Broncos halt Patriots’ perfect season in overtime

Denver wins on 48-yard scoring run

BRONCOS 30, PATRIOTS 24

DENVER — C.J. Anderson ran 48 yards for a touchdown with 12:32 left in overtime to lead the Broncos to a snowy 30-24 victory over New England on Sunday night, giving the Patriots their first loss of the season.

The Broncos (9-2) overcame an early 14-0 deficit and handed the Patriots (10-1) their first loss since 2014. Now, the Carolina Panthers (11-0) are the NFL’s only unbeaten team.

“It didn’t look good at times,” Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said, “but we figured out a way to get it done.”

Meanwhile, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady lost yet another trusted target.

Osweiler threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Bubba Caldwell with 1:09 left in regulation to put the Broncos ahead 24-21.

Denver’s Demaryius Thomas, who didn’t catch any of the first 11 passes thrown his way, hauled in a 36-yard pass to midfield just before the two-minute warning and Osweiler hit Emmanuel Sanders for 39 yards to the 8 before finding Caldwell in the end zone.

But Brady, playing without injured star tight end Rob Gronkowski, needed just five plays to drive the Patriots 51 yards and into range for Stephen Gostowski’s 47-yard field goal that tied it at the end of regulation.

New England won the coin toss and elected to receive, but thanks to a sack by Von Miller, Denver forced a three-and-out. On third-and-one from the New England 48, Anderson raced around the left sideline and into the end zone.

Gronkowski stretched out to try to make a catch with 2:14 left in the fourth quarter while Den-

ver defensive back Darian Stewart dived to try to break up the play. Stewart hit Gronkowski’s knee and the tight end lay on the field, writhing in pain before he was carted off.

Anderson rushed for 113 yards and two TDs on 15 carries.

Overall, the Broncos ran for 179 yards, impressive with their two-touchdown deficit for much of the first half and their 21-7 hole after Brady threw a 63-yard scoring pass to Brandon Bolden on the first play of the fourth quarter.

The Patriots were held to 39 yards on 16 carries.

Osweiler improved to 2-0 since taking over for Peyton Manning, who’s out with a foot injury. Osweiler completed 23 of 42 passes for 270 yards with one TD and one interception. Brady also was 23 of 42 for 280 yards with three TDs and no interceptions. Both were sacked three times.

Brady’s three TD passes tied him with Dan Marino for third in a career. But with Manning sitting out with a walking cast on his left foot, the quarterback rivalry was put on hold .

Things looked bleak doe the Broncos after Bolden’s TD made it 21-7 and New England’s defense forced a punt. But Chris Harper muffed the punt and Shaq Barrett recovered for Denver at the Patriots 36.

That led to Anderson’s 15-yard TD run.

The Broncos again drove downfield and reached the New England 3, but they settled for Brandon McManus’s 21-yard field goal with 6:08 left to make it 21-17.

Both teams went threeand-out and the Patriots were moving when Gronkowski was hurt.

Star pass rusher DeMarcus Ware missed the game with a bad back and Denver lost two more members of the league’s top-ranked defense on one play in the first quarter. Pro Bowl safety T.J. Ward and nose tackle Sylvester Williams each hurt an ankle injuries on New England’s first run, when LaGarrette Blount gained 2 yards. Ward and Williams were in walking boots after the game.

Neither returned, nor did right guard Louis Vasquez (groin), who went out in the second quarter.

Without receivers Julian Edelman (foot), Danny Amendola (knee) and Aaron Dobson, who went on injured reserve last week with an ankle injury, Brady relied on his tight ends.

He hit Gronkowski from 23 yards and Scott Chandler from 9 yards for a 14-0 lead. Gronkowski, who was held to two catches against Buffalo last week, was single-covered and easily scored when safety Darian Stewart went for the swipe instead of the tackle.

Chandler sped past Miller in coverage and scored easily when safety David Bruton Jr. was slow to slide over.

Denver cut the deficit to 14-7 at the half on Ronnie Hillman’s 19-yard TD run with 2:07 left in the second quarter.