Game Notes: Patriots Pass Major Test Against Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos may have put up more yards than the New England Patriots but considering the 43-21 blowout going to the Patriots, chalk this up a win for subscribers of the bend but don’t break defensive philosophy.

Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning out threw Patriots QB Tom Brady 438 to 333 yards but the difference of one more interception by Manning and a two touchdown advantage Brady were two of the many things that led to a Patriots win Sunday.

“You have to give our players a lot of credit for the way they competed out there tonight; just hung in there series after series after series and went toe to toe with that group. I’m really proud of the way that they played; we have a long way to go. Seven wins isn’t going to get anything in this league. We’re going to have to do a lot more than that. I think we can still do better at some things. Hopefully we’ll be able to work on those and improve them. But it’s a good team win tonight. [We] got a lot of contributions from everybody. It was good, solid effort,” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said.

Brady went over 300 yards for the 62nd time in his career, tying him with Bret Favre for fourth all-time. His four touchdown passes move him past Dan Marino for fourth all-time.

Despite a slow start for both teams, the Patriots got on the board first with 7:15 to play in the first quarter when Stephen Gostkowski’s 49-yard field goal gave New England a 3-0 lead around the midway point of the quarter.

The Broncos seemed to use the score as a wake up call as Manning marched the team down the field, throwing for 68 yards. A run to the left from the 1-yard line by Hillman gave the Broncos their only lead of the day, a 7-3 advantage.

It was one of the few bright spots in the first half for Manning, who threw an interception to Rob Ninkovich with 13:34 to go in the half and drove into New England territory three times with only the first quarter touchdown to show for it.

With 5:30 to play in the half, the Broncos’ drive stalled at the New England 23 and were forced to kick a field goal which bounced off the front of the right post from 41 yards away. In their final drive of the half, the Broncos used a no-huddle offence to drive down to the Patriots 34-yard line where New England was able to force a fourth and six at the 34. With the Broncos going for it on fourth down, it was Akeem Ayers coming though the middle to pick up a nine yard sack and turn the ball over back to the Patriots.

Tom Brady continued to show streaks of greatness, throwing for two touchdowns in the second quarter to Julian Edelman and Shane Vereen to close out the half.

Edelman (89 yards, 9 catches) picked up his second touchdown of the game on an 84-yard punt reception with saw the receiver streak up the right sideline before cutting across the field to put the Patriots up 20-7 after the extra point.

“It was kind of low, and it didn’t turn over, and I set up some blocks, and I saw Timmy Wright, and he hit someone and I bolted the way we were suppose to go, and went this way, and I just saw a bunch of guys out there blocking their tails off, you know, we got in the end zone, so it was a great team play,” Edelman said.

The punt return for a touchdown, Edelman’s fourth of his career, sets a new franchise record, beating the three from Troy Brown and Irving Fryar.

The Broncos would cut the lead to 27-14 with an 18-yard catch by Julius Thomas with 11:11 left in the third quarter but a 45-yard field goal by Gostkowski and a 10-yard touchdown pass to Brandon LaFell pushed the lead to 37-14 with the Pats ending the quarter up 37-21.

Rob Gronkowski capped off a 105-yard day early in the fourth quarter with a one-handed catch for 20 yards down to the Broncos goalline. Unable to get the call reversed, Brady quickly found Gronkowski on his short left for the touchdown. A failed two-point conversion pass to Edelaman kept the score at 43-21.

For Gonkowski, it was his 50th receiving touchdown in 59 games, the second fastest in league history and the most for a Patriots tight end.

In another display of break but don’t bend, the Patriots’ defense held what was the team with the highest points per game average to just 21 points.

In addition to the Ninkovich interception and Ayres sack, Brandon Browner intercepted a tipped pass by Wes Welker with 7:31 left in the third, taking the turnover from the Denver 40 down to the 10.

One play later, the Patriots would score on a 10-yard pass to Brandon LaFell in the end zone.

Third down defense also contributed to the win, with Denver going 3-11 on third down conversions and 0-4 on fouth down attempts.

The Patriots will enjoy an extra week off before taking on the Indianapolis Colts, they are on the bye during week 10.

Below are game notes provided by Patritots Media Relations.

HOME SWEET HOME FOR THE PATRIOTS;

IMPROVE TO 34 STRAIGHT HOME WINS AGAINST THE AFC CONFERENCE

With today’s victory over the Denver Broncos, New England has now won 34 straight games at home against AFC conference opponents. The Patriots’ 34 straight home wins against a conference is the longest in NFL history (following the 1970 merger). The Miami Dolphins are second in NFL history with 21 straight home conference wins (1971-1974). The Patriots last loss at home against an AFC opponent was a 33-10 loss vs. Pittsburgh on Nov. 30, 2008.

