MATCH of the week in the NFL pits the undefeated New England Patriots against the Denver Broncos.
Unfortunately for the impartial observers, the storied rivalry between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning will not have one final chapter, with the Bronco Quarterback out with a foot injury.
The task to topple the Pats will be left to a man starting just his second game – Brock Osweiler.
The rookie QB had a sparkling first game, throwing for 250 yards with two touchdowns thrown in for good measure.
If the Broncos were ever going to be a chance against the New England juggernaut, it is this week.
With a huge injury toll, the Patriots offence has fallen away in the last fortnight.
New England were lucky to escape with a win against New York two weeks ago, with a last gasp score securing victory and while they got the better of the Bills last time out, they were less than convincing.
Can the Gronk lead a depleted Pats offence to a road win?
One man that will be looking to improve on last week’s showing is New England tight end Rob Gronkowski.
The Gronk had a usually quiet game last week, recording just over 30 yards with no touchdowns to his name – the least productive game of the season from the Patriot superstar.
The New England tightend is not alone however, with his offense struggling in the last two weeks, failing to score over 27 points after torching the league in the opening two months of football.
The 26-year old Gronkowski will not an easy run at it this week, with the Broncos’ defence ranked in the upper echelons of the league in just about every category.
Gronkowski said it will be a massive challenge for the visiting Patriots to get the better of the Broncos.
“Denver has a very solid defense [from] their front line all the way to their secondary,” Gronkowski said.
“As a player myself, I just have to go out there and have to be prepared to do my job. Whatever is called at the time is what I’ll do to the best of my ability.”
After receiving a targeted and concerted effort on defence by the Bills which negated his influence, Gronkowski now expects the Broncos to bring the same intensity to Sunday night.
He now expects that the Broncos will bring that kind of physicality on Sunday.
“I just look at it as a challenge,” Gronksowski said.
“[We] definitely know that the Denver Broncos are physical—no doubt about that—from their D-line all the way to their secondary. They know how to play the game, like I already said. They know how to play the game of football, and that means they come out, they hit, they’re physical, they can tackle, they can do it all.”
If the Broncos are to defeat Gronkowski and the Pats, then another big outing from rookie Quarterback Brock Oswieler will need to occur on Sunday night.
After being drafted in 2012, the Oswieler has needed patience after one of the all-time great Quarterbacks in Peyton Manning has held the title of starter since he was acquired from the Colts.
In just his first start for the Broncos, Osweiler lit it up, throwing two touchdowns on his way to being named the AFC offensive player of the weekend.
He completed 20-of-27 passes for 250 yards en route to the award,
Osweiler was unassuming after the glowing praise he received league wide.
“It’s just a compliment to the entire football team,” Osweiler said.
“There’s no way I can get that award if the defence doesn’t come up big in the fourth quarter. There’s no way I don’t get that award if receivers aren’t getting open and breaking off their routes and making plays for me.
“Same thing goes for the run game and the offensive line. That award means a lot to me, but at the same time, I just think it’s a credit to what our team did last Sunday.”
The rookie has been the understudy to one of the best QBs of all-time, and toiled hard to get his opportunity.
Osweiler said while the wait was not his preferred option, the work he did in the time he had away from the public spotlight has benefited his game greatly.
“I just told myself to be patient and make the most of every day,” he said.
“That’s truly what I did, and over the course of the past three-and-a-half years, even though I wasn’t playing in games, I was getting better at my skill set every single day in practice. I think that’s really what’s gotten me to this point.”
Another big outing from Osweiler will need to happen if the Broncos are to end the Patriots winning run.
Match Preview:
When: Sunday night football in the US, Monday, 30th of November, 12:30pm AEDST
Where: Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado
Where to watch: ESPN, 7Mate
Odds provided by Sportsbet.com.au
Winner: Denver Broncos – $2.27
Total points Over/Under: Under 43 – $1.96
Winning margin: Denver Broncos 1-6 points – $4.00
Both teams have played excellent football throughout the season, battling injuries and poor form to record two of the best records in the entire league.
The Patriots have been ravaged on the offensive end, and will need huge outings from wide receiver Brandon La’Fell, tightend Rob Gronkowski and stud Quarterback Tom Brady.
The Pats have looked susceptible at times over the last fortnight, and will need to lift considerably if they are to get the road win.
The Broncos conversely are benefitting greatly from the change at the Quarterback position, and while in an ideal world a fully fit Peyton Manning would be ripping through the New England defence, the performance put up by the rookie QB Brock Osweiler will boost the spirits of the Denver coaching staff.
It is a tall order, but if the Patriots are going to lose at any time throughout the regular season, it will be on the road.
With their mounting injury toll, coupled with the lack of production from some of their big name stars like Rob Gronkowski, it will take a big effort to beat the Broncos on their home deck.
Expect the rookie QB Brock Oswieler to lead his Denver side to back to back victories; inflicting the first loss to the Patriots this season in the process.
