In a thrilling Christmas Eve game, the New England Patriots edged out the Denver Broncos 26-23. Broncos' Lucas Krull caught his first career touchdown pass from Russell Wilson, and a subsequent two-point conversion brought the game to a single possession difference. Despite the Patriots' early 23-7 lead, the Broncos, with a 21-yard TD pass from Wilson to Brandon Johnson, tied the game at 23-23. In the final moments, Patriots' rookie kicker Chad Ryland nailed a critical 56-yard field goal with just two seconds left on the clock. This kick not only gave New England the win but also eliminated six of the ten remaining entries in the CircaSports NFL survivor contest. The Patriots improved to a 4-11 record, with Bailey Zappe orchestrating his first game-winning drive. The Broncos' playoff hopes are now remote following the loss, as they required three consecutive wins to remain in contention. Zappe's performance earned him an 88.9 PFF grade, the highest for a Patriots quarterback since the previous season. Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien praised Zappe's calmness and poise and expressed continued belief in Mac Jones' potential despite the quarterback's struggles this season.
Cleaning out the notebook from the Patriotsโ 26-23 win over the Broncos. https://t.co/axDQM1bfGo
The Patriots have moved on to Bailey Zappe under center for now, but that doesn't mean OC Bill O'Brien gave up on Mac Jones and his potential. https://t.co/ueORFlbqJD
Patriots offensive coordinator Bill OโBrien still โfeels goodโ about Mac Jones being a solid quarterback in the NFL, despite the signal-callerโs struggles this season https://t.co/Hrs0LiRGEX
๐จQUICK SLANTS POLL๐จ Bailey Zappe had the best game of his career in Sunday night's win over Denver. How should the Patriots be viewing him entering '24? (Slants at 6:30 p.m.!)
In talking about what impressed him the most about Bailey Zappe during Sunday's game-winning drive against the Broncos, Bill O'Brien identified what's ultimately missing from the quarterback's game. https://t.co/eiqx9ccAG9
Bill O'Brien says he still believes in Mac Jones https://t.co/V1aNKjWLq0
Bill O'Brien: I think Mac Jones is going to be just fine. https://t.co/1Lujg92bFN
Bill O'Brien on Mac Jones: "I feel good about Mac Jones. I really do. I think Mac Jones is a smart guy. He's a very hard worker. He's really done a good job in this situation here of being a good teammate. Look, these are things that happen in the course of a lot of careers. Youโฆ
Bill OโBrien on QB Bailey Zappe: โHeโs calm. Heโs poised. Heโs got that. What he doesnโt have is experience; heโs gaining experience. You can not discount experience and what that means to your career โ if you take advantage of it. That is something Zap has done a good job of โฆโ https://t.co/J89apcEpN1
Bailey Zappe's 88.9 PFF grade Sunday night vs. the Broncos was the highest mark for a Patriots quarterback since Mac Jones' 89.9 grade in Week 17 of the 2021 season.
