ugh! Gater fans…
whats wrong with the coach?
Discouraging loss..I don’t know. Beginning of year I penciled in this loss, but still expected a better showing from our team. Tebow has to make better decisions, and maybe coaches have to pick better playcalling. Belichick team expecting option plays and we hand it to them. Overall bad game from Broncos. Really disappointing considering we actually started strong for once.
I was really into the game early, which was weird. Then, we came back to Earth and three turnovers in the second quarter. Can’t commit three turnovers and expect to win against the top echelon teams in the NFL.
A bummer for sure but not nearly as discouraging as the Lions loss seemed.
The obvious thing of course were the turnovers. I think the defense got a reality check today to not believe their own press clippings. Tebow was basically the whole offense again. I think his improvement is obvious.
It’ll be interesting to see how they bounce back next week.
If we lose out, and Chargers win out, there is no way Tebow starts next year….Just saying!
How they bounce back – yeah, that’s the key … it’s been the key all along … a young team, that’s a good measure of it …
I’m gonna sound like every fan ever after their team loses.
The Broncos lost this game more than the patriots won it. 3 turnovers in the third quarter, and critical penalties all day long. Penalties that killed our own drives, and penalties that gave the Pats extra chances.
I mean, seriously, how often does a team rush for 160 yards in the first quarter alone and end up losing?
You have to remember who we’ve been playing … no way we’re able to stay w/ the top tier teams yet … but w/o the turnovers – that would have been an interesting game … you could tell we had to allow more for their passing attack, and it sure opened up their running game … did you notice on a number of defensive plays, guys were running around in the defensive backfield as the ball was about to be snapped, like they didn’t know what the hell was going on?? …
Don’t Worry,
We shall Defeat the Patriots in the AFC Championship!
He(God) did not bring Us this far just to drop us off here. If He does, its for a Reason. With that said, and since I’m not Religious I humbly Offer:
Do not focus your energy as to whether X’s and O’s(football), are or should be weighing in the balance of One’s faith or belief.
Rather, keep the nostalgia of Positive Energy (what some call miracles or what not, but no matter how it’s defined by some people), because that’s whats exciting…about Our Team, that’s US…THE FAN’s, the REASON behind, of, and for The TEAM!
so for our sakes, I say….KEEP the Hope, the Faith, the BELIEF! And let THAT ENERGY…prevail!
GO BRONCOS’
GO TEAM,
GO DEFENSE..
Just KEEP GOING…..
If you would have told me that we would rush for 252 yards today, I would have thought that meant we won.
Brady had lots of time all day, and we would lose the TO ratio 0-3.
Hopefully we can put a hurting on the Bills next week.
Losses reveal weaknesses and that shows the Broncos where they need to improve through practice, draft and free agency.
I had hoped for a win but am not surprised at the loss. But this was not a Detroit type of loss. This was a loss that shows that we are a young team. Getting better throughout the season but not yet playoff calibre.
Listen to Champ’s post game interview for a balanced perspective.
tebow is no brady! hello from the cradle of the union!!!
and when you talk about your team, dont say we. i didnt see you out at practice.
Of course Tebow is not Brady! How many years has Brady been playing? How many has Tebow? You are just being foolish in your statement.
Hey Webwork. Take a hard object and use your imagination with it.