Broncos vs. Patriots: Week 16 Bold Predictions & Picks
There isn't much left to say about what remains of the Denver Broncos' season. It's win or go home.
The playoffs essentially started for the Broncos last week. Alas, that loss — despite it being non-conference — could have an outsized impact on the Broncos' postseason aspirations.
The Broncos must win out from here and hope to get a little help from a few other teams along the way. That starts on Christmas Eve with a Sunday Night Football throwdown vs. the New England Patriots.
How does SNF shake out for the Broncos? Let's go around the Mile High Huddle table to see how our staff envisions this one unfolding.
James Campbell (@JamesC_MHH) 6-8: A Patriots team that pushed Kansas City hard, with Bill Belichick cooking and scheming and a defense that figures to match up extremely well against the Broncos, is going to be a tough foe on Christmas Eve. The Broncos' defense should be able to handle the Pats, but it can ill-afford any mistakes in execution. In a low-scoring one, this one could well be a shock, with Bailey Zappe producing just enough offense to doom the Broncos and their playoff hopes.
Pick: Patriots 13, Broncos 10
Keith Cummings (@KeithC_NFL) 8-6: We reach the serious pivot point. If the Broncos happen to stink the joint up again, they'll kiss playoff football goodbye. Couple that with an offense that got bashed around in Detroit last Saturday, and the Broncos could quite easily have some serious issues against the 3-11 Patriots. In the final analysis, it's not pretty or anywhere near flowing football, but the Broncos win the turnover battle and narrowly escape with a huge win.
Pick: Broncos 21, Patriots 17
Carl Dumler (@CarlDumlerMHH) 7-7: I'm going to call it: a kicker will be the star of the game. Points will come at a premium in this one, and the Broncos, thankfully, have a good one to hold up in this pressure situation needing a win. Wil Lutz hits two beyond 50 yards to help the Broncos secure the close victory.
Pick: Broncos 16, Patriots 10
Mike Evans (@MHHEvans) 7-7: Despite their anemic offense, the Patriots will prioritize exploiting the Broncos' struggling run defense. Improving the tackling is crucial for the Broncos to overcome the Patriots' strategic play and keep their playoff ambitions alive. It's time for the Broncos' offense to show signs of life in the first quarter.
Pick: Broncos 20, Patriots 10
Thomas Hall (@ThomasHallNFL) 7-7: The Broncos will bounce back after a terrible performance against the Lions. Taking on a Zappe-led Patriots team at Mile High altitude is just what the team needs. It will be a defensive-type game, but the Broncos will score just enough.
Pick: Broncos 20, Patriots 9
Chad Jensen (@ChadNJensen) 8-6: Let it snow... 'Tis the season. For those Broncos fans dreaming of a white Christmas, the Football Gods may oblige, which means a Broncos-Patriots tilt that was already poised to be a physical slugfest is fixin' to be a winter wonderland rock fight. The problem? Offensively, Denver has been inefficient running the ball, while defensively, Vance Joseph's unit can't stop a runny nose on the ground. It doesn't portend well, but there's one factor unmentioned thus far: want-to. All the Patriots have left is pride, while the Broncos, through no small sacrifice, willed themselves back into the playoff hunt. How ignoble it would be to win six of seven, only to begin crapping the bed from Week 15 on. Sean Payton finds a way.
Pick: Broncos 17, Patriots 16
Zack Kelberman (@KelbermanNFL) 7-7: This game boils down to Denver's offense against New England's defense, which remains as stout as ever under Belichick's guidance. I'm being optimistic and hinging on the Broncos winning the turnover battle, playing a clean, if not completely sexy, brand of football, and doing what they need to do to secure a much-needed, potentially season-saving dub. It might be low-scoring. It might make you weary at times. But a win's a win's a win.
Pick: Broncos 17, Patriots 13
Nick Kendell (@NickKendellMHH) 7-7: This could be a low-scoring rock fight. The Broncos' offense hasn't shown much ability to score in bunches of late, while the Patriots have the No. 1 EPA/Rush defense in football. Belichick's defense does a spectacular job of scheming out opponents' No. 1 passing weapon. Can the Broncos take an early lead and control the game? And can Denver's defense return to its winning ways? .
Pick: Broncos 17, Patriots 12
Bob Morris (@BobMorrisSports) 4-10: The Patriots have had a rough season but have shown they can give opponents fits, particularly with the defense. The Broncos won't have to contend with as much speed as they did in Detroit but will have to execute on both sides. This might be a low-scoring game but expect the Broncos to force Zappe into enough mistakes to pull out a win.
Pick: Broncos 17, Patriots 10
Luke Patterson (@LukePattersonLP) 6-8: The New England offense may be lackluster, but its defense is no joke. This Christmas Eve Holiday Special will feature an electric crowd in Denver as Belichick and Payton square off once more. Expect a low-scoring defensive slugfest. If the Broncos can win the turnover battle, they’ll earn the victory, but the Patriots will not go quietly into the good Christmas night.
Pick: Broncos 17, Patriots 16
Lance Sanderson (@SandersonMHH) 8-6: The battle of two solid defenses keeps this game low-scoring, but Denver really has to focus on stopping the run, especially if Rhamondre Stevenson plays. Denver also has a huge test in Hunter Henry this week, and they have struggled to cover tight ends this year. Give me the home team in an ugly game.
Pick: Broncos 19, Patriots 10
Erick Trickel (@ErickTrickel) 7-7: It's a weird fact how close the Patriots and Broncos offense has been since Week 6 this season. The Patriots have a good defense, while Denver has a mediocre defense that relies on takeaways in order to set itself apart. Denver should be able to do enough on offense to find some way to win, with some help from the defense, but it'll likely be a low-scoring game.
Pick: Broncos 16, Patriots 10
Dylan Von Arx (@arx_d) 7-7: While things haven't gone the Patriots' way this season, their defense is still as strong as ever under Belichick. If the Broncos want to win out, they have to keep their offense in check by limiting turnovers. This will be an ugly, low-scoring contest, but Denver comes out on top.
Pick: Broncos 17, Patriots 13
Ron White (@RonWhiteNFL) 7-7: Don’t expect a shootout when the Patriots come to the Mile High City on Christmas Eve. The Broncos' defense will be able to rattle Zappe; however, it must stop the run in order to have a chance. Meanwhile, the Broncos will have to rely heavily on the ground game and the middle of the field as Belichick likes to eliminate the No. 1 receiver. In the end, the Broncos take control of this game and stack another win.
Pick: Broncos 21, Patriots 13
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