In a Week 16 upset, the New England Patriots pulled off a surprising victory against the Denver Broncos, sealing their fate and ending any playoff hopes for the Broncos this season. The Broncos, who had shown promise with five consecutive wins from late October to the end of November, faced a struggling Patriots team at home. Despite the Patriots having one of their worst seasons in the Bill Belichick era, just one loss away from his career high, the Broncos fell short in a game they needed to win.
The Broncos, with a 7-8 record, had a prime opportunity to secure a playoff spot against the 4-11 Patriots. However, they failed to perform effectively, particularly on offense, and only managed to put up significant points in the fourth quarter.
The real blow came when the Patriots took a commanding 23-7 lead by the start of the final quarter. Despite the Broncos’ valiant comeback attempt, scoring two touchdowns and successfully converting two-point conversions on their first two fourth-quarter drives, it was too little, too late. The game ultimately hinged on a career-long 56-yard field goal by Chad Ryland, giving the Patriots the edge with only two seconds left on the clock.
The Broncos’ offensive struggles began early in the game, as they missed a golden opportunity gifted by the Patriots. Starting from the New England 6-yard line after a costly mistake by Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe, the Broncos couldn’t capitalize. Javonte Williams ran the ball four times consecutively, gaining just four yards in total. Head coach Sean Payton’s decision not to attempt a field goal on third-and-goal was questionable, and the Broncos came away with no points.
The blame for the Broncos’ disappointing performance also falls on Payton’s play-calling. In the early stages of the game, the offense heavily relied on running plays, with eight out of 10 plays being runs in the first three possessions. This approach resulted in just one touchdown for the Broncos during the entire first half, with that lone score coming from a drive that started at the New England 25-yard line due to a six-yard punt by Bryce Baringer.
Late in the third quarter, Marvin Mims’ fumble proved to be a critical turning point. With the Broncos still within reach, trailing by nine points, Mims mishandled the kick return inside the Denver 4-yard line. The Patriots’ Cody Davis capitalized on the mistake, recovering the ball and scoring a touchdown. This fumble recovery for a touchdown marked a pivotal moment in the game, as the Patriots effectively capitalized on Broncos’ errors while Denver failed to do the same against New England. The Patriots managed to score two touchdowns within a mere eight seconds, highlighting their situational advantage in this matchup.