Broncos Knock Off the Undefeated Patriots: NFL Mocks Staff Reacts

Did the Broncos win the Sunday Night Football game or did the Patriots and their injuries lose it?

Last night, the Denver Broncos knocked off the New England Patriots at home, handing them their first loss of the season on overtime. However, many of us were left questioning whether Brock Osweiler’s Broncos truly won the game, or if the injury-ridden Patriots lost it. The NFL Mocks staff is here to debate that very question.

Question Posed: Did the Broncos win the game or did the Patriots lose it?

Erik Lambert: Both. Denver won it in overtime. They simply outplayed the Patriots in the extra period. However, the Patriots also lost it in the 4th quarter thanks to the Gronkowski injury and the iffy holding call on Demaryius Thomas on that key end zone play. In the end the Broncos got the win, but there is plenty of argument to say the Patriots gave it away thanks to injuries and bad penalties. The only way it will be settled is when they play again in January.

Sayre Bedinger: I think if you want to say the Broncos didn’t make plays necessary to win this game, you’d be insane. The Patriots did their part to be certain, but you have to do something with opportunities especially when you’re down 21-7 in the 4th quarter. The Broncos also missed a field goal, threw an interception in the red zone, lost two key pieces of their defense in TJ Ward and Sylvester Williams as well as their best offensive lineman in Louis Vasquez. The Broncos had some head-scratching penalties, which they have all year. The Broncos’ early special teams play was abysmal. That was a lot to overcome, but they stuck with the running game, and executed in the passing game late. This was just a great football game where the Broncos made one more play than the Patriots in the end.

Shawn Spencer: Chris Harper lost it.

Joe Wedra: Denver won the game. They played stout football and Brock stepped up. Overall, he and the offense performed in a clutch way in some very tough conditions — much better than Brady and his offense, the reason they won. New England had plenty of chances to put away the game and they didn’t. When you let a team like Denver hang around, that’s what happens.

George Stockburger: Personally I see both sides to this. Yes the Broncos won and they did a tremendous job on defense late in the. On the other hand, the Patriots muffed a punt and lost several players to injury. The Gronkowski injury and other hits to the defense in this game certainly helped Denver polish off this win. I will give Osweiler the credit he deserves, but in some ways they had an easier road to victory.