It looks like the Patriots have officially ruined the Broncos’ season

One of the underrated hallmarks of the Tom Brady/Bill Belichick dynasty is the way the New England Patriots wouldn’t just beat a team, but seemingly send it spiraling out of control in the aftermath.

The most famous example is arguably the Seattle Seahawks of the 2010s, who were on track to build their own dynasty, but were never the same after the Patriots beat them in Super Bowl XLIX. Coincidentally, the quarterback for that Seahawks team was Russell Wilson, who was eventually traded to the Patriots’ most recent victim, the Denver Broncos.

It appears that not only did the Patriots simply upset the Broncos on the road, but possibly spoiled their entire 2023 season as a result.

From The Insiders on #NFLPlus and @NFLNetwork: The #Broncos are benching QB Russell Wilson, with Jarrett Stidham set to start. pic.twitter.com/TfuPuVHUqx

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 27, 2023" rel="noopener" target="_blank">As reported Wednesday, the Broncos are expected to sit Wilson for the final two games of the regular season for financial reasons. Kevin Patra explained at NFL.com that Wilson has $37 million that’s on track to come in March 2024, but becomes fully guaranteed if the QB suffers a catastrophic injury on the field. Benching him of course ensures that won’t happen, and that the Broncos would have the option of moving on from Wilson before having to pay him that money.

A 7-8, the Broncos’ playoff hopes are now hanging by a thread. According to NFL.com, they have a 7 percent chance of making the AFC playoffs entering Week 17. Another loss this weekend would drop their odds below 1 percent. They are now sitting their highly paid franchise quarterback because it’s not going to be worth the money it’ll cost to play him in what are likely to be meaningless games for a non-playoff team.

So, consider their season ruined. Thanks to the Patriots, who had nothing to play for other than pure pride and the satisfaction of playing “spoiler.”

This move certainly looks like a waving of the white flag in Denver, but Broncos head coach Sean Payton has been speaking recently about the offense needing a spark. It seems like that’s how he will frame the decision to sit Wilson and play backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham for their final two games.

“So many times, when we look at some of that stuff, it’s self-inflicted problems,” Payton said Tuesday (via Pro Football Talk). “That has to get cleaned up. That’s communication. That might be having to reduce — is there too much in? Right now, we’re average to below average in a lot of things offensively, and it’s not good enough.”

He’s not wrong about that. Wilson was decent enough on paper against the Patriots, going 25-of-37 for 238 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. But he also took five sacks, as emerging star defensive tackle Christian Barmore wreaked havoc up front, and the Broncos were just 4-for-13 (31 percent) on third down. Until a furious fourth-quarter comeback, the Broncos offense looked on its way to getting totally shut down.

Regardless, the Patriots ended up driving down the field and kicking a game-winning field goal to earn an impressive road win, and send the Broncos dangerously close to elimination from playoff contention. It was a refreshing feeling in an otherwise disastrous season in New England.

Frankly, Belichick and the 2023 Patriots haven’t ruined any team more than themselves. But it’s good to know that Belichick can still get a hard-working, well-prepared team out on the field on Sundays, and play well enough not just to win but dismantle the opponent’s future after the fact.

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Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Check out all of Matt’s content.

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Patriots Mailbag: Fun with hypotheticals

• Thoughts on these scenarios
  
  Sign Tee Higgins in FA
  Draft Joe Alt at 4
  
  Sign Jonah Williams in FA
  Draft Jaden Daniels at 4

  — Andrew Caraway (@Caraway6) December 26, 2023

  I really like both players individually in scenario A, but scenario B is the right play. You never know when you’ll be picking in the top five again (hopefully not for a while), and a team with the Patriots’ current quarterback situation just can’t pass on a quarterback with the upside of Jayden Daniels.

• Andrew DeSilva on Twitter: "When Bill evaluates the offense, how do you feel he distributes blame between QB / OL / Receivers? Feels like as long as Zappe doesn't throw ints, he's his guy for 2024. I can see Bill going scorched earth on OL and wanting: Joe Alt/Strange/Andrews/Onwenu/Jonah Williams / Twitter"

  When Bill evaluates the offense, how do you feel he distributes blame between QB / OL / Receivers? Feels like as long as Zappe doesn't throw ints, he's his guy for 2024. I can see Bill going scorched earth on OL and wanting: Joe Alt/Strange/Andrews/Onwenu/Jonah Williams

  While this probably isn’t the most likely outcome it does feel like a realistic possibility if Bill Belichick says in New England. Assuming Bailey Zappe plays turnover free down the stretch, Belichick may see room to continue building his defense-first roster built to win close games on field position and takeaways. He could keep Zappe as a low-risk, low-reward starter and use the cap space and draft capital to build up the offensive line, find a true No. 2 running back if Ezekiel Elliott leaves, and continue to build up the defense. Basically, a similar offseason to last year just building around Zappe instead of Mac Jones.

  That’s not what I would do, and don’t think it’s what will ultimately happen. But it also would hardly be the most surprising outcome.

• Happy Holidays Alex, if Zappe was the starting QB from game 1, do you think the Pats would be in playoff contention now?

  — ashley1992 (@ashley1992__) December 26, 2023

  I don’t think so, because the Bailey Zappe we’re seeing now is not the Bailey Zappe we would have seen in Week 1. Zappe struggled in camp as he worked to master Bill O’Brien’s new offense. Those issues would have carried over to Week 1, rather than him just turning into the player he is now.

  Clearly, Zappe made great strides under O’Brien in the following three months. But that took time. Is it possible he was ready sooner than the Patriots ultimately made the quarterback change? Yes, based on his early season garbage time performances that may not have happened until the Patriots were already out of contention.

• One who likes Football on Twitter: "Joe Alt? Joe Alt, right? / Twitter"

  Joe Alt? Joe Alt, right?

  If Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels go 1, 2, and 3 – then yes.

• Catflasher on Twitter: "Which non-QBs do you think are worth a top ten draft pick? / Twitter"

  Which non-QBs do you think are worth a top ten draft pick?

  Are we talking for the Patriots, or in general? For the Patriots I think that list is just Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., Notre Dame tackle Joe Alt, and maybe Penn State tackle Olu Fashanu if they win out and fall out of the top five.

  Those three plus the three quarterbacks mentioned above gets us to six players. Georgia tight end Brock Bowers and Alabama defensive end Dallas Turner round out the top 8. Obviously two more players will go in picks nine and 10, but the way this class is structured, at that point there are enough players close enough together that it becomes much more about team fit. If I had to give a few names though? Alabama cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry, Florida State defensive end Jared Verse, and UCLA Laiatu Latu all would make sense speaking generally.

• Ed Helinski 🇺🇸🇵🇱 on Twitter: "In this season of disappointments, who deserves to be the Patriots MVP? Feel free to list a few players if you wish. / Twitter"

  In this season of disappointments, who deserves to be the Patriots MVP? Feel free to list a few players if you wish.

  My offensive MVP is Ezekiel Elliott. As the offense has gotten better in recent weeks he’s been a driving force. For a guy like him to not only stay bought it but embrace this kind of role speaks a lot about the kind of player and person he is. Hunter Henry and Demario Douglas are close seconds.

  On defense it’s Christian Barmore. He’s been their best player this year, plain and simple. Jabrill Peppers gets the runner-up nod.

  Special teams? Bryce Baringer. He is going to (rightfully) be a Pro Bowler.

• Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at [email protected].