Chad Ryland Game-Winner Gives Patriots 26-23 Win Over Broncos: All Updates From Christmas Eve Clash
On Zappe, on Zeke, on Demario, on blitzes.
The New England Patriots will close out Christmas Eve's Sunday slate on a potential Rocky Mountain high, as they face the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High (8:15 p.m. ET, NFL Network). It's part of the NFL's expansive holiday slate, one that continues with a tripleheader on Sunday.
New England (3-11) is coming off a relatively narrow defeat at the hands of another AFC West foe, the Kansas City Chiefs. The Patriots held a 10-7 lead in the latter stages of the second quarter but were unable to hold on, dropping a 27-17 decision. Hunter Henry, who will not play on Sunday night, earned a touchdown through the air while Kevin Harris punched one in on the ground.
Denver (7-7) lingers in the AFC playoff hunt and can create a five-team logjam for the final two Wild Card spots with a win. The Broncos worsened their case with a 42-17 loss to the Detroit Lions last Saturday but have still won six of their last eight.
This will be the 55th showdown between Denver and New England, with the former holding a 31-23 advantage. Denver took the last meeting by an 18-12 final in 2020.
Live updates will commence after kickoff
Pregame
NE INACTIVES: TE Hunter Henry, S Jabrill Peppers, DE Sam Roberts, QB Nathan Rourke (emergency 3rd quarterback), WR Matthew Slater, RB Rhamondre Stevenson,
DEN INACTIVES: TE Nate Adkins, LB Nik Bonitto QB Ben DiNucci, C Alex Forsyth, DE Elijah Garcia, LB Thomas Incoom
GAME-TIME WEATHER: 27 degrees, mostly cloudy, 10 mph wind NNE, 0 percent chance of precipitation
1st Quarter
New England starts the game with the ball. The Will Lutz kickoff is a touchback.
15:00-NE DRIVE BEGINS AT NE 25 On the first play from scrimmage, Zappe is sacked by DJ Jones and fumbles. Jones recovers deep in New England territory.
1 play, -16 yards, 0:07
14:53-DEN DRIVE BEGINS AT NE 6 On third-and-goal, Mack Wilson intercepts a Russell Wilson pass in the end zone, but it is changed to an incomplete pass upon review. Denver opts to go for it on third down from the 2, but Christian Barmore stops Javonte Williams at the 1, forcing a turnover on downs.
4 plays, 5 yards, 1:35
13:18-NE DRIVE BEGINS AT NE 1 Ezekiel Elliott picks up three yards on first down, but no more. The Bryce Baringer punt goes 48 yards and is returned for seven by Marvin Mims.
3 plays, 3 yards, 1:31
11:47-DEN DRIVE BEGINS AT NE 46 After a five-yard rush for Jaleel McLaughlin and a one-yard loss for Williams, Denver tries to go deep but Wilson's pass to Courtland Sutton falls incomplete. Riley Dixon kick 32 yards to the 10, and is taken up five by Myles Bryant.
3 plays, 4 yards, 1:34
10:15-NE DRIVE BEGINS AT NE 15 Kevin Harris picks up nine yards on two carries, but is bottled up when trying to get the last for a first down. Another three-and-out and Baringer's punt is returned by Mims for 52 yards. Denver starts in New England territory again.
3 plays, 9 yards, 2:14
8:01-DEN DRIVE BEGINS AT NE 25 With an eight-yard run for McLaughlin and a three-yard carry for Williams, Denver gets the first first down of the game. Denver secures first-and-goal at the 3 with a four-yard pass to Michael Burton. One play later, Denver cashes in on a three-yard run for Williams, accounting for the first points of the day. Lutz's extra point is good Broncos 7, Patriots 0
5 plays, 25 yards, 2:46
5:15-NE DRIVE BEGINS AT NE 25 Lutz's kickoff was a touchback. New England earned its first first down on a combined 11 yards to DeVante Parker and Ezekiel Elliott. Another short third down throw, this one to Pharoah Browns, puts them as the cusp of midfield. But a Jonathon Cooper sack stifles momentum for a loss of 10. They immediately get it back on a 28-yard throw to Jalen Reagor. The first quarter ends with consecutive runs for Tyquan Thornton and Elliott, getting them into the red zone as the period lets out.
