NFL Predictions: Patriots vs. Broncos Preview

Written by Jake Thompson
Sunday, 18 December 2011 16:18

Our NFL preview will include score predictions in the game between the Patriots and the Broncos.

The New England Patriots (10-3) will try to end the 6-game winning streak of the Denver Broncos (8-5) on Sunday, and our NFL predictions will let everyone know which team gets it done in this game.  Start time of the Patriots vs. Broncos game is set for 4:15 PM ET and you’ll want to check your local listings to see if CBS is carrying the NFL action in your area.

The home-team Broncos are currently listed as 7.5-point underdogs according to the point spread odds at 5Dimes Sportsbook, while the total sits fairly high at 47.  The total has gone under the total in the 4 head-to-head meetings between these teams since 2006, including most recently in 2009 when the Broncos beat the Patriots 20-17 in overtime.  Denver has won 3 of those 4 recent matchups, including both of the games in which they were the home team.

Patriots’ Offense vs. Broncos’ Defense:

Tom Brady (4277 yards, 66.1%, 33 TD, 11 INT) and company are averaging 30.5 points per game this season while passing for nearly 320 yards per outing and adding in enough of a rushing threat to keep the opposing defenses off balance.  The Broncos have been solid enough on “D” this year, and seem to be improving with the offense not setting them up with poor field position, but you also have to figure in that Denver allowed 49 to Green Bay and 45 to Detroit earlier this season.  Both of those teams possess the big passing games that the Patriots have, and I don’t feel the Broncos can stop this team from scoring 30 or more points.

Broncos’ Offense vs. Patriots’ Defense:

Denver still doesn’t have much of a passing game, but quarterback Tim Tebow (1290 yards, 48.5%, 11 TD, 2 INT) just keeps figuring out ways to get it done.  The Broncos average 20.7 points on the season and run the ball very well, but they can be slowed down quite a bit against defenses that are capable of taking away the rushing game.  New England gives up plenty of passing yards on defense, but some of that has to be attributed to the fact that the offense gets a big lead and the team goes into a prevent.  The Patriots have done a good job at stopping the run this season and they’ve won the last 3 games in which the other team outrushed them.

Patriots vs. Broncos Predictions:

Predictions in this game call for the Patriots to come out ahead, but Tebow and the Broncos have proven time and time again that you shouldn’t count them out.  I’m looking for New England’s offense to do what they do and that is score points, while the Broncos attempt to keep the score close with a heavy dose of the running game.  Both teams will score points here, but in the end it is the Patriots that should be able to open up a lead.  The best bet here has to be on the over and my Patriots vs. Broncos predictions will call for a high-scoring game.

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Patriots 34

Broncos 27