The New England Patriots returned to primetime on Sunday. Their Week 16 meeting with the Denver Broncos on Christmas Eve marked the third and final time this season the team was in a national spotlight, and the second straight it came out as winners.
In what started out as a slow game from the Patriots, they began pulling away coming out of the half. Scoring three touchdowns, the Patriots took a 23-7 lead — one that was not meant to last. The Broncos rallied back to tie the game in the fourth quarter.
However, quarterback Bailey Zappe and the offense executed a field goal drive late that was capped by a 56-yard game-winner from rookie kicker Chad Ryland.