#Broncos keep getting help from other teams (Indianapolis and Houston losing Sunday and Kansas City losing Monday), but they're not helping themselves. Playoff chances now remote after three losses in four games, including the ugly defeat to Patriots: https://t.co/QdTeApAqBS
Bailey Zappe refuses to be written off. But what's his role in New England going forward? @tomecurran reflects on the young QB making his case for ... something ๐ฝ https://t.co/Rl2OdbIkVU
Knee Jerk Reactions to Christmas Eve: Patriots vs. Broncos https://t.co/Nprg9nPuIy https://t.co/3RgRzYHwmE
Opinion | "Bah, humbug. The Broncos made it a dreary Christmas, losing 26-23 Saturday night to New England." (via @MarkKiszla) https://t.co/mNl9o1PGl1
Patriots turn rough start into memorable finish in 26-23 victory over Broncos https://t.co/z9yB43L9rK
Jonathon Cooper after Broncosโ loss to Patriots torpedoes playoff chances: โWe had everything to play forโ https://t.co/qBfmlJHxhw
PHOTOS: Denver Broncos fall short to New England Patriots 26-23 in NFL Week 16 https://t.co/J6lpTYien3
Kiszla: Have yourself a dreary, little Christmas. Broncosโ playoff dreams turn into lump of coal. https://t.co/9hkzbeYmDi
#Broncos lose 26-23 to lowly Patriots and their playoff hopes are all but crushed. https://t.co/vHwmMP0ScV
Broncos four downs: Playoff hopes on life support after Bailey Zappe and Patriots hand Denver one last embarrassing home loss https://t.co/arYYKh9HHC
What We Learned: Bailey Zappe fends off Broncos' comeback attempt, leads game-winning drive that allows Chad Ryland to hit game-winning kick (via @brennnawhite_) https://t.co/Un2iChTAFp https://t.co/S4H7vq9EET
Giardi: Zappe, Patriots avoid a Nightmare on XMas Eve https://t.co/uYo0TF9L8W
"That was unbelievable." "Big kick." "I knew it." #Patriots rookie K Chad Ryland finds redemption in game-winning FG at Denver https://t.co/dQKpW3rSzv https://t.co/2tzPITU9ov
Broncos playoff hopes go bust on Christmas Eve after comeback falls short against Patriots https://t.co/ceibOu7eI9
BSJ Game Report: Patriots 26, Broncos 23 - New England blows 16-point lead in 4th, rallies https://t.co/YTVw0cKbyL
Broncos playoff chances plummeted following their loss to the Patriots ๐ (h/t: @NextGenStats) https://t.co/pgrIicCkhZ
Chad Ryland, Patriots deal critical blow to Broncos' playoff hopes https://t.co/n60cyQc9HE https://t.co/Ao72PO0CrO
Opinion | Have yourself a dreary, little Christmas. Broncosโ playoff dreams turn into lump of coal. (via @MarkKiszla) https://t.co/q5aBpe0s6q
Heroes and Zeros from Denverโs 26-23 loss to the New England Patriots https://t.co/U93nhXScup
Patriots stun Broncos in Christmas Eve thriller behind 20-point 3rd quarter https://t.co/FF1xhpYO6o
#CircaSurvivor is down to 4 live entries after 6 were eliminated in Broncos' 26-23 home loss vs. Patriots on #SundayNightFootball #SNF on #ChristmasEve; 4 advance to Week 16b & have to pick winner from 3 #ChristmasDay games @DerekJStevens @JeffreyBenson12 https://t.co/XgZj2Fgly1
Bailey Zappe leads the #Patriots to the Christmas Eve upset in Denver, 26-23 https://t.co/Dyfp4S7WWC
Patriots upset Broncos 26-23 on #SundayNightFootball #SNF as 7-point road underdogs & +270 on moneyline (went Over 37.5); favorites still led 8-2 SU on Sunday, but just 5-4-1 ATS; home/road teams split 5-5 SU w/ home teams leading 5-4-1 ATS; Overs led 6-4 https://t.co/XGXXC1pOfA
Shockingly explosive Patriots stun Broncos, hold off fourth-quarter comeback bid โคต๏ธ https://t.co/Dq8GmkvpRt
Needing three wins to close the season and hosting the 3-11 New England Patriots on Christmas Eve, the Broncos marred their own holiday weekend with a loss that all but seals their 2023 fate. Story via @ParkerJGabriel: https://t.co/vcnbXbFmoz
Chad Ryland on his 56-yard game-winner: "I knew when I hit it." https://t.co/gegzrYP3ts
Patriots score two touchdowns in six seconds after Broncos kickoff blunder https://t.co/gvaXYxtAwb https://t.co/tRMKaPU7qA
Early ups and downs from the Patriots' 26-23 win over the Broncos: https://t.co/2iNlhp2Myw
And the Broncos entrants get a nice dose of false hope before losing. Merry Christmas! https://t.co/JgA275MSo4
The Patriots pull off a Christmas Eve upset ๐ https://t.co/0KP1otSOfM
Chad Ryland redemption arc
Zeke and the Pats take the Christmas Eve W in Denverโผ๏ธ https://t.co/t8xatRV3HI
THE PATS UPSET THE BRONCOS ON CHRISTMAS EVE ๐ โ NE +280 โ O 37.5 https://t.co/V2f7mDvh7m
This Chad Ryland 56-yard FG gives the New England Patriots a 26-23 win โฆ and eliminates SIX of the 10 remaining @CircaSports NFL survivor contest entries. From 9,267 โฉ๏ธ 4 Each entry now worth $2.3 million https://t.co/etzTLU9Fnc
Broncos lose. We're down to 4 in #CircaSurvivor. Next round is Christmas Day. https://t.co/8iyU5TE0Ov https://t.co/w6oOh4M8c8
Patriots win 26-23. They're now 4-11 on the season. Bailey Zappe's first-career game-winning drive. Chad Ryland nails a 56-yard field goal to prevent overtime.
