Sunday night’s 30-24 overtime victory over the previously undefeated New England Patriots will go down as one of the biggest wins in recent memory for the Denver Broncos thanks to some electrifying plays by C.J. Anderson and Brock Osweiler, but Tom Brady and the Patriots nearly made it a game of “close but no cigar” for Denver.
Until the near absolute end of a wild fourth quarter, Brady and the Patriots led the Broncos, then went and tied the game as time expired to force the overtime.
Credit the Broncos, who battled all night against a Patriots team that capitalized on early mistakes by Denver, for never folding tent and conceding victory to a New England team many pundits said they had no business beating. But as the game unfolded, there were plenty of storylines that were playing out in an unfavorable manner for the Broncos.
In what seemed like a bizarre twist of fate, some of the Broncos who were being criticized the most throughout the game came up big when it mattered most. What was very nearly a loss became a redemption song for several key Broncos.
Von Miller, for example, had a senseless penalty early in the game and was skewered by some of the biggest names in local and national media for committing yet another bad defensive penalty…
Von Miller will a costly one there. #Broncos had a third and long….Had
— Raul Martinez (@RaulNBCBoston) November 30, 2015
Those are dumb plays I was talking about.
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) November 30, 2015
Broncos 23rd personal foul this season. Just plain silly.
— Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) November 30, 2015
Another stupid penalty on the Broncos D!
— Mark Schlereth (@markschlereth) November 30, 2015
Miller redeemed himself, however, with a fourth-quarter series in which he drew two penalties to help force a three-and-out, not to mention a massive sack on the second play of overtime…
Boom. First Von Miller. And next was Shane Ray. Next point scored wins the game. #Broncos ball
— Raul Martinez (@RaulNBCBoston) November 30, 2015
Demaryius Thomas had one of the worst nights of his career, failing to make a catch on his first 12 targets of the game. The critics were out in force as a result.
Even the NFL itself…
Osweiler targeted DT four times.. He has zero receptions.. One drop.
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) November 30, 2015
#Broncos Osweiler last 2 passes to DT could have been a little sharper, but DT needs to get his head in the game.
— Eric Goodman (@EricGoodman) November 30, 2015
DT is so inside his own head right now. Hard to watch.
— Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) November 30, 2015
DT has been targeted 7 times and has 0 catches. He is now warming up his hands by the heater and has changed gloves.
— Spano (@BrandonSpano) November 30, 2015
There have been a lot of #Broncos D. Thomas haters this season, and in some cases unfairly, but tonight, they're right.
— Eric Goodman (@EricGoodman) November 30, 2015
Demaryius Thomas targets: 11
Demaryius Thomas catches: 0#NEvsDEN— NFL (@NFL) November 30, 2015
But the Broncos believed in their All-Pro wideout and targeted him again on the first play of a go-ahead, fourth-quarter drive with time winding down.
They were rewarded for their faith with one of the biggest plays of the night…
Demaryius Thomas … comes up massive on the jump ball … 36 yards … to the NE 47.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) November 30, 2015
One thing about DT, he can play bad all game but he always plays big when it counts!
— Robin Carlin (@robincarlin) November 30, 2015
Brock Osweiler will be categorized as a hero on Monday for engineering a come-from-behind, go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter and the game-winning drive in overtime.
But prior to the fourth quarter, he wasn’t getting much praise from the Denver media…
Some of u didn't like my last tweet. 7 points, 128 yards, 1 pick & 1 point-removing sack thru 3 quarters. Any QB would be graded as mediocre
— Robin Carlin (@robincarlin) November 30, 2015
Rough day for Brock. These guys refuse to catch anything
— Spano (@BrandonSpano) November 30, 2015
The Broncos are averaging 12 points per game (at the moment) in the Brock Osweiler era.
— James Merilatt (@jamesmerilatt) November 30, 2015
Osweiler has thrown a succession of very bad passes. Behind his receivers, ball getting tipped, etc. Plus, he's limping…
— Les Shapiro (@LesShapiro) November 30, 2015
How many drops tonight? Osweiler denied at least 10-12 catches.
— Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) November 30, 2015
But, when all was said and done, Osweiler had thrown for a touchdown and 270 yards and proved he was as clutch as any Broncos quarterback in recent memory.
