***SNF IN THE SWAMP - NE @ DEN***

***NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS @ DENVER BRONCOS***

SNF features the Super Bowl Champs on the road as they come off of their bye week and head into Denver to take on the inconsistent Broncos. The Pats currently sit in their usual spot among the top of the AFC East Division with a 6-2 record. Denver on the other hand is 3-5 at the moment, having dropped their last four games in a row. A week ago was probably the worst beatdown that Denver has suffered in quite some time. While on the road in Philly, the Eagles pummeled the Broncos 51-23. Denver is the type of team who prides themselves on their tough defense, so you know that one had to hurt. Granted, it was a bad spot for them having just played on MNF the week prior in Kansas City and on the road up against a buzzsaw of a team like the Eagles. Young Philly QB Carson Wentz is playing at an MVP level and the Eagle defense is playing lights out. I am not sure if they peaked already but really the entire Eagle team is rolling on all cylinders and have dominated the NFC thus far. That being said, the Broncos getting smacked like they did last weekend is somewhat understandable, maybe not that bad, but my point is that it was up against the league's best team while in their home element. A big part of that loss could also be attributed to the fact that it was backup QB Brock Osweiler's first start as a Bronco since leaving them two years ago. I won't get into the "Behind the Music" type background story of the Brockweiler and the Broncos here for the sake of time and to not bore you as I am sure if you are reading this you know the deal. Long story short, it was the right move to bench starting QB Trevor Siemian because his confidence is completely gone at this point after a string of awful performances. He made that clear with his despicable outing on MNF on the road against KC two weeks ago. The Bronco Defense played an awesome game and gave the offense every opportunity to get it done but the offense was anemic. Bottom line, the kid needs a timeout. That being said, it's now time for Brocky Mountain High, Part 2. Osweiler stinks, we know this. He proved us right last week with a poor outing against Philly. I will give him a pass there because of the situation and it being his first start back with the Broncos. If he is able to just try and be the game managing QB that he is tonight, I really like the Broncos chances at home to keep it close and possibly upset here. I know, I know, it is Tom Brady, Belichick, and the Pats off a bye week we are talking about here. Surely the Brockweiler and the lowly Broncos can't win this game right? Not so fast my friends!

Osweiler's best days were during his first stint in Denver when holding down the fort for a few games while the Sheriff Peyton Manning healed on their run to the Super Bowl. During those games, he and the Broncos actually BEAT the Patriots to give them their first loss, in a snow classic overtime game in Denver on SNF. The way I see it, the Broncos are a prideful organization and are definitely pissed off after being embarrassed last week. I expect them to come ready and play their best game of the season tonight. They were already upset at home on SNF earlier this season when falling to the winless Giants in week 6 in another embarrassing affair. This defense is still fully loaded with the No Fly Zone and guys like Von Miller and Shane Ray up front getting after Tom Brady. Tonight I like them to be highly motivated given all these previous failures and get amped up to host the Super Bowl Champs on Prime Time. I believe Miller and the pass rush will feed off the energy of their fans tonight and get after Brady early and often. Brady is down a few weapons and could be in trouble here with effectively getting rid of the ball quickly under pressure against a ball hawking secondary. This defense and Brady are familiar foes and this defense knows exactly what they have to do in order to slow the GOAT down and I believe they will at home tonight.

The Pats have shown they have had some holes on defense at times as well. Denver has to force feed the run game to help open things up through the air for Osweiler. With WR Emmanuel Sanders now back to join Demmaryius Thomas, I think Brock will be able to have a better outing in his second start this season. I think if he starts off completing a couple dink and dunk type passes underneath, this crowd will get behind him and his confidence will quickly grow. Sanders and Thomas are YAC monster WRs and the beauty of Osweiler starting is that he has a rapport already established with these guys from his first time around on this team despite being their new QB again. A big problem for Denver has been all the 3 and outs due to the poor QB play. If Osweiler can give the defense a breather after they do their part by consistently picking up first downs and extending drives into FG range at least, I think they can win. This stage and matchup is all familiar for him and he will be good enough filling in, at least for tonight I believe. OK, almost game time, basically- I just really like the situation for the Denver defense to take out some built up frustrations in this one and be the deciding factor. So with the touchdown spread, I'll take the points in what I feel will be a close match. I believe the Broncos will hit and stifle Brady enough to eventually cause a key turnvoer that could be the difference and get the upset over the Champs! BRONCOS+7