HALFTIME HELP

The Patriots have been very successful in the final two minutes of the first half in 2014. In eight of the first nine games this season, New England has scored in the final two minutes of the first half, including three field goals as time has expired. Against Denver, the Patriots scored on a 5-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady to Shane Vereen with eight seconds to play in the first half. The Patriots have scored 56 points in the final two minutes of the first half in 2014, the most in the NFL.

2014 PATRIOTS SCORING PLAYS IN THE FINAL TWO MINUTES OF THE FIRST HALF

Date Opponent Time Remaining Scoring Play

09/07 at Miami :06 S. Gostkowski 45-yd FG

09/14 at Minnesota :09 Cha. Jones 58-yd return of blocked FG

09/21 Oakland :00 S. Gostkowski 21-yd FG

10/05 Cincinnati 1:12 S. Gostkowski 48-yd FG

10/05 Cincinnati :09 S. Gostkowski 19-yd FG

10/12 at Buffalo 1:43 S. Gostkowski 42-yd FG

10/12 at Buffalo :00 S. Gostkowski 53-yd FG

10/16 N.Y. Jets :00 S. Gostkowski 39-yd FG

10/26 Chicago 1:52 R.Gronkowski 2-yard touchdown pass

10/26 Chicago 1:07 B.LaFell 4-yard touchdown pass

10/26 Chicago :55 R.Ninkovich 15 yd fumble return

11/02 Denver :08 S.Vereen 5-yard touchdown pass

PATRIOTS WIN 14th STRAIGHT HOME GAME

The Patriots won their 14th consecutive home game. The Patriots have not lost a regular-season home game since December 16, 2012, when San Francisco left Foxborough with a 41-34 win. The NFL record for most consecutive home victories is 27, achieved by Miami from 1971-74.

LONGEST HOME WINNING STREAK/PATRIOTS HISTORY (REG. SEASON)

Streak First Win Last Win

20 Dec. 12, 2008 Oct. 16, 2011

18 Dec. 29, 2002 Sept. 8, 2005

14 Dec. 30, 2012 present

12 Nov. 26, 2006 Sept. 7, 2008

10 Sept. 18, 1976 Oct. 30, 1977

PATRIOTS WIN FIFTH STRAIGHT GAME

The Patriots won their fifth consecutive game, which is the longest winning streak in the NFL. New England and Denver entered today’s game tied for the league’s longest current winning streak (4). The Patriots have not lost since a 41-14 defeat at Kansas City on Sept. 29. Over their five-game winning streak, the Patriots have averaged 40.2 points per game.

PATRIOTS EXTEND STREAK TO 46 STRAIGHT HOME GAMES WITH AT LEAST 1 TD PASS

The Patriots extended their streak 46 straight home games with at least one touchdown pass, the longest streak in post-merger NFL history, with a 5-yard touchdown pass from QB Tom Brady to WR Julian Edelman in the second quarter. New Orleans has the second longest streak with 41. The last time the Patriots did not have a touchdown pass in a home game was in a 33-10 loss vs. Pittsburgh on Dec. 30, 2008.

MOST CONSECUTIVE HOME GAMES WITH A TOUCHDOWN PASS SINCE 1970

Team Gm Start End Record

New England Patriots 46 12/21/08 Current 43-3

New Orleans Saints 41 10/18/09 Current 32-9

Green Bay Packers 36 10/05/08 12/02/12 29-7

Miami Dolphins 32 09/11/83 12/22/86 26-6

Green Bay Packers 29 11/03/96 09/03/00 24-5

PATS HAVE WON 72 STRAIGHT HOME GAMES WHEN LEADING AT THE HALF

The Patriots have now won 72 straight home games when leading at halftime, adding to their NFL record. The last time the Patriots lost at home after leading at halftime was on Dec. 24, 2000 (vs. Miami) when they Patriots lost 27-24 after leading 21-17 at halftime. Today, the Patriots were leading 27-7 at halftime and won the game 43-21.

