Broncos–Patriots rivalry

The Broncos–Patriots rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots (known as the Boston Patriots until 1971). Nowadays, the two teams do not play every year due to them playing in different intraconference divisions – Denver in the AFC West and New England in the AFC East; instead, they play at least once every three years and at least once every six seasons at each team's home stadium when their divisions are paired up, sometimes more often if they meet in the playoffs, or if the two teams finish in the same place in their respective divisions.^[1][2][3]

Broncos–Patriots rivalry

Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel attempting a pass in a 2008 game against the Broncos
Denver Broncos New England Patriots
First meeting	September 9, 1960 Broncos 13, Patriots 10
Latest meeting	December 24, 2023 Patriots 26, Broncos 23
Statistics
Meetings total	55 meetings (including playoffs)
All-time series	Broncos, 31–24
Regular season series	Broncos, 27–23
Postseason results	Broncos, 4–1 Most recent January 24, 2016 Broncos 20, Patriots 18
Longest win streak	Broncos, 11 Patriots, 4
Current win streak	Patriots, 1 win (2023–present)
Championship success
Super Bowl Championships (9) DEN (3) – 1997 (XXXII), 1998 (XXXIII), 2015 (50) NE (6) – 2001 (XXXVI), 2003 (XXXVIII), 2004 (XXXIX), 2014 (XLIX), 2016 (LI), 2018 (LIII) Conference Championships (19) DEN (8) – 1977, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1997, 1998, 2013, 2015 NE (11) – 1985, 1996, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018

History

See also: Tom Brady–Peyton Manning rivalry

The Broncos and Patriots met twice annually during the American Football League (AFL) years from 1960 to 1969 (with the exception of 1967 and 1969), and played in the first-ever AFL game on September 9, 1960.^[4] Since 1995, the two teams have met frequently during the regular season, including nine consecutive seasons from 1995 to 2003.^[5] As of the end of the 2020 season, the two teams have met in the playoffs five times, with the Broncos owning a 4–1 record.^[6] The teams' postseason meeting in the 1986 AFC Divisional playoffs was John Elway's first career playoff win,^[7] while the teams' second postseason meeting in the 2005 AFC Divisional playoffs was the Broncos' first playoff win since Elway's retirement after the 1998 season.^[8] The game was also notable for Champ Bailey's 100-yard interception that resulted in a touchdown-saving tackle by Benjamin Watson at the 1-yard line, although the Broncos would eventually score the touchdown shortly thereafter.^[9] This victory for the Broncos resulted in handing Tom Brady his first ever postseason loss as a starting quarterback after beginning his postseason career 10–0, while also ending the longest postseason winning streak in NFL history, which is ten games.

On October 11, 2009, the two teams met with former Patriots' offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels as the Broncos' head coach. Both teams wore their AFL 50th anniversary jerseys.^[10] The game featured a 98-yard drive in the fourth quarter, with a game-tying touchdown pass from Kyle Orton to Brandon Marshall, followed by an overtime drive led by Orton that resulted in a 41-yard game-winning field goal by Matt Prater.^[11] The two teams met in the 2011 AFC Divisional playoffs, with the Patriots blowing out Tim Tebow and the Broncos by a score of 45–10.^[12] The Broncos' rivalry with the Patriots later intensified when longtime Indianapolis Colts' quarterback Peyton Manning became the Broncos' starting quarterback from 2012 to 2015. Manning and Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady maintained a legendary rivalry from 2001^[13] until Manning's retirement after the 2015 season.^[14] Though Brady dominated Manning in regular season play, winning nine of twelve meetings (which includes winning all three meetings as a member of the Broncos), Manning won three of five playoff meetings and 3 of 4 AFC Championship Games (which includes going 2–0 in AFC Championship Games as a member of the Broncos), the last of which was a Broncos' 20–18 win in the 2015 AFC Championship Game.^[15]

Since Manning's retirement, the teams have met four times, with the road team winning each time. New England won 16–3 in 2016, 41–16 in 2017, and 26–23 in 2023. Meanwhile, the Broncos pulled off an 18–12 road upset in 2020. The 2020 game was notable as it was the first Broncos–Patriots meeting since 2000 that Tom Brady was not the Patriots QB, as he signed with the Buccaneers after the 2019 season. In the 2020 matchup, Broncos starting QB Drew Lock became the youngest QB ever to defeat Bill Belichick at Gillette Stadium, as well as only the second QB ever to throw multiple interceptions in a road game against Belichick's Patriots and win the game.

