| |
RECAP
|
BOX SCORE
DENVER (AP) -- Late-game miracles weren't working for Drew
Bledsoe, so he accelerated his timetable.
|  | | Patriots receiver Troy Brown had six catches for 124 yards and two TDs. |
Bledsoe, frustrated by his failure to rally his team in the
closing minutes of the first four games, threw three touchdown
passes in the first half and finished with four Sunday.
With last-ditch heroics rendered unnecessary, the New England
Patriots cruised to their first win, 28-19 over the Denver Broncos.
Bledsoe, who had thrown only three TD passes in the first four
games, was 18-of-27 for 271 yards with one interception. In the
process, he moved ahead of Steve Grogan into first place in New
England history with 27,033 career yards passing.
"This one feels good," Bledsoe said. "It's been a long time
coming, and it's a good win for us. For three weeks we've been
working on our red-zone offense, and today we finally made the
plays when we had to.
"It was important to jump out early and take the crowd out of
the game. Historically, the Broncos have been a fast-starting team.
We took some of the wind out of their sails."
Troy Brown caught two TD passes, and finished with six
receptions for 124 yards.
The Patriots (1-4) held Denver without an offensive touchdown
until Brian Griese passed 43 yards to Travis McGriff with 1:56
remaining.
Denver (2-3) lost for the second straight game -- both at home --
and the Patriots ended their 11-game losing streak at Mile High
Stadium that dated to 1968.
Griese, who missed last week's game with torn cartilage in his
throwing shoulder, completed 31 of 50 passes for 361 yards. Rod
Smith had 13 catches, tying a club record, for 160 yards.
"Any time you have to throw the ball more than 50 times, it
puts you in a one-dimensional game," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan
said. "We got kicked up and down the field today. We couldn't put
it in the end zone when we had to."
Added Smith, "It was ugly, very ugly."
Terrell Davis carried nine times for 24 yards but, still
troubled by a sprained left ankle, was replaced by Mike Anderson
early in the second quarter and didn't return.
|
TOM DONAHOE'S BREAKDOWN |
|
The Patriots entered the game 0-4, but many thought they were the best 0-4 team in football. They've had a chance in every one of their games to win it late but have not been able to make a play.
In this game, Drew Bledsoe didn't wait until the last quarter. Bledsoe got the Pats going quickly with three TD passes in the first half (four overall) -- two of them to Troy Brown, who continues to develop as a good target and an outstanding offensive weapon.
This is two weeks in a row Denver has been beaten at home, and you'd probably have to go back a long way to find that kind of statistic.
Terrell Davis did play in this game but appeared to reinjure his ankle. While Mike Anderson has done a good job filling in, Denver is just not quite the same team without Terrell in there. And because Denver was behind, Brian Griese had to throw the ball more often than he would like (50 attempts, 361 yards).
Denver controlled time of possession and did a good job defensing the rush, but the story of this game was Drew Bledsoe and New England's quick start. This was the first time the Patriots have won in Denver since 1968 in the old AFL.
It looked like the Broncos might be the team to beat in the AFC West, but they have come back to the pack in the last two weeks.
Tom Donahoe, ESPN.com's NFL analyst, was formerly the Steelers' director of football operations.
|
"It's like I'm literally playing on one leg," Davis said. "I
really feel helpless when I'm out there. I feel handicapped, to be
honest with you. It gets worse every time I go out there."
The Patriots scored on their first two possessions, taking
advantage of a turnover and missed tackles by the Denver defense en
route to a 21-3 halftime lead.
On the fourth play from scrimmage, New England defensive end
Willie McGinest sacked Griese, forced a fumble and recovered at the
Denver 29. Four plays later, Bledsoe hit Brown on an 11-yard
scoring pass.
The Patriots then went 76 yards in just three plays for a 14-0
lead. Bledsoe and Brown hooked up on a 44-yard scoring play after
linebacker Al Wilson missed a tackle at the 25.
Griese's 19-yard pass to Smith helped move the Broncos in
position for their only score of the half. Continuing to struggle
in the red zone, the Broncos settled for Joe Nedney's 20-yard field
goal early in the second quarter.
Late in the half, Bledsoe took the Patriots 80 yards in nine
plays for another touchdown. On third-and-4, Bledsoe passed 16
yards to Terry Glenn, and a 15-yard roughing-the-passer penalty
against Maa Tanuvasa was tacked on. Bledsoe hit rookie running back
J.R. Redmond with a 12-yard TD pass with 25 seconds left in the
half.
Denver staged a brief rally in the third quarter. Terrell
Buckley intercepted Bledsoe and ran 9 yards to the New England 38.
The drive reached the 1, but Griese's fourth-down pass was tipped
by linebacker Ted Johnson.
Later in the quarter, defensive tackle Trevor Pryce appeared to
have sacked Bledsoe for a safety, but officials spotted the ball at
the 1. Punter Lee Johnson then took an intentional safety, stepping
out of the end zone.
Denver rookie Deltha O'Neal returned the ensuing free kick 87
yards up the middle for the Broncos' first touchdown. A 2-point
conversion run failed, and Denver trailed 21-11.
Four minutes later, the Patriots added another touchdown.
Bledsoe's 39-yard pass to Brown set up his 9-yarder to Glenn for a
28-11 advantage.
The Broncos drove inside the New England 30 early in the final
quarter, but safety Tebucky Jones intercepted at the 2. Another
Denver scoring threat ended when Nedney was wide on a 43-yard
field-goal attempt.
Game notes
Denver rookie receiver Chris Cole is expected to be out 4-
6 weeks after dislocating his left shoulder in the first quarter.
... Patriots cornerback Antonio Langham injured his left leg in the
fourth quarter and did not return. ... Griese's completions and
attempts marked career highs. ... Smith's 13 catches matched the
Denver record shared by Shannon Sharpe (1996), Bobby Anderson
(1973) and Lionel Taylor (1964). ... New England scored touchdowns
on its first two drives of a game for the first time in the regular
season since 1996.
| |
ALSO SEE
NFL Scoreboard
New England Clubhouse
Denver Clubhouse
|
