The Denver Broncos didn’t have much success in their Christmas Day game last year. Hopefully, the Broncos’ Week 16 tilt vs. the New England Patriots on Christmas Eve will shake out more fortuitously.
The Broncos have to win out, with three games left, in order to keep their playoff hopes alive. While this team doesn’t fully control its postseason destiny anymore, three wins to close out the campaign would give the Broncos a very good chance at qualifying for the NFL tournament.
The Broncos are 27-22-0 (.551) all-time against the Patriots in the regular season, with a 17-11 (.607) mark at home. Over the years, the Broncos have had some historic matchups vs. Bill Belichick’s squad.
From all the Manning vs. Brady showdowns to AFC Championship games to Champ Bailey’s ridiculously long interception return (without) a touchdown, and one phenomenal gotta-have-it win over New England in the snow back in 2015, Broncos-Patriots has produced some iconic moments.
Thus, it makes it quite fitting that the Broncos have several players poised to reach some historic milestones on Sunday Night Football vs. the Patriots. Let’s start with Denver’s triggerman, who could once again become the first-ever NFL quarterback to achieve a specific feat.
Russell Wilson Needs 381 Pass Yards
Wilson needs to reach 3,000 passing yards to become the first quarterback in NFL history to have nine seasons of 3,000 yards through the air and 300 yards on the ground through his career. He’s already over that rushing mark with 315 yards this season. Earlier this year, Wilson became the first QB ever to total 40,000 passing yards and 5,000 rushing yards in his career, so he’s a trailblazer.
Wilson also needs one passing touchdown to become the second Bronco (QB Peyton Manning, 2012 & ’13) to pass for at least one touchdown in each of the first 15 games of a single season. Let’s go, Russ!
Courtland Sutton Needs a TD
Sutton needs one touchdown to become the 10th different Bronco to record at least 11 receiving TDs in a single season.
Justin Simmons Lookin’ for an INT
Simmons needs one interception to surpass safety Dennis Smith (30) for the third-most interceptions by a Broncos safety.
Patrick Surtain II Hoping for Targets
Surtain needs three passes defensed to tie cornerback Deltha O’Neal (37) for the second-most PDs by a Bronco in his first 48 career games.
Singleton Trending for More Tackles
Singleton needs 12 defensive tackles to tie himself (152, 2022) for the third-most stops by a Bronco in a single season. Singleton also needs one game with 10 or more tackles to tie C.J. Mosley (2021) and DeAndre Levy (2014) for the third-most double-digit tackle games by an NFL player in a single season.
McMillian’s Got Eyes on the Backfield
McMillian needs one tackle for loss to tie for the second-most TFLs (eight) by an undrafted NFL cornerback in a single season.
Zach Allen on Brink of a Career Year
Allen needs one sack to set a single-season career high (six).
Wil Lutz Rising Up Broncos Record Books
Lutz needs two field goals to tie for the sixth-most FGs made (29) by a Broncos kicker in a single season.
Eight Makes it GREAT for Broncos
The Broncos need a win to reach eight for the first time since 2016.