PATRIOTS LEAD THE NFL WITH MOST POINTS OFF TURNOVERS IN 2014

Patriots scored 14 points off of turnovers against the Broncos, and now have scored 74 points off of turnovers in 2014. New England entered Week 9 with 60 points off turnovers, which was the most in the NFL entering the week. Against Denver, Rob Ninkovich intercepted a Peyton Manning pass intended for Demaryius Thomas in the second quarter, setting up a 4-play, 34-yard drive that ended in the Patriots’ first touchdown of the afternoon and a . Brandon Browner intercepted a Manning pass that bounced off of the hands of Wes Welker in the third quarter, and Browner returned the pick 30 yards to the Broncos’ 10-yard line. Tom Brady hit Brandon LaFell for a 10-yard scoring pass on the next play to give the Patriots a 37-14 lead.

PATRIOTS SCORE FIRST FOR FIFTH STRAIGHT GAME

The Patriots scored first on a 49-yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski in the first quarter. It is the fifth straight game that the Patriots have scored first (all victories).

PATRIOTS START 7-2 OR BETTER FOR 13th TIME IN TEAM HISTORY

The Patriots are off to a 7-2 record or better the eighth time in team history and for the second season in a row. The Patriots also started the year with a 7-2 or better record in 2013, 2010, 2007, 2004, 2003, 1980 and 1978.

PATRIOTS SET SEASON HIGH WITH EIGHT PASSES DEFENSED

The Patriots had eight passes defensed, setting a season-high in that category. The previous season-best was seven passes defensed at Minnesota on Sept. 14. Patrick Chung led the way for the Patriots with a career-high three passes defensed.

HOT WHEN ITS COLD

The game time temperature was 35 degrees. Tom Brady improved his career regular-season record as a starter to 33-4 in games where the temperature at kickoff was less than 40 degrees. In his last 15 such games, Brady is 14-1 and has thrown 36 touchdowns and just six interceptions. In his career as a starter in home games where the temperature is less than 40 degrees at kickoff, Brady is 23-3 with 46 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Including playoffs, he is 43-6 overall in such games.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

TOM BRADY MAKES HIS 200 CAREER REGULAR SEASON START; BECOMES 8th QUARTERBACK TO START IN 200 CAREER GAMES

Tom Brady made his 200th career start against Denver and is now one of eight NFL quarterbacks to start at least 200 games. The other NFL quarterbacks with 200 starts are: Brett Favre (298), Peyton Manning (247), Dan Marino (240), Fran Tarkenton (239), John Elway (231), Vinny Testaverde (214) and Warren Moon (203).

BRADY HAS MOST WINS IN FIRST 200 STARTS IN NFL HISTORY

Brady has 155 career regular season wins in his first 200 regular-season starts (155-45, .775). Brady has more wins than any other quarterback in his first 200 regular-season starts. Denver’s Peyton Manning is second with 136 victories in his first 200 starts.

MOST WINS BY A STARTING QB THROUGH 200 REGULAR SEASON STARTS

Quarterback Wins Through 200 Starts

Tom Brady 155

Peyton Manning 136

Dan Marino 125

John Elway 124

BRADY IS THE SECOND PATRIOTS PLAYER WITH 200 STARTS

Tom Brady is the second New England Patriots player to start in at least 200 games. Patriots Hall of Fame OL Bruce Armstrong started in 212 games during his career.

NFL QUARTERBACK 300-YARD GAMES (*ACTIVE)

Player 300-Yard Games

Peyton Manning* 88

Drew Brees* 83

Dan Marino 63

Tom Brady* 62

Brett Favre 62

Kurt Warner 52

Dan Fouts 51

Warren Moon 49

Tony Romo* 45

BRADY PASSES ELWAY FORPASSING YARDS TO MOVE INTO FITH ALL-TIME

Tom Brady moved past Pro Football Hall of Famer John Elway (51,475) for fifth all-time on the NFL list on a 6-yard completion to WR Julian Edelman in the third quarter. He entered the Denver game needing 268 yards to move past Elway. Brady now has 51,541 career passing yards.

MOST PASSING YARDS IN NFL HISTORY

Player Passing Yards

1.Brett Favre 71,838

2.Peyton Manning 67,536

3.Dan Marino 61,361

4.Drew Brees 53,605

5.Tom Brady 51,541

6.John Elway 51,475

7.Warren Moon 49,325

TOM BRADY WINS 42nd STRAIGHT HOME GAME AGAINST AFC

Tom Brady won his 42nd straight regular season home game as a starting quarterback against an AFC opponent. Brady is now 68-8 in his career as a starting quarterback against AFC teams at home. The last time that Brady lost a home regular season game to an AFC opponent was on Nov. 12, 2006 when the Patriots lost to the New York Jets, 17-14.

