NFL PREVIEW NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS VS. DENVER BRONCOS

Time: 8 p.m.TV: (27) (19) (2).Patriots offense: Overall (7), Rush (24), Pass (2)Patriots defense: Overall (26), Rush (8), Pass (31)Broncos offense: Overall (5), Rush (2), Pass (18)Broncos defense: Overall (15), Rush (2), Pass (29)Key matchup: Poised vs. Unsteady. New England QB Tom Brady vs. Denver QB Jake Plummer. In past five playoffs, Brady has 11 touchdowns versus one interception for cumulative passer rating of 107.9 in that span. Brady is 10-0 in the playoffs and owns lowest postseason interception ratio in league history: 331 attempts, three interceptions for 0.91 percent. Brady is coming off his best season with 4,110 yards passing. He set a career mark for attempts (530) and fell percentage points shy of a new high in passer rating (92.3). Since Week 6, Plummer has reached the third-best passer rating in league (97.7). Plummer passed for 3,366 yards, completing 60.7 percent (277 of 456) with 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions this year. Though Plummer has transformed into a mature, confident, dependable quarterback, he hasn't shown it in the postseason.Streaks, stats and notes: New England has an NFL record of 10 consecutive playoff victories. ... Patriots are 17-10 in the postseason. ... Patriots have held three of their last six opponents without a touchdown. ... The Patriots had 13 sacks in the last three regular-season games, then added six against Jacksonville. LB Willie McGinest set two postseason records in that game: 4 1/2 sacks in a single game and 16 in his career. ... Coach Bill Belichick has all-time best playoff record of 11-1 (.917) and is 16-1 (.941) in games after Christmas Day since joining Patriots in 2000. Patriots return much healthier since the last time they faced the Broncos. Defensive end Richard Seymour, RBs Corey Dillon and Kevin Faulk and WR Troy Brown missed that game but are back. ... Since 2001, when the Patriots won their first Super Bowl, no team has beaten them twice in a season. That includes all their AFC East opponents, as well as St. Louis (2001) and Pittsburgh (2004), who both played them in the regular and postseason in the same year. ... Adam Vinatieri (24) stands No. 2 in all-time playoffs FGs made (Gary Anderson, 32). ... Denver, 11-2 at home in the playoffs, will be hosting its first playoff game since 1998. ... Denver and Seattle are tied for the longest current home winning streak -- 10 straight. ... Denver finished the regular season with four straight wins, allowing only 37 points (9.3-point average). ... Broncos have forced 36 turnovers, fourth most in the league, and allowed the third-fewest points in the league. ... Broncos previous playoff game against New England came Jan. 4, 1987, a 22-17 win in the divisional playoffs at Mile High Stadium. ... Broncos are 3-1 vs. Brady, one of two teams Brady has losing record against with more than one career meeting. San Diego is 2-1 vs. Brady... Broncos have plus-20 turnover margin, second-best in the league. ... RB Mike Anderson (1,014) tied longest time span in NFL history between 1,000-yard seasons (four years), done by five players.
Time: 8 p.m.TV: (27) (19) (2).Patriots offense: Overall (7), Rush (24), Pass (2)Patriots defense: Overall (26), Rush (8), Pass (31)Broncos offense: Overall (5), Rush (2), Pass (18)Broncos defense: Overall (15), Rush (2), Pass (29)Key matchup: Poised vs. Unsteady. New England QB Tom Brady vs. Denver QB Jake Plummer. In past five playoffs, Brady has 11 touchdowns versus one interception for cumulative passer rating of 107.9 in that span. Brady is 10-0 in the playoffs and owns lowest postseason interception ratio in league history: 331 attempts, three interceptions for 0.91 percent. Brady is coming off his best season with 4,110 yards passing. He set a career mark for attempts (530) and fell percentage points shy of a new high in passer rating (92.3). Since Week 6, Plummer has reached the third-best passer rating in league (97.7). Plummer passed for 3,366 yards, completing 60.7 percent (277 of 456) with 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions this year. Though Plummer has transformed into a mature, confident, dependable quarterback, he hasn't shown it in the postseason.Streaks, stats and notes: New England has an NFL record of 10 consecutive playoff victories. ... Patriots are 17-10 in the postseason. ... Patriots have held three of their last six opponents without a touchdown. ... The Patriots had 13 sacks in the last three regular-season games, then added six against Jacksonville. LB Willie McGinest set two postseason records in that game: 4 1/2 sacks in a single game and 16 in his career. ... Coach Bill Belichick has all-time best playoff record of 11-1 (.917) and is 16-1 (.941) in games after Christmas Day since joining Patriots in 2000. Patriots return much healthier since the last time they faced the Broncos. Defensive end Richard Seymour, RBs Corey Dillon and Kevin Faulk and WR Troy Brown missed that game but are back. ... Since 2001, when the Patriots won their first Super Bowl, no team has beaten them twice in a season. That includes all their AFC East opponents, as well as St. Louis (2001) and Pittsburgh (2004), who both played them in the regular and postseason in the same year. ... Adam Vinatieri (24) stands No. 2 in all-time playoffs FGs made (Gary Anderson, 32). ... Denver, 11-2 at home in the playoffs, will be hosting its first playoff game since 1998. ... Denver and Seattle are tied for the longest current home winning streak -- 10 straight. ... Denver finished the regular season with four straight wins, allowing only 37 points (9.3-point average). ... Broncos have forced 36 turnovers, fourth most in the league, and allowed the third-fewest points in the league. ... Broncos previous playoff game against New England came Jan. 4, 1987, a 22-17 win in the divisional playoffs at Mile High Stadium. ... Broncos are 3-1 vs. Brady, one of two teams Brady has losing record against with more than one career meeting. San Diego is 2-1 vs. Brady... Broncos have plus-20 turnover margin, second-best in the league. ... RB Mike Anderson (1,014) tied longest time span in NFL history between 1,000-yard seasons (four years), done by five players.
Associated Press