STADIUM: Empower Field at Mile High Stadium
REFEREE: Carl Cheffers
DATE: Sunday, December 24, 2023
GAME TIME: 8:15 PM ET
NFLN: Rich Eisen, Kurt Warner, James Palmer
Westwood One: John Sadak, Ryan Harris
SiriusXM (also available on the SXM App) NE: 82 or 227 DEN: 85 or 225 National: 88
ALL-TIME SERIES HISTORY REG. SEASON: DEN leads series, 27-22 (NE won 2 of past 3). THE LAST TIME: REG. SEASON: 10/18/20: DEN 18 at NE 12.
HEAD COACHES NOTES: Bill Belichick vs. Opponent (incl. postseason): 10-14 Reg. Season: 301-163 (.649) Postseason: 31-13 (.705). Sean Payton vs. Opponent (incl. postseason): 2-2 Reg. Season: 159-96 (.624) Postseason: 9-8 (.529).
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS NOTES:
• QB BAILEY ZAPPE completed season-high 23 of 31 atts. (season-high 74.2 pct.) for 180 yards & TD vs. INT last week. Has 70+ comp. pct. in 3 of 1st 5 career starts. Has 5 TDs vs. INT with 116.9 rating in 2 career road starts.
• RB EZEKIEL ELLIOTT has 90+ scrimmage yards in 2 of past 3. Had 76 scrimmage yards (51 rush, 25 rec.) in his last game vs. Den. (11/7/21 w/ Dal.). Has 75+ rush yards & rush TD in 2 of his past 3 on Sunday night. Is only RB with 750+ scrimmage yards in each of past 8 seasons.
• RB KEVIN HARRIS had rush TD in season debut last week.
• WR JUJU SMITH-SCHUSTER had 9 catches for 74 yards & TD in his last game at Den. (12/11/22 w/ KC). Has rec. TD in each of 2 career games at Den.
• WR DEMARIO DOUGLAS (rookie) has 5+ catches in 4 of his past 5.
• WR DEVANTE PARKER had 5 catches for 44 yards last week. Had 6 catches for 61 yards & TD in his last game vs. Den. (11/22/20 w/ Mia.). Has 55+ rec. yards in each of 2 career games on Sunday night.
• TE HUNTER HENRY set season highs in catches (7) & rec. yards (66) & had 6th rec. TD of season last week. Aims for 3rd in row with TD catch. Has 4 rec. TDs in 3 career games on Sunday night.
• DT CHRISTIAN BARMORE had 6 tackles, 2 TFL & sack last week. Has TFL in 4 of past 5. Aims for his 4th in row on road with 0.5+ sacks.
• LB JAHLANI TAVAI had 2nd INT of season in Week 15. Has 7+ tackles in 2 of past 3.
• LB JA’WHAUN BENTLEY has 5+ tackles in 4 of 6 road games this season. Had 12 tackles, 2 TFL & half sack in last meeting.
• LB MARTE MAPU (rookie) had 1st-career INT in Week 15.
• S JABRILL PEPPERS had 7 tackles last week. Had sack & INT in only career game at Den. (12/15/18 w/ Cle.).
DENVER BRONCOS NOTES:
• QB RUSSELL WILSON passed for 223 yards & had 2 TDs (1 pass, 1 rush) vs. 0 INTs last week. Has rush TD in 3 of past 4. Has 14 TDs (13 pass, 1 rush) vs. INT & 106.5 rating in 7 home games this season, with 90+ rating in each game. Is 3-0 with 11 TDs vs. INT & 135.4 rating in 3 career reg. season starts vs. NE, with 3+ TD passes & 120+ rating in each game. Needs 168 pass yards to join HOFer Peyton Manning as only QBs ever with 3,000+ pass yards in each of 1st 12 seasons.
• RB JAVONTE WILLIAMS has 70+ scrimmage yards in 3 of past 4. Needs 150 scrimmage yards for 2nd-career 1,000-yard season.
• RB SAMAJE PERINE rushed for 37 yards last week. Has 55+ scrimmage yards in each of 3 career games on SNF.
• WR COURTLAND SUTTON had 5 catches for 71 yards in Week 15, his 5th-straight game with 60+ rec. yards. Has TD catch in 2 of past 3 overall & in 3 of past 4 at home. Ranks 3rd in NFL with 10 rec. TDs in 2023, most by Den. player since 2014.
• WR JERRY JEUDY led the team with 74 rec. yards last week. Has 50+ rec. yards in 2 of past 3 overall & in 4 of past 5 at home.
• WR LIL’JORDAN HUMPHREY had 2nd TD catch of season last week.
• LB ALEX SINGLETON has 5+ tackles in 13 of 14 games this season & 10+ tackles in 5 of past 6. Has TFL in 2 of past 3. Ranks 5th in NFL with 139 tackles this season.
• LB JOSEY JEWELL aims for 3rd in row with 9+ tackles. Has FF in 2 of past 3 at home. Had 5 tackles in last meeting.
• LB JONATHON COOPER had 5 tackles & sack last week. Has 5+ tackles in 4 of past 5.
• DT D.J. JONES had 2 TFL & 1st sack of season in Week 15.
• S JUSTIN SIMMONS had 5 tackles, TFL & PD last week. Aims for 3rd in row with 5+ tackles & PD. Had FR in the last meeting.
