Sunday’s anticipated matchup between Tom Brady and the New England Patriots and Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos was billed as a battle between the two future hall of fame quarterbacks. And in a way, it was. The pair combined for 761 yards passing and six touchdowns. But while the battle between the two signal-callers is one that has taken shape over the years and has historical significance, the battle that was really fought was between two AFC heavyweights with an eye toward playoff positioning.
The Brady-Manning debate will rage on, with Sunday’s game failing to end the argument despite Brady throwing twice as many touchdowns and half as many interceptions.
The debate over which of the two teams is the one to beat in the AFC after nine weeks appears to be much more clear: The Patriots are the biggest, baddest and best team in the conference.
It’s a far cry from the Patriots team that traveled to Kansas City on a Monday night in late September. That team left Arrowhead Stadium embarrassed after a 41-14 thrashing by the Chiefs, and it led many to question whether Brady or the Patriots dynasty had anything left in the tank.
In reality, that team never returned to Foxborough, Massachusetts.
A different team ”“ albeit one with the same uniform and the same names on the back of the jerseys ”“ showed up the next week at home against Cincinnati. Under the bright, shining lights of primetime television, the Patriots made amends in a 43-17 rebound victory over the previously undefeated Bengals.
That win had nothing to do with statistics. Really, none of the last five wins ”“ all in a row ”“ have had much to do with statistics, no matter how gaudy some of them have been.
The difference between the Patriots that got beat down by the Chiefs, and the Patriots that have beat down the Bengals, Bears and now the Broncos, is all about attitude.
I’m not talking about positive attitude versus negative attitude, although the armchair quarterbacks around New England have been much more positive in their flawed analysis as of late. I’m talking about the Patriots’ demeanor on the field. They are playing with attitude.
There are various reasons for this, but the timeline makes for one easy one. Cornerback Brandon Browner came back from suspension after the week four loss to Kansas City. And while he’s only appeared in the last three games, he’s been able to practice with the team and participate in meetings and workouts since his suspension was lifted.
Browner is new to the team this year, as he was signed as a free agent this offseason after a successful tenure with the Seattle Seahawks.
Browner didn’t play in the Seahawks’ blowout victory over the Broncos in last season’s Super Bowl, but he was a big part of what gave the Seattle defense its swagger.
That swagger was on display at Gillette Stadium on Sunday against those same Denver Broncos. Browner recorded just one tackle, and was gifted an interception after Wes Welker let a pass bounce off his body and up into the air, but he played Denver wide receiver Demaryius Thomas tough.
The Patriots defense as a whole laid hard hits all night, as it has done a lot over the last few weeks.
On offense, the Patriots have also been the aggressors as of late.
Brady has that determined look in his eye, rather than the deer in the headlights look he had in Kansas City. Rob Gronkowski has been running defenders over as he has rounded back into form after offseason knee surgery. The offensive line has found consistency and an identity.
The Patriots are starting to play rough and tumble football as they move further away from the “Monday Nightmare” in Kansas City. They are starting to look like the favorites in the AFC, and the defense ”“ with some help from Brandon Browner ”“ is starting to resemble the ones from the Super Bowl years.
After Sunday’s game, it looks like Brady’s bunch could be headed back there again.
— Wil Kramlich is a sports writer for the Journal Tribune.
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