Patriots at Broncos: Game preview, odds, prediction

The New England Patriots will look to lock up their eighth straight AFC East title on Sunday, as they travel to Denver in a rematch of last year’s AFC Championship Game.

In a matchup of last year’s AFC Championship Game, the New England Patriots will travel to Denver to take on the Broncos. The Patriots actually helped the Broncos this past weekend, as their win against the Baltimore Ravens kept the Broncos’ playoff hopes alive. Denver took a bad loss to the Tennessee Titans on the road, falling to 8-5 on the season.

Tom Brady continues to defy Father Time, and against the Ravens on Monday Night Football, threw for over 400 yards in the Pats win. Despite not having a true star wide receiver or running back, Brady has led his team to the best record in the AFC, and his Pats are currently in the driver’s seat for the playoffs. The Pats will have to go the rest of the way without their star tight end, as Rob Gronkowski saw his season end a few weeks ago, but that doesn’t seem like it can stop the Brady Express.

Denver got a nice effort from first-year starter Trevor Siemian on Sunday, as the 2015 seventh-round draft pick threw for over 300 yards in the loss. Still, the Broncos need a win in the worst way this Sunday, and unfortunately will be facing a Patriots team that is as hot as they come. The lack of a running game has really hurt the Broncos this season, and despite having arguably the best defense in football, they may actually miss the playoffs this season.

Odds

Line: New England (-3)

Over/Under: 43.5

The Broncos have actually gotten a nice season out of Siemian, who shocked the football world by beating out Mark Sanchez and first round selection Paxton Lynch in the postseason. He has found good rhythm with the likes of Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas this season and just may have locked up the job for next season. With a healthy C.J. Anderson back in the fold in 2017, the Broncos should be back among the top three teams in the AFC, but this year, they will fall short.

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With a win on Sunday, New England will clinch the AFC East for the eighth straight year, which is an incredible accomplishment on its own. The 20-18 loss in last year’s AFC Championship Game has to still be killing Brady, and he will enact his revenge on Sunday. I fully expect Brady to go into Denver and ruin the Broncos’ season, as the Patriots leave the Mile High City with the AFC East title and the sweet taste of revenge on their lips.

Prediction: Patriots 24, Broncos 17