Five Matchups To Keep An Eye On In Broncos vs. Patriots

1. Brandon Browner vs. Julius Thomas: As much as the Pats bringing in Darrelle Revis could be interpreted as a direct shot at the Broncos and slowing down their record setting offense, the import of Browner from Seattle may be an even better example. Broncos’ tight end Julius Thomas is their Gronk and he demolished the Pats in the AFC title game last year with eight catches for 85 yards. Jamie Collins may get there someday but he’s still no better at covering guys like Thomas – or any skilled tight ends – than any linebacker the Pats have employed since Tedy Bruschi retired so enter Browner, a big physical corner built to play guys like Thomas and Martellus Bennett last week.

Thomas is big and fast and has tremendous hands, all big reasons why he scored nine touchdowns in the Broncos’ first five games. But where he differs from Gronk is that he’s not quite as physical. Depending on what he can get away with, Browner might be able to take Thomas off his game by beating him up a little, knocking him off routes at the line of scrimmage and sticking to him like flypaper. It’s incredible how cleanly Thomas does most of his damage, which he seems to be aware of.

Thomas’s torrid start to the season has been slowed in the Broncos last two games to the tune of just six catches for 50 yards and zero scores. Something is working against him. You can bet Bill Belichick, Matt Patricia and Brandon Browner have spent the week diagnosing exactly what it is.

2. Terrance Knighton vs. Pats’ Interior Offensive Linemen: The dude they call Pot Roast ate up Logan Mankins and Ryan Wendell in last year’s AFC Championship Game, and we all know what’s happened to the Pats’ O-line since then. Wendell has settled in nicely at guard over the course of the last month while Dan Connolly and rookie Bryan Stork (with the exception of a short stretch during last week’s win over the Bears) have settled the center and other guard spots since making it back from a couple concussions.

Knighton moves incredibly well for a 331-pound man and is just as good as generating pressure up the middle as he is at stonewalling an opponent’s running game so the trio of Wendell, Stork and Connolly, Stork in particular, had better be ready.

3. Aqib Talib vs. Rob Gronkowski: Talib may spend more time on Brandon LaFell or Julian Edelman. And as good as Talib is, the Broncos would have to be nuts if they think he can handle Gronk one-on-one — this isn’t glorified wide receiver Jimmy Graham we’re talking about. But given that Talib is Denver’s best cover guy and Gronk is by far the most dangerous weapon in the Pats’ passing game, it makes sense that Talib, with some help, gets a crack at him.

Expect T.J. Ward and Gronk to renew acquaintances, although not necessarily via Ward covering him. That’s a complete mismatch in the Pats’ favor and the Broncos know it. But as a physical, help defender for Talib or rookie Bradley Roby or even linebacker Brandon Marshall, who has played well in place of the injured Danny Trevathan (someone likely to draw plenty of Gronk duty if he was playing). In the end, there will likely be a combination of coverages on Gronk but the Broncos have the luxury of trying out Talib on him thanks to the excellent jobs both Roby and their other starting corner Chris Harris have done in coverage all year.

4. Kyle Arrington/Alfonzo Dennard vs. Emmanuel Sanders: Assuming the Pats play a lot of man coverage, this could wind up being the matchup that makes or breaks the defense. Sanders has been spectacular this season, especially in the Broncos’ last game, and is a deadly weapon considering how much attention must be paid to the two Thomases.

In Week 8 against the Chargers, Sanders caught all nine of the passes thrown his way for 120 yards and three touchdowns. San Diego had no answer for him whatsoever. Arrington is the Pats’ best slot corner but has seen his snap totals lessened over the past couple weeks. It’s possible that he winds up spending more time on Wes Welker but given how adept he is at covering the slot as well as how much Dennard has struggled at times this season when he’s gotten on the field, it feels like at least starting Arrington on Sanders with occasional safety help is the way to go.

5. Darrelle Revis vs. Demariyus Thomas: This is it. The mega matchup. The best corner in the NFL against one of the league’s five best receivers.

Thomas has exploded in his last four games, catching 34 passes for 626 yards and five TDs over that stretch. That’s mind-boggling, earth scorching stuff. He’s the focal point of the Broncos’ offense and probably Peyton Manning’s favorite receiver. Revis will have his work cut out but this is the kind of matchup on which he thrives. Bengals’ receiver A.J. Green doesn’t have near the quarterback throwing to him that Thomas does but Revis completely neutralized him back in Week 5. Given the multitude of other weapons on Denver’s offense, it’s a huge break for the Pats that Revis is capable of doing that kind of damage on his man without needing much help, if any.

Games like this one are why Revis is on this team. He knows it, his teammates and coaches know it and the Broncos know it. He’ll be ready.