END OF THE 1ST, BRONCOS 7, PATRIOTS 0
2nd Quarter
15:00-NE DRIVE CONTINUES AT DEN 20 New England musters only six more yards, forcing Chad Ryland to come out and successfully convert a 33-yard field goal. Broncos 7, Patriots 3
13 plays, 61 yards, 6:45
13:30-DEN DRIVES BEGINS AT DEN 25 Ryland's kickoff is a touchback. Denver gets three consecutive first downs on a 14-yard scramble and a combined 25 for McLaughlin. Another Willson pass to Williams is fumbled, forced by Jahlani Tavai and recovered by Jeremiah Pharms.
4 plays, 36 yards, 2:03
11:27-NE DRIVE BEGINS AT NE 39 Eight yards, four for Parker in the air and four for Elliott on the ground, do nothing for the Patriots. Baringer's punt is fair caught by Mims.
3 plays, 8 yards, 2:06
9:21-DEN DRIVE BEGINS AT DEN 13 Using Wilson's different talents, Denver picks up two first downs and makes it to the cusp of midfield. Momentum is stalled when Quinn Meinerz is called for unnecessary roughness against Ja'Whaun Bentley, a 15-yard charge. On 3rd-and-12 from the 35, Wilson is strip sacked by Mack Wilson, but he recovers to allow for a Dixon punt. That kick goes to the 28 and is taken nine yards forward by Bryant.
8 plays, 12 yards, 6:02
3:19-NE DRIVE BEGINS AT NE 37 Zappe's 20-yard throw to Brown immediately places New England in Denver territory. They get to the Denver 39 at the two-minute warning. Demario Douglas' first reception is a 13-yard strike to the 26. On a six-yard third down at the 22, Zappe appears to pick up a first down on a scramble but Vederian Lowe is flagged for holding. New England runs and settles for the 47-yard field goal for Ryland, which is no good
7 plays, 39 yards, 2:46
0:33-DEN DRIVES BEGINS AT DEN 37 Three Wilson passes to Samaje Perine and (two) Lucas Krull force Denver to try a 57-yard field goal to close the half. Lutz's season-long attempt is no good.
5 plays, 24 yards, 0:33
END OF THE 2ND: BRONCOS 7, PATRIOTS 3
3rd Quarter
Mims returns Lutz's kickoff 31 yards from his own end zone
14:51-DEN DRIVE BEGINS AT DEN 31 New England earns momentum on defense, as Christian Barmore sacks Wilson for a loss of nine. Denver gets back to the line of scrummage but no more. Dixon's 39-yard punt is fair caught by Bryant at his 30.
3 plays, 0 yards, 2:16
12:44-NE DRIVE BEGINS AT NE 30 The momentum continues to grow for the Patriots, as Zappe finds Douglas for a 41-yard gain, immediately getting into Denver territory. Another Douglas catch, this one for 15, puts New England in the red zone. The drive culminates in a Patriots touchdown, as Zappe finds Elliott from 15 yards away from a diving score. Ryland's extra point clanks off the upright and is no good. Patriots 9, Broncos 7
5 plays, 70 yards, 2:56
9:48-DEN DRIVE BEGINS AT DEN 25 Ryland's kickoff is a touchback. Per James Palmer of NFL Network, Denver's Courtland Sutton has been ruled out for the rest of the game with a head injury. Prior to an eight-yard third down at the 37, New England calls its first timeout of the half. Whatever was said, it appears to pay off as Josh Uche sacks Wilson for a loss of 10. Dixon's 46-yard punt is taken back seven by Bryant.
4 plays, 5 yards, 2:08
7:40-NE DRIVE BEGINS AT NE 31 The Patriots can't do anything with the ball upon getting it back and punt after three-and-out. Baringer's 52-yard punt is taken for two yards.
3 plays, 4 yards, 1:36
6:04-DEN DRIVE BEGINS AT DEN 15 Denver is forced into a three-and-out, this one ending in a Barmore sack. Punting from his own 3, Dixon's punt goes 47 yards to midfield where Bryant goes to the Denver 42.
