Julian Edelman Keys Improbable Patriots Comeback Win

The New England Patriots (8-3) were left for dead after enduring a 24-0 Denver Broncos (9-2) blitz in the first half. But there’s this element of football called a second half which is where the Patriots used two Julian Edelman (9 catches for 110 yards) touchdown receptions, a restructured defense, and a game-winning Stephen Gostkowski field goal to beat the Broncos 34-31 in overtime at Gillette Stadium.

In the second half Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno (224 yards on 37 carries and 1 score) gained 117 yards rushing but he didn’t score once, and the Patriots held the Broncos high-energy offense to just one score which took place very late in the fourth quarter.

After receiving a chorus of boos at different times during the first half from their hometown fans, the Patriots got down to business in the second half.

As far as the game clock was concerned, it took the Patriots 33:24 seconds to score their first points of the game. Quarterback Tom Brady (34 of 50 for 344 yards, 3 touchdowns and no interceptions) culminated a 9-play 80 yard drive, with a 5 yard right corner of the end zone touchdown pass to Edelman versus sort of close coverage from Bronco cornerback Quentin Jammer. The pass was completed at the 11:26 mark of the third quarter and made the score 24-7.

On the ensuing Broncos drive, running back Montee Ball (on 2nd down and 6 from the DEN 48) lost hold of the ball when Patriots linebacker Dane Fletcher hit his [Ball] arm, with the ball eventually ending up in the possession of fellow linebacker Brandon Spikes at the DEN 32. That fumble recovery by Spikes set up a 1 yard Brandon Bolden touchdown run behind blocks from left guard Logan Mankins and center Ryan Wendell for an eventual 24-14 score with 5:40 left in the third quarter.

On the Broncos ensuing drive after Bolden’s TD run, Patriots rookie linebacker Jamie Collins (6 tackles including a sack) was key to the Pats cause in their attempts to try to get back into this game. Even though this 3rd and 5 from the 20 reception went for a first down, Collins’ alert and quick tackle of receiver Wes Welker held the play to 17 yards to the DEN 37 yard line instead of a much bigger gain down the left sideline.

Later in the drive on 3rd and 5 from the DEN 42, Collins quickly reacted to Peyton Manning (19 of 36 for 150 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception) bobbling the center snap, then the linebacker jumped on Manning’s back and rode him down for a sack that lost 8 yards and forced a 4th and 13 punt.

On the Pats ensuing drive, Edelman came through again with a deep down the field bail-out reception that he took to the DEN 8 yard line for a 43 yard gain. That play set up a Brady to Rob Gronkowski 8 yard touchdown reception, in which the tight end had to fight off feisty Denver linebacker Wesley Woodyard just to get the reception. Gronk’s catch got the Patriots to within three at 24-21 near the tail end of the third quarter.

Edelman had help bringing the Patriots back which included the likes of rookie cornerback Logan Ryan, who intercepted a Manning pass at the DEN 30 early in the fourth quarter. Ryan’s theft set up Edelman’s second touchdown in which the receiver sprinted into the end zone untouched from 14 yards out. Edelman’s momentum swinging score gave the Pats their first lead of the game at 28-24 with 13:13 left in the contest.

Deep into the fourth quarter the Broncos received their last points of the game, courtesy of a left corner of the end zone reception by receiver Demaryius Thomas from 11 yards out. The score was now tied at 31-31 with 3:06 left in the game.

One of the biggest reasons why New England won this game was because of an inadvertent touching of a Ryan Allen punt by Bronco Tony Carter near the DEN 15 yard line, with the ball rolling backwards and eventually into the hands of backup Patriot defensive back Nate Ebner. Ebner’s recovery set up Gostkowski’s game-winning 31 yard field goal in overtime just after the two minute warning.