Denver Broncos vs. New England Patriots: Full Report Card Grades for New England
Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning is a classic individual rivalry, but the contest itself often serves as a referendum on two evenly matched teams. In a dominating 43-21 victory over the Denver Broncos, the New England Patriots extinguished all lingering doubts and established themselves as midseason AFC favorites.
After the two teams traded punts to open the game, Stephen Gostkowski got the Patriots on the board first with a 49-yard field goal. However, aided by a questionable pass-interference call on Brandon Browner in the end zone, Manning led the Broncos back on the subsequent drive to take a 7-3 lead at the end of the first quarter.
However, a field-goal drive and a Rob Ninkovich interception allowed the Pats to re-take a 13-7 lead in the second quarter.
Julian Edelman capped off New England's first touchdown drive of the game with a diving catch against T.J. Ward, as Brady fit the ball into a minuscule window. Edelman bounced back significantly after a couple of quiet weeks, extending the Patriots' lead with a wild 84-yard punt-return touchdown to extend the Pats' lead.
Though Denver had some success the rest of the half moving the ball, the Pats benefited from a missed field goal and fourth-down stop to keep the Broncos off the board. An end-of-half drive resulted in seven more points, extending New England's lead to 27-7 after arguably the Patriots' best quarter of the season.
As is customary in Brady-Manning games, however, the game turned once one side fell behind by three possessions. Following a Brady interception on the second half's opening drive, Manning cashed in with a touchdown to Julius Thomas to slice the lead to 13.
But in an unsual twist, the Patriots demonstrated terrific killer instinct in scoring 10 points in 19 seconds to extend their lead to 37-14.
The Broncos responded with a quick touchdown drive, but the Patriots again followed up with two consecutive touchdowns, the latter drive highlighted by Rob Gronkowski's jaw-dropping one-handed grab. Denver piled up some junk yardage in the fourth quarter, but Gronk's spectacular play-of-the-year candidate effectively sealed New England's most impressive victory of the season.
Read on for full grades for each position unit, as the Pats' authoritative win has firmly entrenched them as legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
Quarterback
1 of 10
Against his biggest rival, Tom Brady continued to maintain the form that has catapulted him from an ostensibly washed-up 37-year-old into a legitimate MVP candidate. Brady finished the game with four touchdowns and 333 yards on 33-of-53 passing, manipulating a talented Broncos defense at will throughout the evening.
In a game when the running game had no success, Brady's consistency allowed the Patriots to control time of possession for much of the first three quarters. Brady particularly controlled the seams with Rob Gronkowski and Edelman, converting multiple 3rd-and-longs and exploiting Denver's linebackers and safeties in coverage.
Most impressively, for a quarterback whose greatest weakness has always been a lack of mobility, Brady's pocket presence was superb on Sunday. The Broncos' pass rush was not necessarily disruptive, but there was a consistent press up the pocket. Nevertheless, there were multiple instances in which Brady was able buy extra time and hit his receiver downfield for a large chunk play.
The only downside was that Brady threw his first interception since the Week 4 debacle at Kansas City, which has emerged as this season's turning point. Though some will blame Danny Amendola for tipping the ball in the air, Brady did throw high and behind his intended receiver, the result of throwing off his back foot following strong interior pressure.
Nevertheless, this was a thorough undressing of one of the league's elite defenses. The Broncos have never had an answer for the mismatches the Pats can present with their tight ends and running backs in coverage, and once again, Brady was able to shred Denver at the second and third level.
Grade: A
Running Back
2 of 10
Sunday's game was a bit reminiscent of New England's offensive performance against the Buffalo Bills in Week 6. While the offense was consistent and prolific, the running game disappeared early on, essentially turning the Pats into a one-dimensional offense. Though junk-time yardage pumped up the final numbers, the Pats still finished with just 66 rushing yards on 2.6 yards per attempt.
The Patriots have emerged unscatched with that formula multiple times this season, but it was still disturbing to see the total lack of interior push on gap- and run-blocking schemes.
It is clear that Jonas Gray can thrive when the offensive line faces smaller fronts unable to control the interior gaps, as he did against the Chicago Bears last week. But when Gray is forced to improvise, he effectively plows into a brick wall, as Terrance Knighton and the Denver line shut down the Pats' running game.
Shane Vereen also found little room up the middle on shotgun draws. However, Vereen did exploit Brandon Marshall in the passing game, notching five catches for 38 yards and a touchdown near the goal line. Denver had plenty of issues with Vereen last season, and the steady receiving back continued to expose coverage deficiencies at the second level for the Broncos.
This strategy is not particularly sustainable long term, as the running game cannot totally dissipate against all top-notch competition. New England has escaped with the victory twice in such situations this seasons, but while the Broncos represent a difficult front to run on, the execution must improve in this facet.