The Patriots pull ahead for the win over the Broncos with a last-second field goal! (via @NFL) https://t.co/eOgAsdmkU4
The Patriots pull out a STUNNER vs. the Broncos ๐คฏ https://t.co/Cq34lyVjVE
CHAD RYLAND FROM 56! ๐ค #Patriots rookie K Chad Ryland kicks a 56-yd field goal to lift New England to a win! https://t.co/zISG860NIB
Chad Ryland making the game-winning field goal is a true Christmas Miracle https://t.co/dZkOPTfHlY
CHAD RYLAND FOR THE LEAD โผ๏ธ https://t.co/ouUykCo1NF
My god thatโs Chad Rylandโs music!!!! https://t.co/gxQBN1Z8Ku
What a moment for the rookie! ๐บ: #NEvsDEN on @NFLNetwork ๐ฑ: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/uY6Dg380OO https://t.co/CLh5P8Nmfc
Chad Ryland with the absolute ONIONS on that kick
CHAD RYLAND SPOILS THE BRONCOS SEASON FOR CHRISTMAS https://t.co/bpwyW4wEcb
CHAD RYLAND FROM 56 TO PUT THE PATRIOTS (+275 ML) IN FRONT https://t.co/DePGFuhgH2
Chad Ryland from 56 for the lead with two seconds to go! https://t.co/w0HbqrblSP
#Patriots 4th-rookie Chad Ryland has had struggles this season and had some tonight. But he drilled a 56-yard game-winning FG when it mattered most. Football. So unpredictable. https://t.co/0foOEyRJvz
CHAD RYLAND FOR A PATRIOT CHRISTMAS MIRACLE
Chad Ryland from 56 yards! ๐บ: #NEvsDEN on @NFLNetwork ๐ฑ: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/uY6Dg380OO https://t.co/EXqQQlg7HV
Wow Ryland FG from 56 Pats 26 Den 23
Chad Ryland gets to fly home.
Chad Ryland 56 yards for the win.... GOOD. Finally comes through in the clutch
Here it is. Rookie kicker Chad Ryland will try to win it with 56 yarder
Patriots led 23-7 entering the 4th quarter vs. Broncos tonight... New England is 123-0 straight up when leading by 14 pts or more entering the 4th quarter under Bill Belichick. https://t.co/BTNAi8Igo5
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. ๐บ: #NEvsDEN on @NFLNetwork ๐ฑ: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/uY6Dg380OO
This game is getting wild๐ฅ ๐บ: #NEvsDEN on @NFLNetwork ๐ฑ: 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 โผ๏ธ 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 agoโ TIE GAME #BroncosCountry https://t.co/jXg4hyQQlL
Russ is fired up ๐ฅ ๐บ: #NEvsDEN on @NFLNetwork ๐ฑ: 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! ๐บ: #NEvsDEN on @NFLNetwork ๐ฑ: 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 ๐ณ https://t.co/vmqoshKXEz
#Broncos convert the two-pointer. Tie game. Unbelievable.
Perhaps a great comeback in the making. 21 yard TD pass from Wilson to Brandon Johnson. Now they go for two again
Russell Wilson to Lucas Kroll for 6โฃ The Broncos completed the two-point conversion to make it a one possession game ๐ (via @NFL) https://t.co/pw0i3895bK
The Broncos have made this a game. ๐ (๐ฅ: @NFL) https://t.co/dYynhwEIph
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! ๐บ: #NEvsDEN on @NFLNetwork ๐ฑ: 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.