3 plays, -12 yards, 1:36
4:28-NE DRIVE BEGINS AT DEN 42 A falling catch for Parker over Patrick Surtain II goes for 30 yards and the Patriots are immediately in the red zone. Antonio Mafi takes a holding penalty that pushes them back 10 yards. But on third down, Zappe finds tight end Mike Gesicki for an 11-yard touchdown, extending the New England lead. Ryland's extra point is good. Patriots 16, Broncos 7
5 plays, 42 yards, 2:54
Mims fumbles Ryland's kickoff, forced by Marte Mapu and recovered by Cody Davis, who runs it back one last yard for another score. Ryland's extra point is good. Patriots 23, Broncos 7
1:28-DEN DRIVE BEGINS AT DEN 25 Mims lets this Ryland kickoff sail in the end zone. Denver once again goes three-and-out, ending with Barmore's third sack of the night. Wilson fumbles upon being sacked but it's recovered by Meinerz. A punt is upcoming when the fourth quarter begins.
END OF THE 3RD: PATRIOTS 23, BRONCOS 7
4th Quarter
15:00-DEN DRIVE CONTINUES AT OWN 17 Dixon's 46-yard punt is muffed by Bryant but recovered by Brendan Schooler. New England takes over.
3 plays, -8 yards, 1:37
14:51-NE DRIVE BEGINS AT NE 38 New England goes three-and-out on its drive, forcing a punt. Baringer's boot goes 41 yards and is fair caught by Mims.
3 plays, 4 yards, 1:40
13:11-DEN DRIVE BEGINS AT DEN 17 Wilson finds Perine for 13 on the first play from scrimmage. It makes it to 4th-and-1 but Wilson punches in on a sneak. A 47-yard tally from Wilson to Mims, who makes a diving catch, puts Denver in New England territory, but Bill Belichick throws the challenge flag for a review. The call on the field stands. New England is charged its second timeout. Shortly after Wilson finds Jerry Jeudy for his first catch of the night, Wilson gets it to Lucas Krull, who scores on a three-yard touchdown. The two-point conversion, a Wilson pass to Brandon Johnson, is good, lowering the gap to one possession. Patriots 23, Broncos 15
9 plays, 83 yards, 4:38
8:33-NE DRIVE BEGINS AT NE 25 Lutz's kickoff is a touchback. The Patriots go three-and-out, as Reagor is stopped a yard short of a new set on downs on third. Baringer's punt goes out of bounds after 43 yards.
3 plays, 8 yards, 2:00
6:33-DEN DRIVE BEGINS AT DEN 22 Wilson finds Krull for nine and then sneaks for the first down. He then finds Jeudy for 15, putting Denver at the cusp of midfield. Denver gets into New England territory on an 11-yard hook-up between Wilson and McLaughlin but both he and tackler Jalen Mills were injured on the play. On the very next play, Wilson tries a deep ball but Shaun Wade drops an interception. Wade was injured on the play. Wilson then tries a deep touchdown to Jeudy, which falls incomplete but he finds Johnson for 13 more. Another injury, as Mike McGlinchey was hurt for Denver. Denver loses momentum on a holding penalty against Cameron Fleming (in for McGlinchey, who returns) but Wilson finds Johnson for a 21-yard touchdown. Jalen Mills is down due to injury, Denver goes for two and converts when Wilson finds Williams for the double. Patriots 23, Broncos 23
11 plays, 78 yards, 3:40
2:53-NE DRIVE BEGINS AT NE 25 Lutz's kickoff is a touchback. A three-and-out takes the game into the two-minute warning. Baringer's punt goes 76 yards and into the end zone for a touchback. A late flag is thrown for illegal formation and Denver will make Baring re-kick. Baring's retry doesn't go as far, this one going out of bounds at the Denver 39
3 plays, -6 yards, 1:11
1:50-DEN DRIVE BEGINS AT DEN 39 The Broncos go three-and-out and must punt, only losing yards on a failed screen. Dixon's punt is grounded after 46 yards.
3 plays, -4 yards, 0:44
0:58-NE DRIVE BEGINS AT NE 19 Elliott carries for six, Denver calls timeout. After another conservative run, Denver calls timeout again. On third down, Zappe throws deep and finds Parker for a gain of 27. New England calls its final timeout at 0:18. After another throw and a spike, Chad Ryland boots a 56-yard field goal to give the Patriots the lead with two seconds left. Patriots 26, Broncos 23
7 plays, 43 yards, 0:56
0:01-DEN DRIVE BEGINS AT DEN 27 Christ Manhertz fair caught the kickoff. Denver calls its final timeout before its presumed desperation try. Kyle Dugger knocks down Wilson's futile heave, ending the game.
FINAL: PATRIOTS 26, BRONCOS 23
