Bill Belichick addresses what makes the Broncos effective in the running game.
They have a lot of confidence in it. They call them, they don't get discouraged with it, they hang with it. They try to get it worked out if a play is not going well. They hit you on a lot of different points of attack, different scheme runs. Of course the quarterback has put up quite a few yards himself. Also their option plays, the option, dive option program, that type of thing. There's a lot of different ways they get that rushing yardage in bursts. They really test your defense all the way across the board from the pass rush contain the quarterback standpoint, to playing the normal run-block type of plays to their kind of specialty plays, element of Wildcat, quarterback scrambling, things like that. They get you on a lot of different levels.
Nick Caserio talks about what stands out and makes them a challenging opposition.
They have a lot of good football players. They're fast, they're good on defense, they have a good pass rush, they have good coverage players. They play fast, they play aggressively defensively. They have a lot of good players in the kicking game between [David] Bruton, [Wesley] Woodyard. They have a lot of fast guys that play on special teams and play in the kicking game as well. They have a lot of production from those guys. Offensively, they run the ball well. They lead the league in rushing yardage. They have a lot of good playmakers, they have a real consistent offensive line. Overall, they've got a good football team – offensively, defensively and special teams which is why they've been in games just about every week. Playing on the road is always a challenge and you're playing against a good football team that has won six in a row. In the end, we're going to have to go out there and play good football on Sunday and that's the goal.
TEAM TALK
- Game Preview: New England Patriots at Denver Broncos. Broadcast info, series history, team connections and more.
- Ask PFW: Playoff push.
- Andy Hart talks about how Tracy White had a big part in the Patriots escaping Washington with a win.
- Conference Calls: Bill Belichick (5.28 min. audio), Nick Caserio (8.54 min. audio) and Bill O'Brien (8.50 min. audio)
- Patriots Today - Patriots Monday chatter. (3.32 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Tuesday notes and analysis. (4.07 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Fletcher back on the field. (2.43 min. video)
- PFW in Progress - The PFW crew discuses the win over the Redskins, as well as this Sunday's matchup against the Broncos. (2 hour program)
- Patriots Playbook - John Rooke and Erik Scalavino offer analysis on the Patriots win over the Redskins. (2 hour program)
LOCAL LINKS
- Mike Reiss reports Rob Gronkowski earns the AFC player of the week honor.
- Karen Guregian reports the Patriots are examining what changes the Denver offense undergoes in the fourth quarter.
- Karen Guregian looks at Tebow and some of his fourth-quarter magic, against some of the Pats defense's fourth-quarter meltdowns.
- Mike Reiss wonders who will play Tim Tebow for the Patriots scout team this week.
- Christopher Price gives us five takeaways from the Tuesday conference calls with Bill Belichick, Bill O'Brien and Nick Caserio.
- Phil Perry reports Bill Belichick says the Patriots will have to try to give their defense a good look at what they'll see from Tim Tebow.
- Michael Whitmer reports Bill O'Brien has put his shouting match with Brady behind him.
- Christopher Price says Dane Fletcher feels good after returning to the field.
- Mike Reiss checks in with Nate Jones who has quickly integrated himself into the mix with the Patriots.
- Christopher Price rates Rodney Harrison's claims about the Patriots secondary.
- Kirk Minihane says Tim Tebow is already a more proven NFL commodity than this Patriots defense.
- Mike Reiss looks at this week's playoff scenarios for the Patriots.
- Christopher Price tells us who has been Tom Brady's favorite receiver through 13 games.
- Mike Reiss takes a look at where the Patriots rank in key statistical categories, with the Broncos and their key stats included for comparison.
- Christopher Price breaks down the Patriots penalties through 13 games.
- Mike Reiss answers his weekly Patriots mailbag, with fans not convinced the defense is good enough.
- Herald Photo Gallery: The Patriots' annual Childrens' Holiday Party.
- Karen Guregian Patriots Notebook: Bill O'Brien and Tom Brady have moved on from their sideline confrontation; Robert Kraft enjoyed watching his players participate at the Patriots annual Childrens' Holiday Party last night at Gillette; Kraft calls Tebow a 'fine young man'; Pats struggled against the Redskins' run game and won't have it any easier against the Broncos; Broncos have great speed on defense especially with Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil.
- Sara Gaynes reports Chad Ochocinco was a guest lecturer at Emerson College, discussing the impact Twitter and other social media have had on his career.
NATIONAL NEWS
- Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Patriots, Ravens, Steelers can clinch playoff spots this week.
- Mike Freeman (CBS Sports) Watch Gronkowski play and you will see into the future.
- Staff (Pro Football Weekly) Patriots-Broncos matchup of the day: Tim Tebow vs. Patriots defense.
- John Parolin (ESPN Stats & Info) Three-point stance: Denver Broncos.
- James Walker (ESPN) AFC East Stock Watch.
- Kevin Fishbain (Pro Football Weekly) Patriots 60-second rant: Run defense needs to improve.
- Marc Sessler (NFL.com) Before beating Bears, Tebow told Woodyard: 'God has spoken'.
- Alex Marvez (Fox Sports) Tebow's style drives Broncos offense.
- Mike Pereira (Fox Sports) NFL rules analyst Mike Pereira answers it all.
VIEW FROM DENVER
- Tom Kensler (Denver Post) Team chemistry is cooking for red-hot Denver Broncos.
- Woody Paige (Denver Post) Sunday's Patriots-Broncos game will decide AFC.
- Nick Groke (Denver Post) Tom Brady vs. Tim Tebow: A tale of the tape for Patriots and Broncos.
- Jeff Legwold (Denver Post) Hold off crowning the division-leading Denver Broncos as being anything more than red hot.
- Editorial (Denver Post) For Broncos' Tim Tebow, every play is a Hail Mary.