Denver Broncos vs New England Patriots Match Player Stats On Nov 02, 2014

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Nov 2, 2014

Patriots 43, Broncos 21: Tom Brady threw touchdown passes to four different receivers and totaled 333 passing yards as New England took control of the AFC by blasting visiting Denver.

Julian Edelman caught a TD pass and returned a punt for a score while tight end Rob Gronkowski racked up 105 yards and a TD for the Patriots (7-2), who have won five straight. Brandon LaFell and Shane Vereen added touchdown catches as Brady went 33-of-53 in New England’s 14th straight home win.

Peyton Manning completed 34-of-57 passes for 438 yards and two scores but was intercepted twice as the Broncos (6-2) had their four-game winning streak come to an end. Emmanuel Sanders (151) and Demaryius Thomas (127) each went over 100 yards receiving while Ronnie Hillman registered rushing and receiving scores for Denver.

The Broncos took a 7-3 lead on Hillman’s 1-yard TD burst late in the first quarter, but the Patriots drove right back for a field goal and took the lead on Brady’s 5-yard scoring pass to Edelman before the defense forced a stop. Edelman caught the ensuing punt up the middle, broke to the right sideline and cut all the way back to the left side of the end zone for an 84-yard touchdown, and Brady’s 5-yard TD toss to Vereen with eight seconds left made it 27-7 at the break.

Denver tight end Julius Thomas’ first catch of the game was an 18-yard TD early in the third, but New England responded with a field goal and Manning was picked off on the next play, leading to Brady’s 10-yard scoring pass to LaFell. Hillman dove for the right pylon after a catch for a 15-yard TD less than two minutes later to make it 37-21, but the Patriots marched right back down the field for Gronkowski’s 1-yard score and the defense got fourth-down stops on three consecutive possessions to seal it.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Edelman’s punt-return TD was the fourth of his career, setting a franchise record. … Brady, who was making his 200th career start, moved past Broncos executive John Elway (51,475) and into fifth place on the all-time passing yardage list. … Denver WR Wes Welker left with a lower back injury in the third quarter and LB Nate Irving went down with a knee injury in the fourth.