The New England Patriots, led by quarterback Bailey Zappe, overcame the Denver Broncos in a thrilling Christmas Eve matchup, securing their fourth win of the season. The Broncos initially took a 7-0 lead, but the Patriots responded with Zappe connecting with Zeke for a touchdown, making it 9-7. Zappe continued his impressive performance by finding Gesicki for an 11-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 16-7. The Broncos narrowed the gap with Wilson's 3-yard touchdown pass to Krull and a successful two-point conversion, making it 23-15. However, the Patriots' lead seemed insurmountable until the Broncos tied the game at 23-23, following Wilson's 21-yard touchdown pass to Johnson and another two-point conversion. In a game filled with turnovers and defensive stops, the Patriots ultimately secured the win with a last-second field goal, concluding the game with a score of 23-23 before the final kick.
Bailey Zappe leads the Pats to a Christmas Eve upset. π₯ https://t.co/oprb8Rzfms https://t.co/xfDjxitZqC
FINAL: A last-second FG gives the @Patriots their 4th win of the season! #NEvsDEN https://t.co/wgaufIB1qx
THE PATS UPSET THE BRONCOS ON CHRISTMAS EVE π β NE +280 β O 37.5 https://t.co/V2f7mDvh7m
The Patriots pull ahead for the win over the Broncos with a last-second field goal! (via @NFL) https://t.co/eOgAsdmkU4
A Christmas Eve gift for Bailey Zappe and the @Patriots! πΊ: #NEvsDEN on @NFLNetwork π±: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/uY6Dg380OO https://t.co/HNZAzzUyWY
What a moment for the rookie! πΊ: #NEvsDEN on @NFLNetwork π±: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/uY6Dg380OO https://t.co/CLh5P8Nmfc
DeVante Parker gets the @Patriots past midfield π πΊ: #NEvsDEN on @NFLNetwork π±: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/uY6Dg380OO https://t.co/XAuETp2LAV
The Patriots scored two touchdowns in six seconds against the Broncos https://t.co/5fttyveW5c
CLOSE GAME ALERT: Patriots and Broncos are tied at 23 at the two-minute warning. Denver gets the ball and is looking to complete the comeback. πΊ: #NEvsDEN on @NFLNetwork π±: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/uY6Dg380OO
This game is getting wildπ₯ πΊ: #NEvsDEN on @NFLNetwork π±: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/zgQSOWvTWs
BRONCOS FIGHT BACK TO TIE THE GAME! (via NFL, NFL Network) https://t.co/KRDKe4XE2R
TIE GAME IN DENVER βΌοΈ The Broncos convert the two-point conversion to even things at 23-23 with under three minutes left. (via @NFL) https://t.co/riqtb5ivu3
It was 23-7 #Patriots six minutes agoβ TIE GAME #BroncosCountry https://t.co/jXg4hyQQlL
Russ is fired up π₯ πΊ: #NEvsDEN on @NFLNetwork π±: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/uY6Dg380OO https://t.co/yuoQPXuGtK
Wilson to Johnson for the 21-yd TD. Two-point conversion good. #BroncosCountry 23 #Patriots 23 #NEvsDEN live blog: https://t.co/JBTy8fkS4T
Two-point conversion ties it! Broncos have come back from down 16 in the 4th quarter! πΊ: #NEvsDEN on @NFLNetwork π±: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/uY6Dg380OO https://t.co/bB3dZJWwNK
BRANDON JOHNSON TO THE HOUSE AND THE BRONCOS GET THE ENSUING 2-POINT CONVERSION TO TIE THE GAME π³ https://t.co/vmqoshKXEz
#Broncos convert the two-pointer. Tie game. Unbelievable.
Wilson to Krull for 3-yd TD. 2-pt conversion is good. #Patriots 23 #BroncosCountry 15 #NEvsDEN live blog: https://t.co/zuFMIpJfEP
What a time for Lucas Krull's first career TD! πΊ: #NEvsDEN on @NFLNetwork π±: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/uY6Dg380OO https://t.co/RJwBmsKBcR
Lucas Krull with his first career TD catch. And now we'll see if the Broncos can convert a two-point conversion.
PATS JUST SCORED TWO TDS IN THE SPAN OF 8 SECONDS π± (via @NFL) https://t.co/NMysKgTxw0
20 3rd quarter points! Everything is going New England's way πΊ: #NEvsDEN on @NFLNetwork π±: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/uY6Dg380OO https://t.co/OrXYLQOwbG
Mims fumbles kickoff. Pats recover for TD. #Patriots 23 #BroncosCountry 7 #NEvsDEN live blog: https://t.co/Mdnb617hVs
Zappe throws a DIME to Mike Gesicki to extend the Patriots lead π― https://t.co/F0emUChzRE
Another Patriots TD! πΊ: #NEvsDEN on @NFLNetwork π±: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/uY6Dg380OO https://t.co/8gQknngT51
ZappeMania in full effectβΌοΈ Buys time and finds Gesicki for the TD! https://t.co/p6t9e28V0q
Zappe to Gesicki for 11-yd TD #Patriots 16 #BroncosCountry 7 #NEvsDEN live blog: https://t.co/TeiQZdSyVC
Zappe finds Gesicki in the endzone. π― (π₯: @NFL) https://t.co/g76uFONF1E
18-of-23, 215 yards and 2 TDs for Bailey Zappe on Christmas Eve π πΊ: #NEvsDEN on @NFLNetwork π±: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/uY6Dg380OO https://t.co/SyRyrPsIfm
Zappe to Gesicki extends the @Patriots lead! πΊ: #NEvsDEN on @NFLNetwork π±: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/uY6Dg380OO https://t.co/WrETjMvsOZ
DeVante Parker with a great catch over Pat Surtain down the sideline and the Patriots are set up first-and-10 at the #Broncos' 12-yard line.
