Broncos Dismantle Patriots Only Denver Moves Ball, And Mostly On The Ground

Did somebody say shootout?

Shoot. The only shots fired Sunday at Foxboro Stadium came from the Denver Broncos, and they blew away the New England Patriots 34-8.

Denver had the game won before the Patriots ever got to draw their guns. The Broncos scored first-quarter touchdowns off two Patriots errors and led 24-0 by halftime.

By the start of the fourth quarter, most of the 59,457 fans were headed toward the exits, and the 10-1 Broncos got to enjoy their seventh straight win (ninth straight over the Patriots) in front of empty rows of red, white and blue seats.

“It sounds really good right now, 10-1,” Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe said. “No one really gives us a whole lot of credit, but right now we’re the beast of the AFC.”

Patriots fans had seen it before, and might have seen it coming again. Last year, the Broncos came to Foxboro and won 37-3, making for a 71-11 margin in their past two meetings with New England. Denver’s offense expected to put up numbers, but its defense was primed to keep numbers off the Patriots’ side of the scoreboard.

“Everybody kept saying it was going to be a shootout … ,” Broncos cornerback Ray Crockett said. “For everybody to keep saying it was going to be a shootout, that meant to us that they felt (New England) was going to run up and down the field on us.”

The Patriots (7-4) had averaged 32 points over the previous eight games, but they crossed midfield only four times in 11 possessions against the Broncos. That the Patriots had possession of the ball for only 21 minutes didn’t help.

“We were completely outclassed today,” Patriots coach Bill Parcells said. “We had no chance to ever win the game.”

New England managed only 11 first downs (12 less than its season average) and 17 yards rushing and converted only one of 12 third-down plays. Denver, meanwhile, racked up 198 of its 422 yards of total offense on the ground.

Broncos quarterback John Elway completed 14 of 23 passes for 175 yards, but he gave Denver a scare when he left the field before halftime with a bruised throwing hand. The Patriots couldn’t catch a break there, as backup Bill Musgrave came in and threw deep to Anthony Miller for a 46-yard gain that set up a Denver field goal.

Elway returned for the second half, but the ballyhooed AFC scoring duel between him and New England quarterback Drew Bledsoe never materialized. In fact, Broncos running back Terrell Davis stole the show with 154 yards rushing on 32 carries and three first-half touchdowns.

New England helped put the Broncos in position to score quickly and from short range in the first quarter. The Patriots took the opening kickoff and gained nine yards to their 32-yard line, where they decided to fake a punt on fourth down.

The plan nearly worked, as punter Tom Tupa, who doubles as New England’s third-string quarterback, threw the ball to linebacker Tedy Bruschi, who would’ve had a first down except he didn’t make the catch.

In five plays - all called for Davis - the Broncos were in the end zone, thanks to Davis’ 15-yard touchdown reception.

New England’s next possession lasted one play, with Broncos safety Steve Atwater intercepting Bledsoe and returning the ball to the Patriots’ 42. The interception set up another five-play Denver drive that ended with Davis dancing and dodging defenders on the way into the end zone for a 10-yard scoring run.

“I think the interception set the tone for us, as far as us being able to get off the field and give our offense the ball in great field position,” Atwater said.

Davis’ third touchdown of the day might make the NBA highlight reels. Denver drove from its 30 to the Patriots’ 2. From there, Davis fumbled the ball, caught it on a high dribble, regained control and lunged into the end zone. The Broncos led 21-0 and turned over the game to their defense.

The Bronco defense never was more prepared, especially knowing the Patriots had overcome a 21-point deficit the week before against the New York Jets. Bledsoe completed 22 of 41 passes for 212 yards, but his favorite targets - tight end Ben Coates and wide receivers Shawn Jefferson and Terry Glenn - often were draped by Denver defenders.

Safety Lawyer Milloy intercepted Elway to kill what had the makings of another Denver scoring march at the start of the third quarter, and New England drove 68 yards for its lone touchdown, a 7-run scoring run by Curtis Martin. A two-point conversion cut the margin to 16 points.

The Broncos answered with a 10-play, 71-yard drive capped by Elway’s 1-yard sneak. The reserves started filtering into the game for both teams. It’s the first time since 1991 in which the Broncos have reached double digits in victories.