Said Patriots QB Tom Brady following the 20-17 overtime loss, ‘There were plays to be made all day and we didn’t make them. We just didn’t execute well.”
Patriots T Matt Light left after the first play of the fourth quarter with a knee injury, but said he was feeling okay following the game.
A missed connection between Brady and WR Wes Welker in the fourth quarter cost the Patriots a chance to go up by two touchdowns.
Patriots LB Jarod Mayo made a strong return to the lineup, including a forced fumble that led to a field goal.
The Patriots defense allowed too many long drives and lamented the missed opportunities to end them after the game.
As if his extended postgame celebration didn’t make it clear enough, Broncos coach Josh McDaniels admitted he lied when he said playing against his former team and mentor Bill Belichick was just another game.
Broncos WR Brandon Marshall said that he learned the move he used to score the game-tying touchdown from former Broncos WR Rod Smith.
Broncos K Matt Prater’s game-winning field goal, the first of his career, made up for an earlier miss.
Broncos RB Knowshon Moreno had 88 yards on 21 carries, including four direct snaps out of the “Wild Horse” formation, and added a 27-yard catch on the 98-yard drive that ended with Marshall’s touchdown.
Before embarking on that long drive, Broncos QB Kyle Orton cracked a joke in the huddle but the punchline was too dirty to reveal to reporters after the game.
For more on the Patriots and Broncos, Mike Florio has the full Morning Aftermath right here.
