Week 11: C.J. Anderson‘s overtime touchdown to dethrone the Patriots
Brock Osweiler versus Tom Brady.
That was the matchup NBC was left with on Sunday Night football after Peyton Manning was ruled out with plantar fasciitis, but it sure did work out. In fact, it may have been the most exciting game of the regular season.
Trailing by 14 points in the fourth quarter, Denver’s critics were having a field day; with or without Manning, they’d never be able to match the firepower of the New England Patriots offense. Or so they thought.
With just under a quarter to go, something clicked. Osweiler found himself, the C.J. Anderson of a year ago returned, and the Denver Broncos scored on four of their last five drives, outpacing the Patriots 23-3 in the final 15 minutes.
But it wasn’t just the fact that the Broncos won. It was how they won, whom they beat and what it all meant.
When Anderson broke through that gaping hole on the left side of the line, breaking free, arms outstretched, for the 48-yard, game-winning touchdown, Denver was validated. No matter what adversity they would come to face, Broncos Country knew we could beat the Patriots, and so did the Patriots.
