The New England Patriots ruined Christmas Eve for the Denver Broncos with a shocking 26-23 victory on Sunday night at Mile High.
Not only did they knock the Broncos out of the playoff hunt, but they did so on an incredible 56-yard field goal kick by rookie Chad Ryland. It was one of the most shocking endings to an NFL game there’s been all season.
The Patriots are quietly 2-1 in their last three games, including wins over the Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers. Last week, they gave the Kansas City Chiefs all they could handle in Foxborough.
No one would argue that the Patriots are a good football team, but there is an argument to be made that they’ve improved significantly with Bailey Zappe under center at quarterback.
Here are the studs and duds from Sunday’s game: