Perfect No More: Patriots Fall In Denver

Sean Taylor

November 30, 2015

DENVER, CO.- On a snowy, windswept night, the New England Patriots finally fell for the first time all season, in a wild 30-24 OT loss to the Denver Broncos.

It was a game worthy of the prime-time spotlight, with the Patriots controlling the game early before Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler of all people led the comeback to knock of Brady and Belichick. Starting just his second career game in the place of the injured Peyton Manning, Osweiler led Denver from an early 14-0 deficit, culminating in an 83-yard scoring drive to take a late 24-21 lead with just over a minute remaining. Mile High was rocking, as it looked like Denver was about to knock off the defending champions.

Photo: Chris Humphreys, USA TODAY Sports

The lead wouldn’t last long. Just over a minute was plenty as New England quarterback Tom Brady led the Patriots down the field; through the snow, through the wind, through the swarming Denver pass rush, despite missing his top 4 targets. Stephen Gostkowski nailed a 47 yard field goal to send the game into overtime, silencing what had been a raucous Denver crowd. With New England winning the toss and receiving the ball first, an unease settled over the crowd.

Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

But the injuries finally affected what appeared to be an unstoppable Patriots machine. The absence of wide receivers Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola, so skilled in creating separation and getting open when Tom Brady is under duress was painfully noticeable. Without the security blanket of catch-everything tight end Rob Gronkowski (who left in the 4th with a knee injury), the Patriot’s offense sputtered to a quick 3-and-out, with help from a Broncos defense that seemingly found a second wind. Then the injuries on defense for New England reared their ugly heads, as the backup linebackers of the Patriots were a step slow as Denver running back C.J. Anderson motored up the left sideline for a 48 yard score to send the home crowd into delirium.

Photocredit: Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

Injury to Insult

In addition to losing Rob Gronkowski, the Patriots also lost linebacker Dont’a Hightower to a knee injury during this game. The severity of both is unknown, and despite the severe pain Gronkowski was after being hit in the knee on a fourth quarter incompletion (writhing around on the ground), initial reports are positive that the injury is not season ending. Add these injuries to the losses of receivers Edelman and Amendola, running back Dion Lewis, and the extended illness of linebacker Jamie Collins, and the Patriots loss seemed almost inevitable.

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press