Game results

All-time results^[16]

Denver Broncos vs. Boston/ New England Patriots Season-by-Season Results
1960s (Patriots, 10–8) Season Season series at Denver Broncos at Boston Patriots Overall series Notes 1960 Broncos 2–0 Broncos 31–24 Broncos 13–10 Broncos 2–0 First meeting in the series is played at Nickerson Field in Boston. Broncos placed in AFL Western Division and the Patriots are placed in the AFL Eastern Division. 1961 Patriots 2–0 Patriots 28–24 Patriots 45–17 Tie 2–2 1962 Patriots 2–0 Patriots 33–29 Patriots 41–16 Patriots 4–2 1963 Tie 1–1 Broncos 14–10 Patriots 40–21 Patriots 5–3 Patriots lose 1963 AFL Championship. 1964 Patriots 2–0 Patriots 39–10 Patriots 12–7 Patriots 7–3 1965 Tie 1–1 Patriots 28–20 Broncos 27–10 Patriots 8–4 1966 Tie 1–1 Patriots 24–10 Broncos 17–10 Patriots 9–5 1967 Broncos 1–0 Broncos 26–21 no game Patriots 9–6 1968 Tie 1–1 Patriots 20–17 Broncos 35–14 Patriots 10–7 1969 Broncos 1–0 Broncos 35–7 no game Patriots 10–8
1970s (Broncos, 2–1) Season Results Location Overall series Notes 1972 Broncos 45–21 Mile High Stadium Patriots 10–9 First meeting since the AFL–NFL merger. First meeting in the series in which the Patriots played as the New England Patriots. 1976 Patriots 38–14 Schaefer Stadium Patriots 11–9 1979 Broncos 45–10 Mile High Stadium Patriots 11–10
1980s (Broncos, 5–1) Season Results Location Overall series Notes 1980 Patriots 23–14 Schaefer Stadium Patriots 12–10 1984 Broncos 26–19 Mile High Stadium Patriots 12–11 1986 Broncos 27–20 Mile High Stadium Tie 12–12 1986 Playoffs Broncos 22–17 Mile High Stadium Broncos 13–12 AFC Divisional Round. First postseason meeting in the series. Broncos lose Super Bowl XXI. 1987 Broncos 31–20 Mile High Stadium Broncos 14–12 Broncos lose Super Bowl XXII. 1988 Broncos 21–10 Mile High Stadium Broncos 15–12 Home team wins ten straight meetings.
1990s (Broncos, 6–1) Season Results Location Overall series Notes 1991 Broncos 9–6 Foxboro Stadium Broncos 17–12 Broncos 20–3 Mile High Stadium Marks the only time since the AFL–NFL merger that both teams have met twice in the regular season. 1995 Broncos 37–3 Foxboro Stadium Broncos 18–12 1996 Broncos 34–8 Foxboro Stadium Broncos 19–12 Patriots lose Super Bowl XXXI. 1997 Broncos 34–13 Mile High Stadium Broncos 20–12 Broncos win Super Bowl XXXII. 1998 Broncos 27–21 Mile High Stadium Broncos 21–12 Broncos win 11 consecutive meetings. Broncos also win 11 consecutive home meetings. Broncos win Super Bowl XXXIII. 1999 Patriots 24–23 Foxboro Stadium Broncos 21–13 Last meeting at Foxboro Stadium.
2000s (Broncos, 6–3) Season Results Location Overall series Notes 2000 Patriots 28–19 Mile High Stadium Broncos 21–14 Last meeting at Mile High Stadium. First time the Patriots win in Denver since 1968. 2001 Broncos 31–20 Invesco Field at Mile High Broncos 22–14 First meeting at Empower Field at Mile High (previously named Invesco Field at Mile High, Sports Authority Field at Mile High, and Broncos Stadium). First start for Tom Brady in the series. Patriots win Super Bowl XXXVI. 2002 Broncos 24–16 Gillette Stadium Broncos 23–14 First meeting at Gillette Stadium. 2003 Patriots 30–26 Invesco Field at Mile High Broncos 23–15 Down 24–23 and punting from their own 1-yard line with just under 3 minutes remaining in regulation, the Patriots elected to take an intentional safety to increase the Broncos lead to 26–23 but to take the free kick from their own 20-yard line in an attempt to get a defensive stop and better field position. The strategy worked as the Patriots forced a three-and-out and began their eventual game-winning drive beyond their own 40-yard line with just over 2 minutes remaining. Patriots' David Givens scored the touchdown with 30 seconds remaining. Patriots win Super Bowl XXXVIII. 2005 Broncos 28–20 Invesco Field at Mile High Broncos 24–15 2005 Playoffs Broncos 27–13 Invesco Field at Mile High Broncos 25–15 AFC Divisional Round. Broncos hand Tom Brady his first ever postseason loss after starting 10–0. 2006 Broncos 17–7 Gillette Stadium Broncos 26–15 2008 Patriots 41–7 Gillette Stadium Broncos 26–16 2009 Broncos 20–17 Invesco Field at Mile High Broncos 27–16
2010s (Patriots, 7–3) Season Results Location Overall series Notes 2011 Patriots 41–23 Sports Authority Field at Mile High Broncos 27–17 Patriots lose Super Bowl XLVI. 2011 Playoffs Patriots 45–10 Gillette Stadium Broncos 27–18 AFC Divisional Round. Tom Brady throws postseason record 5 TD's as the Patriots advance. 2012 Patriots 31–21 Gillette Stadium Broncos 27–19 First meeting of the Tom Brady–Peyton Manning rivalry in which Peyton Manning is the Broncos' QB. 2013 Patriots 34–31(OT) Gillette Stadium Broncos 27–20 Patriots overcome 24–0 deficit in their overtime victory. Broncos lose Super Bowl XLVIII. 2013 Playoffs Broncos 26–16 Sports Authority Field at Mile High Broncos 28–20 AFC Championship Game. 2014 Patriots 43–21 Gillette Stadium Broncos 28–21 Patriots win Super Bowl XLIX. 2015 Broncos 30–24(OT) Sports Authority Field at Mile High Broncos 29–21 Broncos hand the 10–0 Patriots their first loss of the season. Only meeting from 2012–2015 that Peyton Manning did not start as the Broncos' quarterback in the series. Broncos win Super Bowl 50. 2015 Playoffs Broncos 20–18 Sports Authority Field at Mile High Broncos 30–21 AFC Championship Game. Broncos get defensive stop on a game-tying two-point conversion attempt by the Patriots with 13 seconds remaining in regulation after Stephen Gostkowski missed a critical extra point early in the game. Last meeting in the Tom Brady–Peyton Manning rivalry. 2016 Patriots 16–3 Sports Authority Field at Mile High Broncos 30–22 Patriots win Super Bowl LI. 2017 Patriots 41–16 Sports Authority Field at Mile High Broncos 30–23 Last start for Tom Brady in the series. Patriots lose Super Bowl LII.
2020s (Tie, 1–1) Season Results Location Overall series Notes 2020 Broncos 18–12 Gillette Stadium Broncos 31–23 2023 Patriots 26–23 Empower Field at Mile High Broncos 31–24 Bill Belichick's final win as Patriots head coach. Russell Wilson was benched three days after the game.
Summary of Results Season Season series at Denver Broncos at Boston/ N.E. Patriots Notes AFL regular season Patriots 10–8 Patriots 6–4 Tie 4–4 NFL regular season Broncos 19–13 Broncos 13–6 Patriots 7–6 AFL and NFL regular season Broncos 27–23 Broncos 17–12 Patriots 11–10 Postseason Broncos 4–1 Broncos 4–0 Patriots 1–0 AFC Divisional playoffs: 1986, 2005, 2011. AFC Championship Game: 2013, 2015. Regular and postseason Broncos 31–24 Broncos 21–12 Patriots 12–10

