Game Preview: Broncos at Patriots
By: Administrator
Updated: January 27, 2012
Denver (9-8) at New England (13-3), Saturday, 8:00 (New England -13.5)
Storylines: Surprising Broncos picked up first playoff triumph since 2005 with 29-23 overtime shocker over defending AFC champion Pittsburgh in Wild Card Round last Sunday, with quarterback Tim Tebow throwing for career-high 316 yards and two scores and young wide receiver Demaryius Thomas accumulating 204 yards on just four catches that included game-winning 80-yard connection to begin extra period...Patriots earned AFC's top seed for second straight year with 13-3 record and enter matchup having ripped off eight consecutive victories, including 49-21 home rout of Buffalo on Jan. 1 in which team outscored Bills 35-0 in second half...New England also registered 41-23 road decision over Broncos on Dec. 18 behind 320-yard, two-touchdown effort from quarterback Tom Brady, who finished regular season with second-highest passing total (5,235 yards) in NFL history...Patriots have lost last three postseason outings since 2007 AFC Championship Game and have been handed defeats at Gillette Stadium in each of past two seasons...Ex-Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels, who served in that capacity for 28-game stint from 2009-10, hired by New England last week as offensive assistant and successor to outgoing offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien...Wide receiver Eric Decker (knee) and safety Brian Dawkins (neck) both doubtful for Denver, while club placed fullback Spencer Larsen (knee) on injured reserve Tuesday...Pro Bowl guard Logan Mankins (knee) and offensive tackle Sebastian Vollmer (ankle) both expected to play for Patriots...Brady owns 14-5 career postseason record, tied with Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw for best winning percentage for quarterback with at least 15 playoff starts, while Pats head coach Bill Belichick one win shy of matching Chuck Noll (16) for fourth-place on NFL's all-time list for postseason victories...Denver led NFL in rushing offense (164.5 ypg) and ran for 252 yards in last month's loss to New England...Broncos 5-1 in road games and 4-0 in overtime contests with Tebow as starter.
Fast Fact: Belichick and Broncos head coach John Fox have squared off once previously in postseason play, a 32-29 Patriots' win over Fox's Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII held at Houston's Reliant Stadium on Feb. 1, 2004.
