Like any sport, professional football is about rivalries and one of the best rivalries in recent memory featured the Broncos vs Patriots. The very best rivalries not only feature great players, but historic games and implications of the Super Bowl variety.
When it comes to Patriots vs. Broncos history, there are more than a few important games. We’ll take a look at the Patriots vs. Broncos score history, past results, and even the Broncos vs. Patriots playoff history. Let’s get into the nitty-gritty and see how this historic rivalry has evolved.
Denver Broncos vs. New England Patriots Rivalry
The Broncos and Patriots have met 54 times throughout the years, including playoffs. Patriots vs. Broncos history goes to the Broncos, who hold a 31-23 advantage all-time. They hold a 27-22 advantage in the regular season, going 4-1 in the playoffs all-time against their rivals.
The most important part of Patriots vs. Broncos score history is conveyed in the details. We will go over the last 10 years of Broncos vs. Patriots history, including Broncos vs. Patriots playoff history.
Denver Broncos vs. New England Patriots Results
Breaking down the last 10 years of games in Broncos vs. Patriots history is a bit tough because the two haven’t played since 2020. So, let’s take a look at the last ten meetings to see how they impacted Patriots vs. Broncos score history.
Broncos 18, Patriots 12 (10/18/2020)
This matchup in October 2020 is the only one to have been played in the last six years. Both teams looked drastically different from their prior meeting in 2017. Gone were legendary quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.
Instead, the Patriots were helmed by an injury-plagued Cam Newton. The Broncos, meanwhile, had youngster Drew Lock manning the position. It isn’t one of those games that will get talked about in Patriots vs. Broncos history, but it is part of that history no less.
In a relatively ugly game, the kickers became the story. Brandon McManus would hit a whopping six field goals that day, including a pair from 50+. A run from Newton would be the only touchdown of the day in a game both teams would have no doubt wanted to forget about sooner rather than later.
In this Jan. 18, 2004, file photo, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, right, talks with Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning after the Patriots 24-14 win during their AFC Championship game in Foxborough, Mass. The rivalry that defined much of Brady’s career was the one he had with Manning. Brady won 11 of the 17 meetings, including the first time they met in the playoffs. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)
Patriots 41, Broncos 16 (11/12/2017)
The last meeting in Broncos vs. Patriots history featuring the legendary Brady. The Broncos were in a bit of a rebuilding effort after the retirement of Manning, looking to find a new identity (and an answer at the quarterback position).
Despite picking up 339 yards on the day, the Broncos were inferior to the Patriots in every way on that day. Brady threw for 266 yards and three touchdowns, overshadowing Brock Osweiler (221 yards, one touchdown, one interception). It just underscored the difference in quarterbacks at the time.
The Patriots started out hot, leading 27-9 at half. After Demaryius Thomas caught a touchdown pass from Osweiler to start the third quarter, the Patriots never looked back. A six-yard touchdown pass from Brady to James White sealed the day, giving the Patriots a definitive win in Patriots vs. Broncos score history.
Patriots 16, Broncos 3 (12/18/2016)
The first game in Broncos vs. Patriots history following the Manning era. This late-season showdown was an ugly one for both teams, including the legendary Brady. He managed just 188 yards while completing just 50% of his passes. New Broncos QB Trevor Siemian outperformed him, throwing for 282 yards of his own.
The star of the day was Dion Lewis of the Patriots. He ran 18 times for 95 yards on the day, though the lone touchdown would go to fellow back LeGarrette Blount. That touchdown by Blount with just about four minutes left in the first half would up being the difference between the two teams.
This is one of those games in Patriots vs. Broncos history that is easily forgotten. Compared to the epic battles waged in the years prior, it doesn’t hold a candle. It would also set the stage for the limited history between the two franchises going forward.
Broncos 20, Patriots 18 (1/24/2016)
This would be the swan song for the Brady vs. Manning rivalry. By this time in his career, Manning was but a fraction of what he once was. During the 2015 season, he battled injuries and took a back seat to the defense.
That defense would be the key to this game, the 2016 AFC Championship Game. The teams traded field goals while Steven Jackson and Manning (to Owen Daniels) accounted for the first-half touchdowns. By the fourth quarter, an early field goal from McManus made it 20-12.
Things came down to the wire in typical fashion. Brady found Rob Gronkowski for a four-yard touchdown pass, bringing the game within two. The two-point conversion would fail, sending the Broncos to their eighth Super Bowl, the second of the Manning Era. They would go on to win Super Bowl 50, sending “The Sheriff” riding off into the sunset.
Broncos 30, Patriots 24 (OT, 11/29/2015)
The two had met once already during the season, a battle of the juggernauts. The Broncos, 9-2, hosted the 10-1 Patriots in a late-season battle of the best. This game did not disappoint, an offensive battle that would set the stage for their later defensive battle.
Brady connected on a pair of touchdown passes to put the Pats up 14-0, then a third at the start of the fourth quarter to make it 21-7. Osweiler, starting for the injured Manning, connected on a touchdown pass to Andre Caldwell with 1:09 left to put the Broncos up 24-21.
Stephen Gostkowski would hit a 47-yarder to send the game to overtime. Once there, C.J. Anderson ripped off a 48-yard touchdown run, giving the Broncos the exciting win. Even better, it put them at 10-2 and gave them a head-to-head advantage over the Patriots.
