Patriots toy with hapless Broncos

Last night is as close to perfection as the 2008 Patriots are going to get. With ESPN pre-game talk rampant of how the Patriots were finished and Cris Carter’s statement that you can’t win in the NFL with a “high school quarterback.” Despite several Broncos flaws before kickoff at Gillette Stadium 74% of America had voted on ESPN.com and picked the Patriots to drop their second straight game. (71,000+ in that poll.) The Broncos ran head first into a highly motivated Patriots team, hell bent on redeeming themselves on yet another national TV stage.

If you were to make a list of Denver’s flaws entering last nights game, the Patriots literally exploited every one. The Broncos had just three turnovers in their 3-0 start, but committed five last night. Despite Jay Cutler jamming his finger on the first play of the game the Broncos drove the field with relative ease on their first series. (No QB injury sympathy from New England) All was for not however as Pats DB Lewis Sanders stripped Andre Hall with the Broncos nearing the Patriots 20 yard line. The Patriots offense swiftly began exploiting another Broncos weakness, their run defense. In the first half alone, Sammy Morris rushed 16 times for 138 yards and one touchdown. However the Patriots were stalled on their first drive and had to settle for a Stephen Gostkowski field goal. But at the very least the Broncos first turnover was at least a six point swing in favor of New England.

The teams next drives ended exactly the same way, Andre Hall was stripped by Ty Warren on the Broncos next drive, and the ball was pushed almost 40 yards down field before rookie Jerod Mayo fell on the ball. The Broncos compounded their error by adding 15 yards for a late hit from behind on a stationary Rodney Harrison. The Pats offense went three and out and had to settle for a 40-yard field goal, which would have been out of range without the Harrison penalty. After consecutive stops from the Pats defense Matt Cassel and co. were set up at their own 44 driving towards a comfortable cushion. A 34-yard burst from Morris pushed the Patriots back into the red zone. Once again the Pats offense stalled, and they were left with a 4th and 1 on the four. After two field goals, and with their failure on fourth down in San Diego looming over them, Belichick didn’t hesitate and sent the play call in. Morris went to the left side, a repeating theme and took it in from the four to make it 13-0 Patriots.

On the next Broncos drive the Patriots took advantage of the early signs of Broncos desperation. With a lackluster defense a 13-0 hole was substantial. So on third and three Cutler took a chance going deep to Darrel Jackson down the middle of the field, with pressure from Pierre Woods and a subsequent hit Cutler’s ball floated and was intercepted by Brandon Meriweather. It should also be mentioned Woods got quite a few words in as Cutler sat on the field, I assume Woods is a big John Elway fan and was simply telling him the “strongest arm” in the NFL would have made that play. The Patriots abound with confidence marched the ball right down the field. Cassel threw a screen to Randy Moss 13 yards out for a touchdown and with :51 seconds left in the half the Patriots led 20-0.

In the second half the Broncos’ nightmare continued. Even un-drafted rookie back BenJarvus Green-Ellis had his way with the Broncos D, rushing for 65 yards and his first NFL touchdown. The Patriots poured it on in the second half aided by Broncos penalties and turnovers all over the field. Ironically ESPN’s pre-game coverage began by mentioning there would be no blowouts for this years Patriots, the final score 41-7. If anything could go wrong, it did for the Broncos last night, welcome to the topsy-turvy 2008 AFC.

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