Broncos vs Patriots: Predicting Stats, Stars and Score for Saturday's Game

Did anybody really see this game coming?

Sure, plenty of people might have guessed at the notion of the Denver Broncos making it to the divisional round of the NFL playoffs,  but there can't be many who really predicted it would happen.

The Broncos travel to New England on Saturday for a rematch with the Patriots and will be trying not to get beaten down twice by the same team in a four-week stretch.

Has Tebow mania finally reached its end?

Will Tom Brady end his playoff win drought and compete for his fifth AFC Championship?

Or will Tim Tebow carry his team to another unlikely victory and take the attendant media frenzy one game closer to the Super Bowl?

This game could prove to be an electrifying shootout or a lopsided defeat that some say is one week overdue for the Broncos.

Denver Broncos at New England Patriots Predicted Stat Line

Passing

Name	Comp/Att	Yards	TD	INT	Fum
Tom Brady	24/40	354	2	1	0
Tim Tebow	12/24	325	2	0	1

Rushing

Name	Att	Yards	Avg/Att	TD	Fum
Willis McGahee	22	125	5.6	1	0
Benjarvus Green-Ellis	15	82	5.5	0	0
Tim Tebow	10	45	4.5	1	0

Brady and Tebow may have similar games on Saturday. just as the first two seasons of their careers have been similar so far.

Tebow's impressive stat line should come by way of yards-after-catch from his receivers as Demaryius Thomas adds to his impressive playoff resume.

Plus, as usual, Tebow will be productive running the ball. The run game should prove to be the difference as it was in the matchup in Week 15. This time this rushing attack should produce two or more touchdowns rather than three or more turnovers.

Brady, even with a lower-than-usual completion percentage due to pressure from the Denver defense, will still have a  Brady-typical stat line. However, he will end up giving the ball away at least once to a high-pressure Denver defense that plans on getting in his face early and often.

Receiving

Name	Targ	Rec	Yards	Avg	TD	Fum
Rob Gronkowski	12	10	135	13.5	2	0
Demaryius Thomas	7	5	105	21	1	0
Wes Welker	8	5	85	17	0	0
Daniel Fells	5	3	75	25	1	0

There are too many targets for Denver to effectively cover in this game. Their defense did well against Antonio Brown and Mike Wallace of the Steelers last week. But they face more weapons this week.

Even with pressure from Denver's defense, Brady's arm will allow his receivers to have a great day.

After Aaron Hernandez ripped through this defense in Week 15, the Broncos will  be more susceptible to New England's other offensive playmakers.

Champ Bailey will most likely end up on Gronkowski or Hernandez, leaving one or the other to find holes in Denver's injured and less experienced secondary.

Stars of the Game

These two popular quarterbacks should live up to the week-long hype.

Both Brady and Tebow have the matchups, weapons and skills to put on some seriously high-flying performances.

Gronkowski should return as Brady's best friend and add to the best season a tight end has ever had in the NFL.

Demaryius Thomas will pick up the slack left by Eric Decker—sidelined with a knee injury in last week's victory over the Steelers.

But who will be the biggest star and the difference in the outcome?

Willis McGahee.

He made an early exit in the Broncos' last matchup with New England after rushing for a quick 70 yards and helping Denver to a 13-7 lead.

This time McGahee will play the entire game and insure that Denver doesn't give the ball to Brady and effectively end its season.

Final Score

Brian Dawkins is missing from Denver's secondary.

At least eight rookies could play at some point for the Denver Broncos.

Three turnovers were the real difference in these teams' first meeting.

There are a lot of things to consider when predicting the outcome of the Patriots-Broncos game.

That's why they play the games.

Denver Broncos              31

New England Patriots   20