Patriots quaterback Bailey Zappe led his fist profession game-winning drive on Christmas Eve evening in an entertaining, up-and-down battle towards the Broncos.
The Patriots and Broncos have been knotted at 23-23 when Zappe took over with 58 seconds on the clock. Consecutive runs from Ezekiel Elliott prompted Broncos head coach Sean Payton to take two timeouts. Zappe then hit broad receiver DeVante Parker downfield for a 27-yard acquire to place the ball on the Broncos’ 47-yard line. Zappe then hit Elliott for a 5-yard completion and tight finish Mike Gesicki for 4 yards earlier than spiking the soccer.
Rookie kicker Chad Ryland, who had missed a subject purpose and further level, nailed a 56-yard subject purpose to go up 26-23. The Broncos’ last-chance Hail Mary try fell incomplete, and the Patriots received to enhance their document to 4-11 on the season. It was the ghost of what may have been haunting the Patriots on Christmas Eve evening.
Sunday evening’s win began in probably the most predictable and inauspicious of how. Left sort out Vederian Lowe and left guard James Ferentz — beginning rather than a litany of injured offensive linemen, together with Trent Brown, Conor McDermott and Cole Strange — have been beat on the Patriots’ first offensive snap for a strip-sack of Zappe. Brown and rookie Atonio Mafi ultimately rotated into the sport.
Similarly unsurprising: One of the NFL’s most underrated items, the Patriots’ protection, didn’t permit a rating regardless of the Broncos taking the ball over at New England’s 6-yard line, forcing a turnover on downs.
The Patriots punted on their subsequent two drives, giving the Broncos the ball at New England’s 46-yard line and 25-yard line. The Patriots compelled a punt on a three-and-out when the Broncos took over from the 46. But they couldn’t maintain on ceaselessly and eventually allowed a rating on a five-play, 25-yard landing drive halfway via the primary quarter on a 3-yard landing run from Broncos operating again Javonte Williams to fall behind 7-0.
The Patriots confirmed some life on their subsequent possession, placing collectively a 13-play, 61-yard drive that culminated in a 33-yard subject purpose by Ryland.
Linebacker Jahlani Tavai compelled a fumble that was recovered by defensive sort out Jeremiah Pharms Jr., however the Patriots couldn’t capitalize on the Broncos miscue and went three-and-out earlier than punting.
A Broncos three-and-out led to missed subject objectives in consecutive drives by the Patriots and Broncos. Ryland missed the online broad proper from 47 yards, whereas Broncos kicker Will Lutz was broad left on a 57-yard strive.
The Patriots’ protection compelled a three-and-out straight out of the gate after halftime, and the offense responded with a five-play, 70-yard drive that ended with a 15-yard landing catch and run from Bailey Zappe to operating again Ezekiel Elliott. Rookie broad receiver Demario “Pop” Douglas accounted for 54 of these yards on two catches. Ryland missed the additional level for the Patriots to go forward 9-7.
The Broncos managed only one first down earlier than outdoors linebacker Josh Uche compelled a punt with a 10-yard sack. The Patriots went three-and-out earlier than punting again to the Broncos. Defensive sort out Christian Barmore compelled a three-and-out with a 9-yard sack on third-and-13. It was Barmore’s second sack of the evening.
Zappe got here out firing on the Patriots’ subsequent drive, discovering tight finish Mike Gesicki for an 11-yard landing on a five-play, 52-yard drive. Wide receiver DeVante Parker picked up 30 yards on a downfield cross from Zappe on the offensive sequence to place the Patriots up 16-7.
On the Patriots’ ensuing kickoff, rookie security Marte Mapu compelled Broncos rookie returner Marvin Mims to fumble from the Broncos’ 9-yard line. It was recovered by Patriots special-teamer Cody Davis for a landing to increase their result in 23-7.
The third quarter ended with Barmore’s third sack in quarter-hour. He now has 8.5 on the season. Both groups traded punts with three-and-outs.
The Broncos started to make issues fascinating however slicing the Patriots’ result in one rating on their subsequent sequence, a nine-play, 83-yard drive that ended with a 3-yard landing cross from quarterback Russell Wilson to tight finish Lucas Krull. The Broncos’ two-point conversion try was good when Wilson hit broad receiver Brandon Johnson in the long run zone.
Leading 23-15, the Patriots punted with one other three-and-out.
Wilson then carved up a Patriots secondary decimated by accidents and different points on an 11-play, 88-yard drive. Wilson hit Johnson for a 21-yard landing catch after which transformed the two-point try on a cross to Williams to tie knot the sport at 23-23.
Zappe and the Patriots couldn’t get something going with the Broncos forcing their seventh three-and-out of the sport. The Patriots’ first punt try was a touchback, however Chris Board was flagged for operating out of bounds. Bryce Baringer’s subsequent punt went out of bounds on the Broncos’ 39-yard line, a 19-yard swing. Still, the Patriots’ protection stepped up with their very own three-and-out to provide their offense a last shot to win.
BEST
DT Christian Barmore: Currently the Patriots’ finest participant and eligible for a contract extension this upcoming offseason, Barmore registered three sacks in a single quarter, together with a strip-sack. He had one other QB hit and drew a maintain, as nicely.
WR Demario Douglas: The gifted rookie caught 5 passes on eight targets for 74 yards.
QB Bailey Zappe: Zappe went 25-of-33 for 256 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. His strip-sack was his solely turnover of the evening.
WORST
Special groups: With captain Matthew Slater out, the Patriots allowed a 52-yard punt return from rookie Marvin Mims. Ryland missed a subject purpose and further level, and offseason free-agent addition Chris Board was flagged for being out of bounds on a punt inside the last two minutes of the sport. Ryland did nail the ultimate subject purpose, nevertheless.
Offensive line: The Patriots allowed a strip-sack on the very first offensive play of the sport. Mafi, who didn’t begin, was flagged for 3 holds. Lowe might need been responsible of a type of penalties, nevertheless.
Injured secondary: The Patriots’ secondary, lacking Jabrill Peppers, Christan Gonzalez, Marcus Jones and J.C. Jackson, amongst others, let the Broncos get again into the sport on the again of Wilson’s two-touchdown efficiency.
Source: www.bostonherald.com