The NFL action will heat up this holiday season when the Denver Broncos host New England Patriots at the iconic Mile High. The Broncos have been in excellent form at home and will be aiming for a statement win to reignite their Playoff hopes.
Date and Time
Date: Sunday, 24th Dec
Time: 8:15 PM (EST)
Location: Empower Field at Mile High
Head-to-Head Overview
The Broncos and the Patriots have maintained an intriguing rivalry over the years and have met on 54 occasions. Denver hold a 31-23 lead in the head-to-head, including an 18-12 success when the teams last met in 2020.
Team Performance Analysis
Denver Broncos
Currently 2nd in the AFC West, the Broncos are on a four-game winning streak at home, but find themselves outside of the Wild Card places. Last week’s tough 42-17 loss against the Detroit Lions was a huge disappointment and means they need to bounce back immediately to revive their Playoff hopes.
New England Patriots
The Patriots, languishing at the bottom of the AFC East, have had a difficult season. QB Mac Jones has struggled throughout, and now finds himself watching from the sidelines as Bailey Zappe takes over the offense. The recent victory over the Steelers showed that Zappe does have the ability to win in the NFL, but overall this is a team lacking in confidence and star quality.
Injury Report
Denver Broncos Injuries
The Broncos could be without several key players due to injury, including Nik Bonitto who is questionable due to a knee issue, and Greg Dulcich who is on injured reserve due to an ongoing foot injury.
New England Patriots Injuries
The Patriots have a significant injury list including important players like J.C. Jackson and JuJu Smith-Schuster – both are listed as questionable for the game.
Game Stakes
For the Broncos, a win is essential if they want to force their way into the Wild Card places or even catch Kansa City at the top of the AFC West. Meanwhile, the Patriots are out of Postseason contention but will want to improve on their dismal 3-11 record.
Betting Odds
Most bookmakers have the Denver Broncos as clear favorites for the game. Unibet is offering a home win at just 1.36. with the Patriots priced at 3.65. The spread for the game favors the Broncos by 6.5 points.
Conclusion
The stakes are far higher for the Broncos, and whilst we are not convinced they have enough to crash the Playoff party, they should be able to comfortably get the better of a poor Patriots team.
