The Broncos players and coaches didn’t come right out and say that they were going to have to play a perfect game to beat the perfect Patriots, but it was a thought on the mind of everyone else in Broncos Country as Bill Belichick and Tom Brady brought No. 1 seed and 10-0 New England to Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Sunday night.
As it turns out, it looks like the Broncos will have to have a perfect second half if they hope to come back from a 14-7 halftime deficit.
#Broncos have to play perfect football to beat the #Patriots. So far they aren't even close. So many mistakes.
— Raul Martinez (@RaulNBCBoston) November 30, 2015
There were missed physical plays that hurt the Broncos, like the first touchdown that New England scored – a 23-yard catch and run by Rob Gronkwoski who evaded two tacklers on the play. Michael Schofield was beat on several occasions, one of which resulted in an interception deep in Denver territory near the end of the half. But those physical errors were just one part of the problem as the Broncos made plenty of mental mistakes that cost them as well.
A penalty on punt coverage by Aqib Talib, a bad sack taken by Brock Osweiler, putting Von Miller in pass coverage near the goal line. It’s one thing to get beat by the Patriots straight up. It’s another thing to beat yourself with mistakes like these.
But Denver put together an impressive drive on their last possession of the second half to cut the lead to 14-7. That’s a good sign, as the Broncos played a spotty half and trailed the prohibitive favorite to win the Super Bowl at this point by just one score at the half.
Here’s what the MHS team and some of our favorite follows from the Denver media had to say about the mental and physical mistakes that were piling up faster than the snow falling at SAF…
Brock takes a sack to fall out of field goal range…
There's a "rookie" mistake …can NOT take a sack there. Only play you can't make.
— Robin Carlin (@robincarlin) November 30, 2015
Freeny sacks Brock. Gotta throw that away. #Broncos punt and it's another bad one. 0 points on that promising drive
— Raul Martinez (@RaulNBCBoston) November 30, 2015
Brock needs to throw that ball away ASAP. Took 'em out of FG range. And there you saw a QB playing in just his 2nd game.
— Les Shapiro (@LesShapiro) November 30, 2015
Brock should have pulled a Peyton and gone down. The 14 yard sack takes #Broncos out of field goal range. The 3rd drive ends w/ a punt
— Arran Andersen (@arranandersen) November 30, 2015
Surprised Broncos didn't attempt FG. McManimal from 51-ish usually money. No wind here, either.
— Paul Klee (@bypaulklee) November 30, 2015
Talib takes another pointless penalty…
Aqib Talib blocked the gunner all the way through the sideline, out of bounds. Just a bone-head move. Wow
— Spano (@BrandonSpano) November 30, 2015
Aqib Talib with another costly penalty. #Broncos offense starts at their own 10
— Raul Martinez (@RaulNBCBoston) November 30, 2015
Another game the Broncos will not escape without a dumb, completely avoidable penalty.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) November 30, 2015
Another dumb play by a #Broncos defender. 22 (!!!!) personal fouls this season! Such a dumb play by Talib.
— Chad Brown (@chadbrown94) November 30, 2015
Aggressive play is one thing, but the Broncos def penalties are dumb and gets you beat.
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) November 30, 2015
Brock gets picked trying to throw with a collapsing pocket…
Jabaal Sheard bull-rushed Schofield back, back, back and into Osweiler — forces the INT.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) November 30, 2015
Schofield beaten on that play. His man knocked the ball out of Osweiler's hand.
— Les Shapiro (@LesShapiro) November 30, 2015
And now worst case scenario. turnover deep in your own territory. Brock's arm hit by Sheard. intercepted by Chandler Jones. yikes. #NEvsDEN
— Lionel Bienvenu (@lionelbienvenu) November 30, 2015
Von Miller allows a TD in pass coverage…
do the #Broncos really feel Von Miller is best used in pass coverage? easy TD pass to Scott Chandler. 14-0 Pats…
— Lionel Bienvenu (@lionelbienvenu) November 30, 2015
Why is Von Miller is coverage on 3rd down? Von Miller is paid to go after the QB on 3rd down. No capisce.
— Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) November 30, 2015
The silver lining for Denver?
#Broncos trail 14-7 at half… Hey could be worse. Trailed 27-7 at half last year vs. #Patriots
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) November 30, 2015