Grade: C
Wide Receiver and Tight End
3 of 10
Last season's AFC Championship was the only instance over the past four seasons in which the Broncos defense has successfully corralled the Patriots' passing game. Not coincidentally, Gronkowski was absent for that contest, as Denver has never had an answer for New England's All-Pro tight end.
T.J. Ward and Aqib Talib were signed specifically to combat Gronk, but that tandem was mostly ineffective against the tight end, who accrued 105 yards and a touchdown, catching nine of his 10 targets. His fourth-quarter one-handed catch was not only his most spectacular play of the year but also the dagger that effectively sealed the Patriots' victory.
Not to be overshadowed, Edelman rebounded from a rough two-game stretch to post nine catches, 89 yards and two touchdowns—one receiving and one punt return. Edelman abused rookie cornerback Bradley Roby in the slot throughout the game, slithering away on third downs and running a greater variety of routes than he normally does.
Brandon LaFell was more up and down. Though he caught a second-half touchdown, LaFell dropped a pinpoint throw in the end zone during the first quarter. The Brady-to-LaFell connection was off intermittently, as No. 12 missed his biggest receiver on two deep fades in which LaFell had a step on the defender.
While the contributions from secondary targets such as Tim Wright and Amendola were non-existent, Gronkowski and Edelman played their most dominating game of the season in tandem. For a Broncos team whose strength lies on the perimeter, New England's ability to exploit the middle of the field was the key to their prolific offensive production.
Grade: A-
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Offensive Line
4 of 10
Facing their toughest test of the season, tackles Nate Solder and Sebastian Vollmer responded to the challenge, limiting Denver to just a single sack on the evening. Denver's All-Pro edge-rushing tandem of Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware were not necessarily non-existent, but there were also multiple instances in which Brady had enough time to move in the pocket and find his receivers downfield for large chunks of yardage.
There were also multiple instances in which big plays stemmed from key offensive line blocks. Ryan Wendell had one key chip on Miller that allowed Brady to find Edelman for a big gain. A similar instance occurred when Vollmer controlled Ware on a 3rd-and-long to allow Brady to roll right and find No. 11 once again.
The run-blocking woes were pervasive, however, as the gap- and man-blocking schemes essentially equated to banging one's head against a wall. With a relatively limited running back corps, the onus is on the offensive line to carry the ground-game production. Against a tough Denver front, the line failed in that regard.
Nonetheless, their excellence in pass protection more than atones for that flaw, as the Pats' passing game is essentially unstoppable when Brady is given time to maneuver. The line also rebounded in the penalty department, as its typical spate of flags never arrived against Denver. Overall, this once significant liability has turned into a clear asset in the offense.
Grade: B+
Defensive Line
5 of 10
A year after the Broncos gashed the Patriots for over 300 yards on the ground in the regular season, New England's defensive line rebounded with one of their best efforts this year. The Pats stymied Ronnie Hillman throughout the game, limiting Denver to a meager 43 yards on 2.5 yards per carry.
Vince Wilfork, who was absent for both Broncos games last season, was excellent in lining up all over the line and handling center Manny Ramirez and guards Louis Vasquez and Orlando Franklin. Wilfork consistently sabotaged first-down interior run calls for Hillman, helping create an abundance of 3rd-and-long situations by stifling the Broncos on first down.
Ninkovich also came up with the game's first huge play, dropping into coverage and intercepting a pass that led to New England's first touchdown of the season. Ninkovich has had plenty of issues in rare coverage drops this year, dating back to the first touchdown New England gave up this season against the Miami Dolphins, but his soft hands resulted in a boost for a flagging Pats squad at that point.
This unit is still not generating any semblance of a pass rush without Chandler Jones, but with more pass rush from the second level, the defense as a whole has not suffered. So long as this unit continues to thrive against the run, the Patriots can live with their lack of pressure.
Grade: B+
Linebacker
6 of 10
Dont'a Hightower and Jamie Collins continue to impress with their versatile skill sets, as few players on the defense are asked to wear as many different hats.
The two continue to wreak havoc with their well-timed A-gap blitzes, as they consistently forced Manning to backpedal and loft dangerous passes that generally did little damage. Collins and Hightower also played key roles in helping stifle the run game, slicing through gaps from the second level to bring down Hillman.
Akeem Ayers also made his most impactful play in his brief stint as a Patriot, executing an inside stunt to sack Manning on a key 4th-and-6 in the second quarter. Ayers timed his stunt so that left guard Orlando Franklin failed to identify the switch and came in unblocked to bring down Manning and end Denver's drive.
Jonathan Casillas did not play much on defense, but he did make an impact in the kick-coverage game, notching three special teams tackles. As Casillas and Ayers continue to learn the playbook, both should fulfill key sub-package niches down the stretch.
As most teams do, the Pats played almost exclusively out of nickel and dime personnel against Denver's multi-receiver sets, so New England rarely employed more than one or two linebackers on the field at a time. But against Denver's speedy skill position crew, this unit accounted for itself quite well.
