The Broncos aren’t ready to put Patriots quarterback Tom Brady on a pedestal.
Brady guided the Patriots to a 16-3 win Sunday at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, but Denver’s defense did a good job of limiting New England’s offense. According to Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib, much of that success stems from his team’s collective mindset.
“We don’t fear Brady,” Talib told reporters after the game, per WEEI.com. “We aren’t scared of Brady at all, so we’re going to line up and play just like he’s any other quarterback. We’re going to prepare and play just like he’s any other quarterback. That’s what we feel like we did today.”
Brady completed 16 of 32 passes for 188 yards. He didn’t throw for any touchdowns, and the Patriots relied heavily on their rushing attack and their ever-improving defense to earn their AFC East-clinching win.
The Broncos are fighting for a playoff spot, though, so there’s no time for moral victories. Although holding Brady and the Patriots to just 16 points is impressive, the Broncos can’t help but be extremely disappointed with their missed opportunity.
“That’s what makes it sick, when we come out and play stout like we did today,” Broncos cornerback Chris Harris told reporters after the game, via WEEI.com. “We could’ve played a little bit better, try to get some turnovers, but they didn’t really have to take a lot of chances. They didn’t really have to throw the ball down the field a lot. It’s hard to make plays when we don’t get that many targets.
“Any time you lose a game to the Patriots or a rival game, everybody is frustrated. We feel like we played almost good enough defense to win that game. I don’t know if I’ve ever kept Brady under 16 points, and we did that today.”
The Patriots, who improved to 12-2, secured a first-round playoff bye with the win. The Broncos, who fell to 8-6, now are on the outside looking in entering the final two weeks of the regular season.
This apparently didn’t sit well with the Broncos following Sunday’s game, as Talib and teammate Russell Okung reportedly had to be separated in the locker room by head coach Gary Kubiak after an argument stemming from how Denver’s offense performed in relation to its defense.
Thumbnail photo via Chris Humphreys/USA TODAY Sports Images