He made two exceptional passes in what was nearly the game-winning drive in the fourth-quarter…
Osweiler to Sanders to the Pats 7 yard line with 1:30 left! #NEvsDEN
— Lionel Bienvenu (@lionelbienvenu) November 30, 2015
Wow. Right on the money, deep to Sanders.
— Les Shapiro (@LesShapiro) November 30, 2015
Osweiler's pass to Sanders was gorgeous. Gorgeous. Over the shoulder. Osweiler looked the safety away.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) November 30, 2015
Brock to Bubba Caldwell for a BRONCOS TOUCHDOWN!!!! #NEvsDEN
— cover32 Broncos (@cover32_DEN) November 30, 2015
This stadium is in raptures. I haven't seen it like this since Tebow-to-Demaryius
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) November 30, 2015
https://twitter.com/AllbrightNFL/status/671187722883612672
His impressive turnaround was not lost on some of his critics from earlier in the game…
I said Brock was mediocre through 3. He was. But was fantastic when it counted most. Just facts.
— Robin Carlin (@robincarlin) November 30, 2015
Helluva job by Brock! Awesome! #Broncos
— James Merilatt (@jamesmerilatt) November 30, 2015
The defense had a chance to make a statement stop with just over a minute left in the fourth quarter and a three point lead. Instead of shutting down the Patriots, they allowed Brady and Co. to move downfield and set up a game-tying field goal as regulation expired.
Defense has to get one stop. #NEvsDEN
— cover32 Broncos (@cover32_DEN) November 30, 2015
And jus like that, the Patriots get 22 … Brady to Chandler.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) November 30, 2015
https://twitter.com/MaseDenver/status/671189005308792833
Just how good is #Patriots Brady? He just did that w/out his top-2 WR's AND Gronkowski.
— Eric Goodman (@EricGoodman) November 30, 2015
Tom Brady does what Tom Brady does…get the #Pats into FG position. Great clock management, great throws, no panic. We have OT here in Den!
— Chad Brown (@chadbrown94) November 30, 2015
But after the Patriots won the overtime coin toss, Denver’s defense absolutely had to stop the Patriots from scoring a touchdown, which would have won the game. They did more than just that. They forced a three-and-out which included a sack of Brady and a big hit to force an incompletion.
Patriots at their own 20. Talib knocks away the first down pass. #NEvsDEN
— cover32 Broncos (@cover32_DEN) November 30, 2015
Von Miller — sack. That sets off an earthquake in the stands.
— Andrew Mason (@MaseDenver) November 30, 2015
https://twitter.com/NickiJhabvala/status/671190621261070336
Even the Broncos coaching staff was being questioned throughout for a variety of decisions: Not attempting a 51-yard field goal early in the game; kicking a field goal instead of going for a touchdown; abandoning the run; playing a prevent defense that allowed the Patriots to get into field goal range.
The aggressive coaching staff we’ve come to know this season seemed to vanish at times…
My thoughts? I would have gone for it on 4th and 3. Those are my thoughts. https://t.co/wRHohzeJfB
— Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) November 30, 2015
That was a "run two times" situation. Isn't that the Kubiak way?
— Spano (@BrandonSpano) November 30, 2015
If Kubiak wants to be a "running team," why go pass, pass, pass there? #Broncos
— James Merilatt (@jamesmerilatt) November 30, 2015
Awful series there by Kubiak…3 straight passes with the way Anderson had been running??
— Danny Kanell (@dannykanell) November 30, 2015
Game on the line. Let's run the Osweiler sweep. Good to see our coaching staff drinks during games. #NEvsDEN
— cover32 Broncos (@cover32_DEN) November 30, 2015
But Kubiak and the coaching staff was bailed out big time on the final play of the game when Osweiler checked into the perfect play to give Denver the win…
"We checked to the second play that we called based on a coverage and the offensive line did the rest" #Broncos pic.twitter.com/P24CGwea0K
— Adam Kinney (@adamrkinney) November 30, 2015
Later on ESPN, Osweiler said that the coaching staff had prepared him throughout the week to check into that play when he saw that specific alignment. Kudos to the coaches for knowing their opponent, and to Osweiler for reading the defense. Broncos fans will be singing this redemption song for quite a few days.