Reeling Broncos brace for Patriots
More concussions from passing plays
DENVER — The New England Patriots and Denver Broncos are usually teeter-tottering for supremacy in the AFC in what’s become an annual showdown.
But this one looks like anything but a marquee matchup between the teams that have won the past three Super Bowls.
The Patriots (6-2) strut into Denver tonight in customary hot pursuit of the conference’s No. 1 playoff seeding. They’re in the mix again behind the NFL’s No. 1 offense and the seemingly ageless Tom Brady and despite a rash of injuries, an inconsistent O-line and a scuffling, 32ndranked defense.
The Broncos (3-5) are just trying to extricate themselves from a monthlong funk that has resulted in four consecutive double-digit losses and exposed plenty of warts, including poor draft classes, free-agent misses, turnstile tackles and stubborn play calling.
Denver has been outscored 41-3 in the first quarter during its dive, which led to Trevor Siemian’s benching in favor of Brock Osweiler and neutralized a star-studded defense that lost its not-my-fault vibe last week in a 28-point loss at Philadelphia.
Even star defender Aqib Talib had a forgettable performance in that one.
“He didn’t have a great game last week — none of us did — but you can tell how he’s worked in practice this week,” coach Vance Joseph said, stressing he’s seen a renewed laser-like focus in the 2016 All-Pro cornerback.
Handing Brady his eighth loss in 11 trips to Denver could propel the Broncos on a secondhalf surge against a much softer schedule.
“If we come out on that stage Sunday night and if we’re able to get a win, man, the swag, the energy in this locker room, it’ll skyrocket,” Talib said.
CONCUSSIONS: A video review of 459 reported concussions sustained during the past two NFL seasons has found far more occurred on passing plays than any other plays.
Yet quarterbacks ranked at the bottom of the list, ahead of only kickers, having suffered 5 percent of those concussions.
Of course, only one quarterback is on the field at a time. Positions in which multiple players are in action at the same time, cornerback and wide receiver, led the list of frequency at 22 percent and 15 percent, respectively.
The review was overseen by Dr. Jeff Crandall, chairman of the NFL’s Engineering Committee and director of the Center for Applied Biomechanics at the University of Virginia.
“We’ve seen a shift,” Crandall said regarding helmet-to-helmet hits. “Fifteen to 20 years ago we would have found a much higher relative percentage of helmet to helmet, as much 70 percent. Through a number of changes in rules it has altered how the game is played and reduced helmet-to-helmet hits. We see that helmet to shoulder and ground are larger percentages.”
The data will help in testing and evaluating helmets and other equipment.
CHIEFS: Kansas City defensive tackle Roy Miller was arrested early Saturday in Florida on a domestic battery charge, according to Duval County jail records.
Miller was jailed shortly before 5 a.m. by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. The incident involved a minor injury, but no other details were available about the alleged battery.