BRADY IS NOW .500 OR BETTER AGAINST EVERY NFL TEAM

Tom Brady entered the Denver game with a 4-5 record against the Broncos, the only team he had a losing record against in the regular season. With the win, Brady now has a record of .500 or better against every NFL team.

TOM BRADY HAS FOURTH STRAIGHT GAME WITH THREE OR MORE TDS

Tom Brady threw for four touchdowns against the Broncos, marking his fourth consecutive game with three or more touchdowns and the third time in the last four games that he has had four or more touchdowns. Brady had four touchdowns at Buffalo (10/12), three vs. New York Jets (10/16) and five vs. Chicago (10/26).

TOM BRADY NOW HAS 22 GAMES WITH FOUR MORE TOUCHDOWNS; MOVES OUT OF A FOURTH PLACE TIE WITH DAN MARINO

Tom Brady had his 22nd game with four or more touchdowns and moved out of a fourth-place tie with Dan Marino.

MOST GAMES WITH 4+ TD

Peyton Manning 33

Drew Brees 25

Brett Favre 23

Tom Brady 22

Dan Marino 21

Johnny Unitas 17

GRONKOWSKI TIES RANDY MOSS FOR SECOND FASTEST TO 50 REC. TDS; BECOMES THE FASTEST TIGHT END TO REACH 50 TDS

TE Rob Gronkowski reached 50 career touchdowns receptions in his 59th career regular season game to tie Randy Moss for the second-fastest player in NFL history to reach 50 touchdown receptions. Pro Football Hall of Famer Lance Alworth (54 games) is the fastest player in NFL annals to reach the milestone. Gronkowski also surpassed the record for fewest games by a tight end to reach 50 career touchdown catches. Antonio Gates reached 50 touchdown receptions in 92 games. Gronkowski is the fifth player in NFL history to have 50 or more touchdown catches in his first five seasons, joining Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, Lance Alworth and Andre Rison.

RYAN ALLEN HAS CAREER-LONG 67-YARD PUNT

Ryan Allen had a career-long 67-yard punt in the fourth quarter. His previous best was a 65-yarder in his first NFL game when he had a 65-yarder at Buffalo on Sept. 8, 2013. The punt was the longest for the Patriots since Chris Hanson had a 70-yard punt in the 2008 season opener vs. Kansas City on Sept. 8, 2008.

GOSTKOWSKI ON A GOOD PACE IN 2014

Stephen Gostkowski has 24 field goals so far in 2014, putting him on pace to finish with 43 field goals, which would be the second highest single-season total in NFL history.

GOSTKOWSKI HAS 34 STRAIGHT HOME FIELD GOALS

Stephen Gostkowski has made 34 consecutive field goals at Gillette Stadium, including 3-for-3 in windy conditions against Denver today. Gostkowski’s last miss at home was a 43-yard field goal that sailed wide left vs. the New York Jets on Sept. 12, 2013.

GOSTKOWSKI IS OFF TO A 24-for-25 START IN 2014

Stephen Gostkowski was a perfect 3-for-3 in windy conditions against the Broncos, and has made 24 of 25 field goals (96 percent) this season. He has made 11 consecutive field goals.

GRONKOWSKI EXTENDS HIS STREAK TO 59 STRAIGHT GAMES WITH A RECEPTION

Rob Gronkowski caught a 20-yard pass in the first quarter and has caught at least one pass in all 59 regular season games that he has played.

LONGEST CURRENT STREAKS OF CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH A RECEPTION BY TIGHT ENDS

96 Jason Witten (Dallas)

*95 Owen Daniels (Houston/Baltimore)

*89 Heath Miller (Pittsburgh)

59 Rob Gronkowski

*Not including this week’s game

GRONKOWSKI EXTENDS RECORD WITH 15th 100-YARD GAME

TE Rob Gronkowski finished with 105 yards on nine receptions for his 15th career game with 100 or more receiving yards and his second consecutive game having broken the mark. He has done it three times so far in 2014. Gronkowski’s 15 100-yard games extended his team record for most 100-yard receiving games by a tight end.

GRONKOWSKI TIES CAREER HIGH WITH NINE RECEPTIONS

TE Rob Gronkowski had nine receptions, tying his career high, which he also matched last week against Chicago. Gronkowski also had nine receptions on Nov. 3, 2013 against Pittsburgh.

LaFELL TIES CAREER HIGH WITH FIFTH TD CATCH

Brandon LaFell had a 10-yard touchdown catch from Tom Brady in the third quarter, marking LaFell’s fifth touchdown reception of the season, tying his career high. LaFell also caught five touchdown passes last year for Carolina.

Photo Credit: New England Patriots