3 key matchups for the Patriots Week 16 matchup with the Broncos

Ezekiel Elliot vs. the Broncos run defense 

It’s the worst in the league, remember? And the Patriots currently have five wide receivers either out or dealing with injuries. Oh yeah, and did I mention they’ve forecast snow in Denver? It’s due to begin on Saturday night and end on Monday!

Fun! Have you ever tried catching a snowball? 

So, both teams will need to run the ball if they want to score any points at all. Since Rhamondre Stevenson’s high ankle sprain, Elliott has averaged 4.1 yards per touch. And Kevin Harris scored an 18-yard rushing touchdown last week, so the Patriots have been running the ball well without Stevenson.

They need to exploit the Broncos' fragility. 

Both teams vs. the elements 

This is a slightly less boring way of saying, “Both kickers and punters need to be really accurate,
mainly because you don’t want your specialist players having to tackle a returner in the snow. Plus, both punters are the holders for place kicks. That will be tricky with snow on the ground, a slippery ball, and numb fingers to boot. 

Russell Wilson has never lost to the Patriots in the regular season. In Super Bowls, though? Well, we all know what happened there. During those regular season games, he’s thrown 11 touchdown passes and just one interception.

At this stage, it would be a shock if the Patriots add another road win to their 2023 record. But this game could get pretty wild. 

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