References

1. Davis, Scott. "The NFL schedule is created with the help of a simple formula". Business Insider. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
2. "NFL gives East teams a break traveling West". ESPN.com. 2009-03-23. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
3. Trapasso, Chris. "How Is the NFL Schedule Created?". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
4. . Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 1 July 2012. Retrieved September 3, 2012.
5. Mason, Andrew (November 2, 2003). . Denver Broncos. Archived from the original on October 2, 2013. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
6. "Boxscore finder: Denver Broncos vs New England Patriots – Pro-Football-Reference". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
7. Lynch, Tim (October 16, 2008). "Denver Broncos @ New England Patriots; Through The Years". Mile High Report. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
8. "Broncos take advantage of turnovers, eliminate Patriots". ESPN. January 14, 2006. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
9. sevenand7kc (2011-09-16), Benjamin Watson tackle saving touchdown, retrieved 2016-06-05{{citation}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
10. Gasper, Christopher L. "Denver doldrums continue for the Patriots – The Boston Globe". Boston.com. Retrieved 2016-06-05.
11. "Patriots vs. Broncos - Game Recap - October 11, 2009 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2016-06-05.
12. Klis, Mike (January 14, 2012). "Tom Brady leads Patriots' 45–10 rout of Broncos, Tim Tebow in NFL playoffs". The Denver Post. Retrieved January 14, 2012.
13. Gasper, Christopher (October 7, 2012). "Lucky to see Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning again". The Boston Globe. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
14. Renck, Troy (March 7, 2016). "Peyton Manning retires from football: "I love the game...I will miss it."". The Denver Post. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
15. Renck, Troy (January 24, 2016). "Broncos hold off Tom Brady and Patriots, head to Super Bowl". The Denver Post. Retrieved January 24, 2016.
16. "All Matchups, Denver Broncos vs. New England Patriots". Pro-Football-Reference.com.