The Broncos–Patriots rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots (known as the Boston Patriots until 1971). Nowadays, the two teams do not play every year due to them playing in different intraconference divisions – Denver in the AFC West and New England in the AFC East; instead, they play at least once every three years and at least once every six seasons at each team's home stadium when their divisions are paired up, sometimes more often if they meet in the playoffs, or if the two teams finish in the same place in their respective divisions.[1][2][3]
Broncos' hall-of-famer QB John Elway was dominate against the Patriots, finishing with an undefeated 11–0 record, which included the 1986 AFC Divisional.
The Broncos and Patriots met twice annually during the American Football League (AFL) years from 1960 to 1969 (with the exception of 1967 and 1969), and played in the first-ever AFL game on September 9, 1960.[4] Since 1995, the two teams have met frequently during the regular season, including nine consecutive seasons from 1995 to 2003.[5] As of the end of the 2020 season, the two teams have met in the playoffs five times, with the Broncos owning a 4–1 record.[6] The teams' postseason meeting in the 1986 AFC Divisional playoffs was John Elway's first career playoff win,[7] while the teams' second postseason meeting in the 2005 AFC Divisional playoffs was the Broncos' first playoff win since Elway's retirement after the 1998 season.[8] The game was also notable for Champ Bailey's 100-yard interception that resulted in a touchdown-saving tackle by Benjamin Watson at the 1-yard line, although the Broncos would eventually score the touchdown shortly thereafter.[9] This victory for the Broncos resulted in handing Tom Brady his first ever postseason loss as a starting quarterback after beginning his postseason career 10–0, while also ending the longest postseason winning streak in NFL history, which is ten games.
On October 11, 2009, the two teams met with former Patriots' offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels as the Broncos' head coach. Both teams wore their AFL 50th anniversary jerseys.[10] The game featured a 98-yard drive in the fourth quarter, with a game-tying touchdown pass from Kyle Orton to Brandon Marshall, followed by an overtime drive led by Orton that resulted in a 41-yard game-winning field goal by Matt Prater.[11] The two teams met in the 2011 AFC Divisional playoffs, with the Patriots blowing out Tim Tebow and the Broncos by a score of 45–10.[12] The Broncos' rivalry with the Patriots later intensified when longtime Indianapolis Colts' quarterback Peyton Manning became the Broncos' starting quarterback from 2012 to 2015. Manning and Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady maintained a legendary rivalry from 2001[13] until Manning's retirement after the 2015 season.[14] Though Brady dominated Manning in regular season play, winning nine of twelve meetings (which includes winning all three meetings as a member of the Broncos), Manning won three of five playoff meetings and 3 of 4 AFC Championship Games (which includes going 2–0 in AFC Championship Games as a member of the Broncos), the last of which was a Broncos' 20–18 win in the 2015 AFC Championship Game.[15]
Since Manning's retirement, the teams have met four times, with the road team winning each time. New England won 16–3 in 2016, 41–16 in 2017, and 26–23 in 2023. Meanwhile, the Broncos pulled off an 18–12 road upset in 2020. The 2020 game was notable as it was the first Broncos–Patriots meeting since 2000 that Tom Brady was not the Patriots QB, as he signed with the Buccaneers after the 2019 season. In the 2020 matchup, Broncos starting QB Drew Lock became the youngest QB ever to defeat Bill Belichick at Gillette Stadium, as well as only the second QB ever to throw multiple interceptions in a road game against Belichick's Patriots and win the game.
First meeting in the series is played at Nickerson Field in Boston. Broncos placed in AFL Western Division and the Patriots are placed in the AFL Eastern Division.
Broncos win 11 consecutive meetings. Broncos also win 11 consecutive home meetings. Broncos win Super Bowl XXXIII. Last start in the rivalry for John Elway. Elway finished with an 11–0 record against the Patriots.
First meeting at Empower Field at Mile High (previously named Invesco Field at Mile High, Sports Authority Field at Mile High, and Broncos Stadium). First start for Tom Brady in the series. Patriots win Super Bowl XXXVI.
Down 24–23 and punting from their own 1-yard line with just under 3 minutes remaining in regulation, the Patriots elected to take an intentional safety to increase the Broncos lead to 26–23 but to take the free kick from their own 20-yard line in an attempt to get a defensive stop and better field position. The strategy worked as the Patriots forced a three-and-out and began their eventual game-winning drive beyond their own 40-yard line with just over 2 minutes remaining. Patriots' David Givens scored the touchdown with 30 seconds remaining. Patriots win Super Bowl XXXVIII.
Broncos hand the 10–0 Patriots their first loss of the season. Only meeting from 2012–2015 that Peyton Manning did not start as the Broncos' quarterback in the series. Broncos win Super Bowl 50.
AFC Championship Game. Broncos get defensive stop on a game-tying two-point conversion attempt by the Patriots with 13 seconds remaining in regulation after Stephen Gostkowski missed a critical extra point early in the game. Last meeting in the Tom Brady–Peyton Manning rivalry.
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