Broncos vs. Patriots: AFC Championship Preview

Key Matchups

Broncos Secondary vs. Rob Gronkowski/Julian Edelman

When I did the game preview between these two teams prior to Week 12, I only placed Gronkowski in the key matchup. But in order for the Broncos to come away with a win, Edelman needs to be kept in check as well.

Both of these players are key targets for Tom Brady and are the most dangerous when it comes to getting yards after the reception. We saw in last year’s matchup how dangerous Edelman can be once he has the open field in front of him. Gronkowski just is difficult to bring down.

In the last meeting, Gronkowski had six receptions for 88 yards and a touchdown before getting knocked out of the game with a knee injury. Edelman missed the last meeting.

The Broncos currently are the No. 1 team when it comes to the passing game. But in order to stop these two, the crew of Talib, Harris Jr., Ward, Stewart, and Roby are going to have to bring their A-game.

Broncos Front Seven vs. Patriots Offensive Line

Normally, I would go with an offensive unit for the Broncos against a defensive unit for the Patriots. However, this matchup could really determine the game.

The Broncos defense gets a double dose of key matchups this week. The Patriots offensive line has gone through quite a bit on the injury front. They did a solid job last week keeping Brady upright against a solid Chiefs squad that featured Justin Houston and Tamba Hali.

The front seven of the Broncos is a new ball game though. Especially since Demarcus Ware will be playing in the game. He did not play in the earlier meeting. So, having that added presence on the outside could spell trouble.

The key is that the front seven need to get some pressure from the interior of the offensive line. If they can do that, they can prevent Brady from stepping up in the pocket.

Next: X-Factors