Grade: A-
Secondary
7 of 10
Unlike what many expected, the Pats tethered Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner to the left and right sides of the field, respectively. Both consequently faced a multitude of matchups, holding their own in stifling Denver's attempts to hit big plays through the deep perimeter areas.
Revis was burned three times on Denver's first scoring drive, but he was otherwise his typical shutdown self. Kyle Arrington also played his best game of the season, effectively eliminating Wes Welker (three catches, 31 yards) from the game.
Browner looks like he has the potential to become one of the Pats' most polarizing players, as he continues to mix exemplary plays with head-scratching penalties.
While Browner drew out three flags from the officials, including a pass interference in the end zone, his size and physicality clearly gave Demaryius Thomas problems. Considering he also produced an interception that led to a touchdown, Browner was overall a clear net positive.
Patrick Chung and Malcolm Butler were the other frequent targets of Manning. Chung held up well against Jacob Tamme, breaking up a fourth-down pass near the goal line, while Butler had more issues and allowed Emmanuel Sanders to "stack" on top of him for big gains multiple times. Still, the undrafted rookie continues to demonstrate competitive ball skills and an endearing physicality at the line of scrimmage.
This unit was the key to the game for the Patriots, and its performance was largely admirable, despite gaudy yardage totals from the Broncos. So long as the Pats are able to press as effectively as they did on Sunday, the defense will remain potent, despite an inconsistent pass rush.
Grade: A
Special Teams
8 of 10
Bill Belichick has always placed a large emphasis on the third phase, reserving more roster spots than usual for special teams-only aces. Though New England's advantage on special teams is not always obvious, Sunday's game was the clearest manifestation of the advantage a consistently stellar special teams unit can provide.
Edelman's punt-return touchdown was the play that broke the game open, as the Broncos never pulled within single digits after the play. Edelman's 84-yard return was his fourth career punt-return touchdown, setting a new franchise record and serving as a fitting highlight of his dominant evening.
The kicking game was also excellent in difficult and windy conditions. Stephen Gostkowski continued his sterling campaign by hitting all three field-goal attempts, including a 45-yarder into the wind. Ryan Allen notched the longest punt of his career, a 67-yarder that resulted in an absurd 77-yard net after a block in the back penalty moved the Broncos further back.
New England's special teams advantage essentially created 13 extra points in the first half—Edelman's punt return coupled with a Brandon McManus field-goal miss and Denver's ill-fated fourth-down gamble in field-goal range. That's a significant edge against any team, and in a high-stakes contest, it highlighted the greatest disparity between these two heavyweights.
Grade: A
Coaching
9 of 10
Josh McDaniels was quick to leave run game again (ex: 3rd-and-1 rollout in 2nd quarter), and then there was Matt Patricia's excellent defensive game plan to win critical situations in the first half (dropping Ninkovich, Ayers sack, etc.)
Bill Belichick and Patricia constructed their best defensive game plan of the season, pushing all the right buttons in throwing their best looks at Manning during the most crucial situations. Consequently, the uber-efficient Broncos finished an abysmal 3-of-11 on third-down conversions and 0-of-4 on fourth down.
Given how Denver moved the ball at a fairly regular rate in compiling 472 total yards, New England's ability to win nearly every important situation was arguably the biggest factor in its victory. All the aforementioned defensive turning-point plays, from Ninkovich's interception to Ayers' sack, resulted from creative defensive play calls that exploited Denver's pet plays.
On the flip side, McDaniels may have been too quick to abandon the run game once again. It's hard to quibble with the results, but there were situations—for instance, a 3rd-and-1 rollout pass that fell incomplete—in which it was fair to question the rational behind some of McDaniels' play calls.
But that's nitpicking at what was an extremely impressive 60-minute performance. The coaching staff has done a marvelous job of getting this squad to play consistent full-game efforts, an issue that plagued the Patriots in 2013, maximizing the talent on the roster.
Grade: A-
Final Grades
10 of 10
| Position Unit | Final Grade |
| QB | A |
| RB | C |
| WR/TE | A- |
| OL | B+ |
| DL | B+ |
| LB | A- |
| DB | A |
| ST | A |
| Coaching | A- |
| Cumulative Grade | A- |
The Patriots have statistically one of the league's most dominant teams over the past month, but a lack of high-end competition led to some skepticism entering this contest, per Aaron Schatz of Football Outsiders (via ESPN Insider, subscription required). With this victory, the Pats will be on the short list when pundits discuss Super Bowl favorites.
Of course, this does not mean the Pats can afford to rest on their laurels, especially with a difficult month-long stretch following the Week 10 bye. Nonetheless, New England continues to demonstrate an uncanny knack for peaking as the season moves along, an admirable quality that is often underrated.
The Patriots remain far from a perfect team—the right teams can exploit their issues in the trenches, and their championship aspirations could take a hit if injuries reveal a lack of depth at a few positions. Nonetheless, the Pats are a talented and well-coached team that maximizes its capabilities, making them the league's hottest team at the moment.
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