New England Patriots 41-16 Denver Broncos: Tom Brady throws three TDs in road win
Monday 13 November 2017 13:02, UK
Tom Brady threw three touchdown passes as the New England Patriots pummeled the Denver Broncos 41-16 on Sunday night.
Managing to avoid Von Miller all night, Brady threw for 266 yards as he went 25 of 34 passing, improving his record against Denver - the only team he has a losing record against - to 8-9 with the win.
With defeat, the Broncos (3-6) stretch their losing streak to five games - their longest skid in seven seasons - while the Patriots (7-2) matched their own AFC record with their 12th consecutive road victory.
New England created further history as, for the first time since 1979, they managed a trifecta of a special teams takeaway, a blocked punt and a kickoff return for a touchdown.
The Patriots went three-and-out to start the game but then Denver rookie Isaiah McKenzie muffed his punt return, gifting Brady the opportunity for a 14-yard TD toss to running back Rex Burkhead.
After Denver then opened their account with a 39-yard Brandon McManus field goal, from the ensuing kick-off Dion Lewis' 103-yard return made it 14-3 New England.
The teams traded in field goals for much of the second quarter - Burkhead's blocked punt leading to Stephen Gostkowski's second for the Pats - before Brady hit tight end Dwayne Allen from 11 yards out to earn a 27-9 half-time lead.
The Broncos finally found the endzone in the third quarter as Brock Osweiler found Demaryius Thomas for an eight-yard TD, but the Patriots swiftly responded with a further seven-yard score from Lewis.
Brady then added his third passing touchdown of the night in the fourth quarter to ice the win - a six-yard effort to James White, making it 41-16.
