Standing in the way of a matchup between the 10-0 Denver Broncos and the 10-0 New England Patriots on Nov. 29 are the following teams: Indianapolis Colts (3-5), Kansas City Chiefs (3-5) and Chicago Bears (2-5) against Denver; Washington Redskins (3-4), New York Giants (4-4) and Buffalo Bills (3-4) against New England.
“Parity may exist in parts of the NFL,” says Mile High Sports columnist James Merilatt, “but it doesn’t apply to the upper-echelon teams like the Broncos and Patriots.” Over the past three seasons, Denver and New England have combined for a 71-19 regular-season record against the rest of the NFL. Include their mutual 7-0 starts this year and that number climbs to 85-19 in the regular season since Peyton Manning joined the Denver Broncos. That’s a winning percentage of 81.7.
History aside, Merilatt says Denver is just starting to find its stride offensively, after struggling to generate points in the early part of the season. An other-worldly defense has bailed out Manning as he’s adjusted to a new hybrid offensive system and a makeshift offensive line. But Denver’s offense has started to click, as evidenced by the 27 points they scored on what was the No. 1 scoring defense at the time, Green Bay. And with the recent addition of Pro-Bowl tight end Vernon Davis, Manning has a weapon that had been mostly missing from the game plan through the first seven games.
Facing an Indianapolis defense that is giving up over 400 yards per game, Merilatt says the only “test” on the Broncos schedule between now and Nov. 29 should be the equivalent of an open-book exam. Denver also brings the No. 1 defense in total yards, passing yards and points scored, and remains relatively healthy after the bye week and beatdown of the Packers. Denver has already defeated Kansas City on the road and the Chiefs are without their biggest offensive weapon, Jamaal Charles. Chicago, meanwhile, under first-year and former Broncos head coach John Fox, seems content to play for a top-five draft pick as they try to determine their future with Jay Cutler under center.
The Patriots, meanwhile, with the No. 1 scoring offense in the league, face two NFC East opponents who’ve made a habit of handing games to opponents all year and a Bills team they’ve already defeated soundly on the road. Despite being defending Super Bowl champions, Brady and Belichick have the Pats playing with a chip on their shoulder, out to prove that they don’t need to deflate footballs to humiliate the entire league. The Patriots have won three consecutive regular season meetings with the Broncos and they want this year’s matchup to be no different. Merilatt says they’re tuning up for this massive showdown and won’t take their foot off the gas in the weeks leading up.
Joe Williams, however, thinks there’s a chance that either team – maybe even both – could suffer a loss in the three weeks before.
