C.J. Anderson scored on a 48-yard run with 12:32 left in overtime, powering the Denver Broncos past the New England Patriots 30-24 on a snowy Sunday night.
Watching from the cozy indoors at field level was Peyton Manning as Brock Osweiler and the Broncos (9-2) overcame a 21-7 fourth-quarter deficit and handed the Patriots (10-1) their first loss since 2014.
“It didn’t look good at times,” Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said, “but we figured out a way to get it done.”
Osweiler threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Bubba Caldwell with 1:09 left in regulation to put the Broncos up 24-21. But Brady, playing without injured star tight end Rob Gronkowski, needed just five plays to drive the Patriots 51 yards and into range for Stephen Gostkowski’s 47-yard field goal that tied it at the end of regulation.
New England won the coin toss and elected to receive, but thanks to a sack by Von Miller, Denver forced a three-and-out. Then, on third-and-one from the New England 48, Anderson raced around the left sideline and into the north end zone.
Gronkowski injured his right knee with 2:49 left in regulation and was carted off. There was no official word on his status, but sources said initial tests ruled out a serious injury to the knee.
Notes
• Adrian Peterson was still miffed about his performance the previous week.
He took it out on the Atlanta Falcons.
Bouncing back from a tough loss to Green Bay, Peterson ran for 158 yards and a pair of touchdowns and the Minnesota Vikings beat the slumping Falcons 20-10 on Sunday.
Minnesota (8-3) jumped ahead on Peterson’s 1-yard run in the opening quarter, and clinched it when he got loose on a 35-yard scamper down the sideline with 4:15 remaining in the game.
“We took it personal, the loss last week,” Peterson said.
In the 30-13 setback to the Packers, he was held to 45 yards — his lowest output since Week 1. He also had a crucial fumble in the fourth quarter that thwarted any hopes of a comeback.
“It was an opportunity for us to get into the end zone, and I ruined it,” Peterson recalled. “Coming in here, just being conscious of holding the ball tight, and taking advantage of any opportunities they present me with.”
Against the Falcons (6-5), who came in with the league’s top-ranked defense against the run, Peterson ripped off his sixth 100-yard game of the season. He also moved to 18th on the NFL career rushing list with 11,354 yards, passing O.J. Simpson (11,236), Corey Dillon (11,241) and John Riggins (11,352). Next up is Seattle on Sunday.
• Indianapolis’ golden oldies keep producing hits.
Former Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck threw for 315 yards and two more touchdowns, and Adam Vinatieri, 42, made four more field goals. The throwback Sunday even included another crucial leaping penalty against Tampa Bay.
The 40-year-old Hasselbeck improved to 4-0 as a starter this season by topping the 300-yard mark for the first time in four years, and the Indianapolis Colts beat the Buccaneers 25-12 to remain on top of the AFC South.
“We’re just playing team football and I’m just trying not to screw it up. That’s all.” Hasselbeck said.