Broncos lose heartbreaker to Patriots in overtime 34-31, drop to 9-2

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9-2, Denver Broncos, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, football, Foxborough MA, fumbles, Jacob Tamme, Julian Edelman, Kansas City Chiefs, Knowshon Moreno, Matt Prater, New England Patriots, NFL, Peyton Manning, Terrance Knighton, Tom Brady, Von Miller

Broncos linebacker Von Miller sacks Patriot quarterback Tom Brady Sunday. (Denver Broncos photo)

Foxborough, Mass. — The Denver Broncos lost a heartbreaker here Sunday night to the New England Patriots on a fluke play in overtime 34-31.
The Denver Broncos came on strong in the first half of the game capitalizing on three successive Patriot errors — three fumbles — to make the score 17-0 by the end of the first quarter. On the first fumble Bronco Von Miller scooped it up and scampered 59 yards for the touchdown, and point after by Matt Prater was good. On the next play the Patriots fumbled again, and Bronco Terrance Knighton grabbed it and took it to the 10 yard line; Knowshon Moreno took it in for the touchdown. This was on a quarterback Tom Brady sack.
Then, Patriots fumbled again on the next play, and the Broncos took it down for a 27-yard Matt Prater field goal to make the score 17-0. By the end of the half, the Broncos had scored another touchdown with Jacob Tamme taking it over from the 10 yard line. That made the halftime score 24-0.
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The second half was another story. Brady and the Patriots came back out in a scoring mode, and score they did. On their first possession to open the half, Brady mounts an 80- yard drive and Julian Edelman takes it over to score the touchdown from the Denver 5 yard line to make the score 24-7. Bronco cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (DRC) is injured on this drive and is out of the game.
Patriots go on to score on a Montee Ball fumble, a Rob Gronkowski touchdown, and a Edelman touchdown to go ahead 28-24 on a interception by Logan Ryan.
Then with 9 minutes to go in the game, the Patriots boot a field goal to make the score 31-24. The Broncos finally come back and on a Peyton Manning drive with a pass to Demaryius Thomas tie the score at 31-31 — and go into overtime.
Then, after a series of punt outs during overtime, the Broncos go back to receive the Patriot kick, and the ball takes a bounce and hits a Bronco player in the leg; it is ruled the Patriots’ ball ( Oh yeah), and they kick a 32-yard field goal and win the game 34-31. Heartbreaker City.
Broncos drop to 9-2 and go after the 9-2 Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium next Sunday.
— C.L.
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