Just when it looked like the Patriots had put the nail in the coffin of the Denver Broncos, forcing a three-and-out in the fourth quarter that followed a quick-strike touchdown, Denver had their fortunes reversed.
First, Denver recovered a fumble on the punt that came with the three-and-out. Then, on third-and-six the Broncos picked up a blitz and Brock Osweiler hit Emmanuel Sanders with a 17-yard strike for the first down.
C.J. Anderson did the rest himself on the very next play when he took a handoff to the left side and danced up the sideline for a 15-yard touchdown that brought the Broncos within one score and nearly 13 minutes still on the clock.
CJ Anderson flashes Pro Bowl form, jump-cuts to the left and slip slides into the end zone. #NEvsDEN https://t.co/lRBay4eAIZ
— NFL (@NFL) November 30, 2015
Here’s what set up the possession…
FUMBLE on the punt …. Broncos ball … Shaq Barrett recovers the muffed punt.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) November 30, 2015
#Broncos recover the fumble. Big opportunity here for Denver. Great field position.
— Raul Martinez (@RaulNBCBoston) November 30, 2015
Cody Latimer is credited with the forced fumble … Broncos ball at the NE 36. 14:16 left.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) November 30, 2015