Patriots 43, Broncos 21 (11/2/2014)
The beauty of the Manning vs. Brady rivalry is how back-and-forth it was. Sometimes, Manning got the best of the GOAT. Other times, like this game, it was the Tom Brady show. Playing in the unfriendly confines of Gillette Stadium, things started well for the Broncos but quickly got away from them.
Ronnie Hillman had the lone first quarter touchdown before Brady went to work. He connected on three touchdown passes in 12 minutes to put the Pats up 27-7. Manning gave the Broncos a little life on an 18-yard pass to Julius Thomas, but a fourth touchdown pass a few minutes later basically iced it.
Brady had himself a day, throwing for 333 yards and four touchdowns. Manning was fine, even besting Brady by throwing for 438 yards. His two interceptions, however, gave the ball back to Brady and allowed the Pats to take the lead and never look back.
Broncos 26, Patriots 16 (1/19/2014)
By this time in the Manning/Brady rivalry, Peyton had begun to get the better of Brady when it mattered most. Though Brady and the Patriots are remembered for their immaculate playoff performances, this was one that got away from them.
It was a tight game through the first half, with a pair of Matt Prater field goals and a touchdown pass from Manning putting the Broncos up 13-3. A short touchdown pass in the third to Demaryius Thomas would put the Broncos ahead for good.
Brady gave it a good effort, connecting with Julian Edelman on a touchdown pass and even running one in himself. In the end, the comeback wasn’t much of one, seeing the Patriots fall in the 2013 AFC Championship game to the NFL MVP Manning and his Broncos.
Patriots 34, Broncos 31 (OT, 11/24/2013)
Much like the 2016 AFC Championship game, the two teams met during the regular season in a contest between two of the top teams in the conference. And like that aforementioned game, it would end in a thrilling overtime victory.
It was all Broncos early, jumping out to a 24-0 lead at halftime. As we all learned various times, never count out Tom Brady. He threw a pair of touchdown passes – Brandon Bolden added a run – to cut the lead to 24-21 going into the fourth.
Brady and Manning traded touchdown passes in the fourth, setting the stage for overtime. With less than two minutes left in the extra session, Gostkowski connected on a 31-yard field goal to give the Patriots their ninth win of the season.
Patriots 31, Broncos 21 (10/7/2012)
Things had become frustrating for the Broncos by this stage. They had hoped to remedy the situation by bringing in Manning, the sure-fire Hall of Famer who had been cut by the Indianapolis Colts the prior offseason.
It was not the gunslinger’s day, however. Brady was as steady as steady gets, throwing for 223 yards and a touchdown as the defense held strong. Manning accounted for all three Broncos touchdowns, throwing for 337 yards on the day.
This would mark the fourth time in five games that the Broncos had lost to their hated rival. Little did anyone realize; the acquisition of Manning would swing things back into the Broncos favor and lead them down the championship path sooner rather than later.
Patriots 45, Broncos 10 (1/14/2012)
To this point, Brady had largely owned the Broncos (and the rest of the NFL). Going into this AFC Divisional contest at Gillette Stadium, the Patriots were in the midst of an epic two-decade run. Unfortunately for the Broncos, they would become just another victim.
It was never even really close. Brady would throw a pair of touchdown passes in the first quarter, then add a whopping three more before half. With the game at 35-7 Patriots, it was basically over from that point. Brady would throw a sixth touchdown pass early in the third quarter to really drive home the victory.
This game is important because it was also the end of the Tim Tebow era. He was miserable on the day, going 9-for-26 for 136 yards. Brady showed him how to do it, throwing for 363 yards in addition to his half-dozen touchdown passes. Though Broncos fans did not know it at the time, one era was ending and another beginning. It would also lead us into the final chapters of one of the greatest rivalries in the history of professional football.
The Best Game in Broncos vs. Patriots History
There have been plenty of great games between the Broncos and Patriots. The one that really sticks in the minds of fans is the aforementioned 2016 AFC Championship Game. Known for epic offensive confrontations, this game is better known for the struggle between two of the best defenses in the league at that point.
The Broncos took hold of the lead immediately thanks to a touchdown pass from Manning to Owen Daniels. Steven Jackson would tie it a few minutes later, but the normally reliable Gostkowski would miss the extra point – something that would become important later.
Manning found Daniels again before half, giving the Broncos a 17-9 lead heading into the locker room. The Patriots cut the lead to five thanks to a 38-yard Gostkowski field goal in the third. The defense was the real bright point, limiting the Broncos to just three points in the second half.
In the final minute of the game – with just :12 left, as a matter of fact – Brady would connect with one of his favorite targets, Rob Gronkowski. The game was now 20-18 Broncos, it all came down to a two-point conversion that could have been avoided if not for the missed extra point. And just like that extra point, this attempt failed, sealing the victory for the Broncos. They would take that momentum into Super Bowl 50, winning the franchise’s third title and Manning’s second with as many teams. It is one of the greatest moments in Broncos franchise history.
In this Sept. 8, 2016, file photo, former Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning carries the Vince Lombardi Trophy from Super Bowl 50 onto the field prior to an NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers in Denver. Manning has gone to TV commercials full time. Adrian Peterson and J.J. Watt are injured. Aaron Rodgers is struggling. Too many of the NFL’s headline grabbers aren’t in the news, or aren’t producing the kind of plays and drama football fans crave. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey, File)