Zappe to Elliott for the 15-yd TD. XP no good. #Patriots 9 #BroncosCountry 7 #NEvsDEN live blog: https://t.co/BayAdZRfFH
Zappe β‘οΈ Zeke! TD @Patriots πΊ: #NEvsDEN on @NFLNetwork π±: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/uY6Dg37sZg https://t.co/QJ7NCijsXG
.@Patriots start the 2nd half drive strong πΊ: #NEvsDEN on @NFLNetwork π±: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/uY6Dg37sZg https://t.co/feKFn5Aa9p
Douglas with a huge catch for the Patriots for 41 yards. Just like that, first and 10 at #Broncos 29.
Half: Broncos lead 7-3 π Zappe 10/13, 92 yds, fumble(strip sacked on 1st play by DJ Jones) π Elliott 7 att 17 yds 2 rec 11 yds π Pats 1-6 on 3rd down π Mack Wilson sack, strip fumble π Tavai FF, Pharms fum recovery #NEvsDEN @wbz
Broncos lead Patriots 7-3 at halftime of an ugly game. https://t.co/6xJmDEdHon
#Patriots-Broncos 1st half: - Fumble - Turnover on downs - Punt - Punt - Punt - Touchdown - Field goal - Fumble - Punt - Punt - Missed FG - Missed FG
HALFTIME: Broncos 7 Patriots 3 πΊ: #NEvsDEN on @NFLNetwork π±: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/uY6Dg380OO https://t.co/lX6BAzmn3e
Broncos 7, Patriots 3 (half): Defense keeping the team in the game. Just can't sustain and/or finish drives offensively, and special teams struggles keep showing up (coverage and FG kicking). Patriots, 3-11 and out of playoffs, are playing hard. Broncos get ball to open 2H.
Lutz is wide left from 57, and it's Broncos 7, Patriots 3 at halftime. Ugly half for both teams.
The @Patriots defense forces a turnover of its own πΊ: #NEvsDEN on @NFLNetwork π±: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/uY6Dg380OO https://t.co/Z00pOMX6Cv
Now, believe it or not, Patriots outgained #Broncos 51-34 yards in the first quarter.
Broncos take 7-0 lead over Patriots. https://t.co/85sfRg0OP2
First Pats offense puts D in bad position- but the D survives Then, ST allows a 52 yard Bronco punt Return Denver offense responds with 5 play 25 yd drive to take 7-0 lead Uncomplimentary football #NEvsDEN @wbz
Javonte Williams gets the scoring started! π΄ He was +450 to score the first TD tonight β https://t.co/u9DJ7RJqtp
Javonte Williams scores the game's first TD πΊ: #NEvsDEN on @NFLNetwork π±: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/uY6Dg380OO https://t.co/tlSqFEk4fR
Javonte Williams takes it in from there for a TD run. Broncos up 6-0, PAT pending.
Patriots-Broncos to close out Christmas Eve. We've been naughty, America #ForeverNE #NEvsDEN #BroncosCountry
The #Patriots hold the #Broncos to no points on a drive that started on their own 6-yard line π https://t.co/wALZVPwzGn
New England's defense comes up with a stop on 4th and goal πΊ: #NEvsDEN on @NFLNetwork π±: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/uY6Dg380OO https://t.co/qtaEpMk68G
What a start to the Holiday Classic π± πΊ: #NEvsDEN on @NFLNetwork π±: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/vlTd7Y35kW https://t.co/GPWCddGqSG
#Patriots QB Bailey Zappe arrives on this #ChristmasEve for #NEvsDEN - @wbz https://t.co/obalhZLrco
Merry Christmasπ Join us at 11:30am for #Patriots Gameday here in Denver with @MikeReiss and @scottzolak @steveburtonwbz and @christianfauria are in-studio @wbz Weβll get you ready for the #NEvsDen on this Christmas Eve π π» https://t.co/6logBWwKbj
Woke up to snow flurries here in Denver. Fired up to bring you the Week 16 Christmas Eve Holiday Classic @patriots @broncos tonight on @nflnetwork with @kurt13warner @SherreeBurruss and @JamesPalmerTV 8pmET https://t.co/spC5QBGfeo