1986 · Divisional Round · Game 3

Pregame

AI summary based on verified facts

The Divisional Round matchup pairs the New England Patriots against the Denver Broncos on 1987-01-04 at Mile High Stadium. The conference bracket's postseason slate includes this matchup as one of the calendar's most-anticipated games.

The starting quarterbacks, the lead-back rotations, and the receiver rooms project the kind of game-script the wire copy has been writing into.[1][2]

AI summary based on verified facts

The Divisional Round game between the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos is the kind of postseason matchup where the conference's projected leaders carry their regular-season pacing into the bracket. The week of preparation produced the kind of game-plan continuity both staffs have been pointing toward.

The Sunday's biggest unknown is the front rotation against the home team's offensive line. The bracket continues for the winner.

AI summary based on verified facts

Around the conference the Divisional Round bracket produces the kind of matchups the wire copy has been writing into across the postseason slate. The New England Patriots versus Denver Broncos game is one of the calendar's most-anticipated postseason windows.

The opposite-conference bracket carries through to its own conference matchup. The Sunday closes a week where the playoff race continues to clarify across the divisional standings.

AI summary based on verified facts

Across the regular season both the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos tracked the kind of pace that anchored their conference seeding into the Divisional Round. The starting quarterbacks' passing lines came through. The lead backs' rushing workloads were the staffs' projected calls. Vegas opens the lines accordingly. A figure to follow: the front rotations' pass-rush production.

League standings entering Week 17

Standings as of kickoff, Week 17 (no future-game spoilers)

Around the league

  • Tied atop the league at 14-2: New York Giants, Chicago Bears.

AFC

AFC Central

TeamRecStrk
Cleveland Browns12-4W5
Cincinnati Bengals10-6W1
Pittsburgh Steelers6-10L1
Houston Oilers5-11W2

AFC East

TeamRecStrk
New England Patriots11-5W1
New York Jets10-6L5
Miami Dolphins8-8L1
Buffalo Bills4-12L3
Indianapolis Colts3-13W3

AFC West

TeamRecStrk
Denver Broncos11-5L1
Kansas City Chiefs10-6W3
Seattle Seahawks10-6W5
Los Angeles Raiders8-8L4
San Diego Chargers4-12L2

NFC

NFC West

TeamRecStrk
San Francisco 49ers10-5-1W3
Los Angeles Rams10-6L2
Atlanta Falcons7-8-1W1
New Orleans Saints7-9L1

NFC Central

TeamRecStrk
Chicago Bears14-2W7
Minnesota Vikings9-7W1
Detroit Lions5-11L4
Green Bay Packers4-12L1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers2-14L7

NFC East

TeamRecStrk
New York Giants14-2W9
Washington Redskins12-4W1
Dallas Cowboys7-9L5
Philadelphia Eagles5-10-1L1
St. Louis Cardinals4-11-1W1

Game video

▶ Open in YouTube 1986 Divisional Round Patriots @ Broncos · channel: Bart Simpson

If the player above shows only a "Watch on YouTube" tile, the uploader has disabled inline embedding for this video. Click the button to open it on YouTube.

Game info

Roof
outdoors
Surface
grass
Weather
43°F, 31% humidity, wind 9 mph
Vegas line
Denver Broncos -4
Over/Under
43 (under)

Score

Reveal through:

New England Patriots 17, Denver Broncos 22[2][1]

1234T
New England Patriots01070010171717
Denver Broncos37102310202222

Scoring plays

Q1

TeamPlayScore
BroncosRich Karlis 27 yard field goal0-3

Q2

TeamPlayScore
PatriotsStanley Morgan 19 yard pass from Tony Eason (Tony Franklin kick)7-3
BroncosJohn Elway 22 yard rush (Rich Karlis kick)7-10
PatriotsTony Franklin 38 yard field goal10-10

Q3

TeamPlayScore
BroncosRich Karlis 22 yard field goal10-13
PatriotsStanley Morgan 45 yard pass from Tony Eason (Tony Franklin kick)17-13
BroncosVance Johnson 48 yard pass from John Elway (Rich Karlis kick)17-20

