Page 19 - ARUBA TODAY

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SPORTS Tuesday 14 November 2017
Brady, Patriots send Broncos

to fifth straight loss, 41-16

By ARNIE STAPLETON comfortable 27-9 halftime issue we had. We were 1
AP Pro Football Writer lead. for 4 in the red zone. We
DENVER (AP) — Denver The Patriots went three- moved the ball better
is no longer Tom Brady’s and-out to start the tonight but we didn’t score
House of Horrors and the game but rookie Isaiah touchdowns.
Broncos sure don’t scare McKenzie’s muffed punt And defensively they
anybody anymore. led to Brady’s 14-yard TD scored on seven straight
Brady threw three toss to running back Rex possessions.”
touchdown passes and Burkhead. When the Broncos finally
the New England Patriots “That’s not the first punt forced another punt in the
matched their own AFC McKenzie has muffed this fourth quarter, they were
record with their 12th year,” Patriots coach Bill whistled for 12 men on the
consecutive road victory, Belichick said. field, giving the Patriots a
pummeling the Broncos 41- Indeed, it was his fifth fresh set of downs.
16 on Sunday night. fumble, including four Brady took advantage of
Brady’s 86th regular-season muffs. that gaffe by throwing a
road win broke a tie with “It puts us in a big hole,” 6-yard touchdown pass
Peyton Manning for most McKenzie said. “I put to James White, capping
all-time. the blame all on me. If I both the blowout and a New England Patriots running back James White (28) celebrates
“It’s always hard to win in would’ve caught that first 16-play, 94-yard drive that his touchdown against the Denver Broncos with tight end Rob
the NFL, certainly on the punt, did anything with it, ate up more than seven Gronkowski (87) during the second half of an NFL football game,
Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017, in Denver.
road,” Brady said. “We besides turn it over, then minutes.q Associated Press
found a way to do it last probably ... things would’ve
year and we’re off to a changed for us.”
good start this year.” The Patriots had five
Not so the Broncos. touchdowns and a pair of
These teams have field goals before they’d
represented the AFC in punt again.
the last four Super Bowls, “We knew McKenzie had
and the Broncos (3-6) were muffed a couple so we told
hoping a visit from their our gunners to get down
rivals would help shake there and make it tough
them from their funk. Beat on him,” Patriots DB Devin
Brady, suggested Aqib McCourty said. “Then
Talib, and “the swag, the we get the blocked punt
energy in this locker room, return.”
it’ll skyrocket.” He’s getting ahead of
Instead, the Broncos fizzled. himself, but who could
They lost their fifth straight blame him?
game, their worst skid in After kicking a 39-yard field
seven seasons, and they goal, Brandon McManus
dropped back-to-back failed on the ensuing kickoff
games to the Patriots (7-2) to get in front of returner
in Denver for the first time Dion Lewis, whose 103-
since 1966. yard return down Denver’s
Avoiding Von Miller all night demoralized sideline made
and throwing for 266 yards it 14-3.
on 25-of-34 passing, Brady “How are you supposed
improved to 8-9 against to win against Tom Brady
the Broncos, the only team and Bill Belichick and the
he has a losing record New England Patriots when
against, and he won for just you’re starting off” like
the fourth time in 11 trips to that? wondered Broncos
Denver. defensive end Derek Wolfe.
The Patriots also won a “You can’t.”
dozen consecutive road Then, Burkhead sliced
games from 2006-08. The through the line to block
NFL record is 18 set by Riley Dixon’s punt at
the Joe Montana-led San the Broncos’ 30-yard
Francisco 49ers from 1988- line, leading to Stephen
90. Gostkowski’s second field
Speaking of historic, the goal and a 20-6 lead.
Patriots for the first time “I have not,” Broncos
since 1979 had a special coach Vance Joseph
teams takeaway , a replied when asked if he’d
blocked punt and a kickoff ever seen a worse special
return for a touchdown teams performance.
, a trifecta that fueled a “That wasn’t the only