The Denver Broncos-New England Patriots showdown in Week 12 proved to be one of the best games in the NFL’s regular season. After Peyton Manning and Co. put up 24 unanswered points in the first half, Tom Brady returned the favor, helping the Patriots to force overtime with 31 second-half points. As the story goes, New England completed the comeback with a 34-31 victory.
The same can’t be said about the teams’ postseason matchup in which the Broncos offense was too much for the New England’s injury-riddled defense to contend with. Still, anytime two Hall of Fame-bound quarterbacks meet with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line — especially ones with such an extended history of marquee games — it’s worth it to tune in.
Rivaling the on-field meetings between the Broncos and Patriots is the off-the-field rivalry that is developing. Last season, Denver lured Wes Welker away from Foxboro to Mile High with a more lucrative contract and a chance to shift the power balance in the AFC.
Yet again, the Broncos have struck first in free agency.
On the first day of the official NFL signing period, the Broncos inked Aqib Talib to a whopping six-year, $57 million pact. The move not only strengthened Denver’s secondary, which was already without veteran cornerback Champ Bailey and unlikely to retain Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, but weakened the Patriots. Talib was the Patriots’ most steady defensive back each of the past two seasons, and with New England usually unwilling to just dish out big-time contracts, John Elway and the Broncos again took advantage.
So how will New England respond?
Last year, after losing Welker to Denver, the team nabbed then the best available free agent wide receiver in Danny Amendola, who wound up injured again and disappointing in his first season with the team. Could the Patriots steal one of the Broncos free agents and return the favor this go-round?
Two possibilities include Eric Decker and the aforementioned Rodgers-Cromartie.
With Julian Edelman available on the open market, perhaps New England could bolster its receiving corps with an outside presence in Decker. Of course, signing Decker won’t come cheap. But the presence of a veteran wideout for Brady, who besides Edelman had to deal with youngsters Kenbrell Thompkins and Aaron Dobson last year, would be a big boost.
Then there’s a case to be made for Rodgers-Cromartie. Largely, the Patriots have been considered the front-runner to try and nab Darrelle Revis, who is being shopped aggressively by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But if the team is unwilling to part with its two sixth-round draft picks or eat up Revis’ bloated salary cap hit, why not turn in the direction of DRC?
Rodgers-Cromartie thrived in his one-year deal with the Broncos last season, proving to be a No. 1 corner as he was back when he first got drafted into the league with the Arizona Cardinals. Manning the sidelines — and not as a nickelback where he served while with the Philadelphia Eagles — proved to be DRC’s strong suit, and that’s exactly where the Patriots need help.
The free-agent rivalry budding between these two AFC powers continues to be one of the best the league has to offer. As of now, the Broncos have dealt the Pats another blow for the second straight year. Can New England make it a fight?
