The Patriots have cut the Broncos lead to 14-9 amid the latest sideline technology outage in an NFL season with several of them.
New England’s Microsoft tablet computers are not working, according to reports in the game from CBS. The tablets are working on the Broncos side of the field and NFL rules do not mandate turning them off as is the case when the headsets are not working for one team.
The NFL is planning to test a new communication system for those headsets at this year’s Pro Bowl. It was an issue in the first game of the 2015 season when the Steelers had their headsets go out while playing in New England, although the league was quick to announce that it is their responsibility to have things working and not the home team.
CBS reported that the tablets can be hard wired if they continue to malfunction in their wireless state.
The Patriots cut the lead to five points on a Stephen Gostkowski field goal forced by a third down sack of Tom Brady by Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware. It’s the second sack of the game for the Broncos, who have been getting steady pressure on Brady through the first two quarters. He was able to scramble 11 yards for a first down to get into field goal position to avoid another sack, however.
UPDATE 4:24 p.m. ET: The NFL announced, via CBS, that all is well with the Patriots’ tablets.