Here is your second quarter recap from the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots game in the AFC Championship Game.
The Denver Broncos picked up a first down on their next drive to end the first quarter. The play moved them across midfield and into New England Patriots territory.
After a short pass to Jaleel McLaughlin, Jarrett Stidham fired a bullet to Courtland Sutton for another nominal gain to bring up a third and three. Stidham toss a quick out pass to Lil’Jordan Humphrey for a first down into field goal range. RJ Harvey then ripped off a nine yard gain on the next play with some tight and tough running inside and Adam Prentice dove forward for the first down right after.
From the Patriots’ 23-yard line, Harvey would pick up three yards on first down. With no one open, Stidham scrambled out of the pocket for a few yards to bring up a third and six. He would run it again, but come up just short of the first down marker where Sean Payton would go for it on fourth and less than a yard.
Instead of plowing it forward in the run game, Payton elected to pass for it. The Patriots read it perfectly for the turnover on downs.
From their own 14-yard line, Drake Maye immediately took a sack with Jonathon Cooper on the edge applying the pressure and D.J. Jones picking up the sack.
Talanoa Hufanga then made an incredible play to jar the ball loose on a long pass play down the sideline to bring up a third and 13. Maye made the biggest throw of the game for him up to that point to convert the first downat the 26-yard line for the Patriots second first down of the game.
Maye was finding a rhythm finally with another short completion, but on third and three Zach Allen closed the door on the drive with the Broncos defense third sack of the game with just under six minutes left in the half.
Denver went back to the ground to RJ Harvey to start their next drive who put on the spin moves to pick up five yards on first down. Two plays later Marvin Mims Jr. would fight it was to the first down marker to keep the drive alive. Back-to-back carried by Jaleel McLaughlin brought up another third down. That play was completely blown up by the Patriots and a forward pass was reversed into a backward pass to give the Patriots a first down at Denver’s 12-yard line.
Drake Maye would QB sneak it in two plays later to tie the game up. Disaster!
Broncos 7, Patriots 7.
The Broncos offensive line continued to look shaky as Stidham was sacked on the next drive giving the Patriots another chance to put a drive together before halftime. Denver’s defense forced a quick three-and-out as the defensive battle continued through the entire first half.
Marvin Mims Jr. was able to return the punt to midfield to give the Broncos a chance to put up points before halftime. With 48 seconds and no time outs, Stidham hit Harvey on a slant who was able to break a tackle and picked up 11 yards and got out of bounds into field goal range. Stidham would hit Courtland Sutton for a quick out for a six yard gain and then on third and four, he would try to run it but would lose a yard to bring up a 54-yard field goal attempt.
Wil Lutz missed it.
New England got into position for a 63-yard field goal attempt, but it was no good. They will get the ball to start second half though.
Category: General Sports
