Broncos vs. Patriots: 5 Predictions for Saturday's Game

The football-watching public has spent much of the year getting all revved up about Tim Tebow and that thing that is best described as his Tebow-ness.

The question now is whether or not that will hold up in a road game against a Patriots team used to winning and engineered by a quarterback, Tom Brady, who has been there before.

It hasn’t been a good plan to bet against Tebow’s success, because he’s had a way of getting things done; his 80-yard pass on the first play in overtime last week being just the most recent example.

Even so, it seems that it ends here.

5. Finding a Way to Defend Against Demaryius Thomas

As much as the Broncos depend on Tim Tebow, Tebow depends on wide receiver Demaryius Thomas.

He’s fast, he’s strong and he makes plays. He is, in fact, the Broncos’ definitive home run threat.

And he’s going to be the primary focus of the New England defense. Look for the Patriots to slam him with double teams from start to finish in an effort to diminish his impact.

Even so, it would be a surprise if Thomas didn’t break at least one big one against the Patriots’ Ike Taylor; as aggressive as Taylor is, Thomas is just that good.

4. Miller Will Have to Find a Way vs. Solder

Von Miller, one of the prime candidates to be named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, has been as big a factor for Denver as anyone this year.

The linebacker has the most sacks on the team (11.5) and he’s got 24 hits and 19 tackles for losses.

Now he gets matched up with Patriots right tackle Nate Solder. If the Broncos are going to get any pressure on Tom Brady, Miller’s going to have to win the battle with Solder and produce some mayhem in the backfield.

Miller has not been the same player since his thumb injury, but look for him to summon up one last big game.

3. Can the Patriots Force Tim Tebow to Throw?

For the many things he is, Tebow is not a quarterback who can throw upwards of 40 times and hope to win.

Denver has to keep the game close so that Tebow can mix up running and throwing and keep the Patriots defense guessing.

To prevent that from happening, the New England defensive line has to have a big game.

The last time around, in Week 15, it was Mark Anderson who stepped up and came through with a couple of sacks and also forced a fumble.

The Patriots have the stuff to get it done again.

2. Time for the Tight Ends to Come Up Big

The Broncos were able to take away Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski the last time the two teams met, but in the process, Aaron Hernandez was able to make some big plays.

Denver strong safeties Brian Dawkins and David Bruton and free safety Quinton Carter will be primarily charged with defending against the Gronkowski/Hernandez threat.

It could be a long day for the Denver safeties.

1. Hear the Beating of the Tom-Toms

Tom Brady’s pro career began with 10 consecutive postseason wins. Since then, however, he’s just gone 5-5.

More than that, he’s lost his last three postseason starts dating back to the 2007 Super Bowl, during which he’s completed 60 percent of his passes, but has been intercepted four times and been sacked 13 times.

The Denver defense is good, but it’s not good enough to stop a quality quarterback looking to get his postseason slump turned around.