Q4

TeamPlayScore
BroncosSafety, Jones tackled Eason in end zone17-22

Recap

AI summary based on verified facts

The Denver Broncos won the Divisional Round game on 1987-01-04 against the New England Patriots 0-0. . . . For the other side Tony Eason went 13 of 24 for 194 yards with 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Sammy Winder ran for 102 on 19 carries. The closing two-minute drill produced the kind of in-game adjustment the staff has been calling.[1][2]

AI summary based on verified facts

The Denver Broncos took the Divisional Round game over the New England Patriots on 1987-01-04. . . .

The afternoon's outcome maps to the kind of postseason game-script both staffs have been projecting since the regular season closed. The offensive line's pocket time on the dropbacks produced the kind of pass-protection the winning playbook called. The defensive unit's pressure produced the kind of takeaway that defined the closing two quarters. The Divisional Round's afternoon ends with the projected outcome.

The week of preparation produced the kind of game-plan continuity the wire copy has been writing into. The closing-drive coverage was the kind of stop the winning unit has been generating.

AI summary based on verified facts

Denver Broncos 0, New England Patriots 0. The Divisional Round's box score reads: . . . On the other side: Tony Eason went 13 of 24 for 194 yards with 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Sammy Winder ran for 102 on 19 carries.

AI summary based on verified facts

The Denver Broncos's Divisional Round game against the New England Patriots on 1987-01-04 ended with the kind of game-script the wire copy has been writing into. The conference bracket continues to shape across the calendar's projected postseason pacing.

How it unfolded

. . . The Sunday's offensive output produced the kind of full-sixty pace both playbooks have been working through across the bye-week preparation. On the defensive side Tony Eason went 13 of 24 for 194 yards with 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions, and Sammy Winder ran for 102 on 19 carries.

The turning point

The in-game adjustment that, in postseason play, decided the closing two quarters. The winning front's pressure on the third-down dropbacks produced the kind of pass-rush volume the unit has been generating across the calendar's back half.

By the numbers

. The lead-back rotation: . Receiver room: .

Personnel watch

The rotation produced the kind of full-sixty effort both staffs have been projecting. The offensive line's pocket time was the kind that, in postseason play, anchors the bye-week preparation. The receiver room's distribution carried the offensive production.

What it means

The Divisional Round's outcome maps to the projected postseason pacing. The next-round bracket continues. The film room note is the in-game adjustment that decided the closing two quarters.

Box score

PatriotsBroncos
Team totals
First Downs1223
Total Yards271441
Turnovers02
Passing
Comp/Att13/2413/32
Pass yards194257
Pass TD21
Interceptions02
Sacks taken61
Sack yards lost444
Net pass yards150253
Rushing
Rushes2442
Rush yards121188
Rush TD01
Discipline
Fumbles10
Fumbles lost00
Penalties53
Penalty yards4520

Passing

PlayerC/AYdsTDIntRate
NWE
Tony Eason13/2419420108.7
DEN
John Elway13/322571253.8

Rushing

PlayerAttYdsTDLong
NWE
Tony Collins546023
Craig James1031017
Tony Eason223013
Reggie Dupard51808
Greg Hawthorne1505
Irving Fryar1-20-2
DEN
Sammy Winder19102016
Gene Lang1144014
John Elway518122
Ken Bell21208
Steve Sewell2808
Gerald Willhite3403

Receiving

PlayerRecYdsTDLong
NWE
Stanley Morgan3100245
Tony Collins446020
Greg Baty331013
Irving Fryar21107
Greg Hawthorne1606
DEN
Vance Johnson489148
Orson Mobley269049
Steve Sewell341039
Steve Watson121021
Bobby Micho120020
Sammy Winder116016
Gene Lang1101

Discuss on Reddit

Find or start the canonical thread for this game on r/49ers. The thread title is deterministic so anyone running this Rewatch lands on the same place.

Find the thread Start the thread

Canonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1986 Divisional Round - New England Patriots at Denver Broncos - Game Thread