Patriots Have That Super Bowl Look Again After Throttling Broncos in Denver

DENVER — Early Sunday afternoon, Tom Brady experienced what he always does here against the Denver Broncos: frustration, closed windows and getting knocked on his ass.

Brady entered the Pats' latest showdown against Denver with a 2-7 record vs. the Broncos on the road, including last year's title game loss. His last win before Sunday afternoon at Sports Authority Field came against Tim Tebow in 2011. And beating Tebow almost doesn't count.

History looked as if it was about to repeat Sunday. Brady was 0-6 in the first quarter and took some good shots from Broncos pass-rushers. His passer rating was 39.6 (speaking of Tebow).

The second quarter saw more of the same. Patriots wide receivers were blanketed, and Brady was pressured. And believe me, the only thing more awkward than Brady scrambling for his life is a reverse comb-over on a windy day.

Despite the promising start, these Broncos didn't have the offensive firepower to take advantage of their defensive prowess. Just as important, the Patriots showed they had learned from last year's AFC title game loss. After three quarters on Sunday, the Patriots had 27 passes and 27 runs, a sharp contrast to the playoffs game plan that saw New England throw 60 passes to 17 runs total.

The strategic shift worked. Brady was (mostly) frustrated, but the Patriots' ability to run the football (136 yards compared to Denver's 58), combined with Denver's inability to do almost anything consistently offensively, allowed New England to slowly but surely play with the Broncos, like a cat and its string, building leads of 10-3, then 13-3.

That's when Brady started to catch on, hitting Martellus Bennett for 34 yards with about 10 minutes left, putting New England deep in Denver territory. That led to a Stephen Gostkowski 21-yard field goal and a 16-3 final. 

Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

While Brady's ability to eradicate orange-and-blue ghosts was a storyline, the victory said a lot more about where this team could be headed in the next few weeks.

First, though Denver's offense is less than explosive, the Patriots defense is developing into a unit that is borderline great and will be a factor in the postseason. The team put constant pressure on quarterback Trevor Siemian, sacking the Broncos signal-caller four times. And at one point in the second half, the Broncos had drives of two, four, three, five and minus-five yards.

One play typified the physicality of New England's defense: On 4th-and-2 at the New England 30, midway through the fourth quarter, Demaryius Thomas caught a pass for a first down but was smashed in the back by defensive back Devin McCourty, knocking the football loose. Thomas has a lot of drops, but McCourty's play essentially brought an end to any hopes Denver had of staging a comeback.

As Denver-based journalist Andrew Mason tweeted: 

Second, and important in its own way, the Patriots again won the AFC East, for the cabillionth time (OK, 14th during the Bill Belichick/Brady era), becoming the first team in NFL history to win eight straight division titles. They win the AFC East so much it should be called The Bill Belichick/Tom Brady East.

It's an impressive feat, but for this season the victory means it's likely—even if not a certainty—the Patriots will again have home-field advantage through the playoffs (the win over Denver already gives them a first-round bye). While there are teams that could beat New England there—the Pittsburgh Steelers and Oakland Raiders are probably the only two—it's still difficult to beat them at home.

In words that are probably obvious by now, this game really placed the Patriots on another glide path to the Super Bowl.

If that isn't enough to turn the stomachs of Patriots-haters, the fact that Brady also is closing in on another potential MVP should do the trick.

But if you love the sport, and understand how hard it is to do what New England is doing, then this win over Denver, and the fact Belichick and Brady are in position to make yet another Super Bowl run, should provide a moment of awe and respect.

Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

"Pretty great feeling," Brady said of winning the division.

Afterward, in the Patriots locker room, players wore shirts that read: "Hold Down the East." The players were excited, but in typical Patriots form, not too excited. They know there are bigger prizes awaiting them.

So, here go the Patriots again. Deal with it.

Mike Freeman covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @mikefreemanNFL.