Patriots-Broncos Notebook: Ryland, Zappe Deliver ‘Good Cheer’ with Christmas Eve Win

The New England Patriots earned their fourth win of the season over the Denver Broncos in Week 16 through resilience, perseverance and a little late-game Christmas magic from rookie kicker Chad Ryland.

As Die Hard’s Hans Gruber would say, “It’s Christmas … it’s the time of miracles.”

In keeping with the theme of the season, the New England Patriots pulled off their own miraculous moment in the Mile High City, earning a 26-23 victory over the Denver Broncos on Christmas Eve. 

With just two seconds remaining, rookie kicker Chad Ryland’s 56-yard field goal split the uprights at Empower Field — not only capping a wild second-half, but also delivering New England its fourth win of the season. 

While the manner in which the Pats achieved the victory was clearly impressive, it did not come without a cost. As a result of their triumph, New England now drops to fourth in the current selection order for the 2024 NFL Draft — lessening their chances of securing one of the top three quarterbacks in this year’s draft class. 

Still, Sunday night’s gritty win showed that the Patriots have both the tools and the talent to compete. The positive impact it will have on the team’s young players will serve as momentum as they head into 2024. In the process, it also helped to erase the foolish assumption that the team was tanking the remainder of the season to improve its Draft standing. 

Though several aspects of its future remain unclear, New England demonstrated a resilience in Week 16 which, at the very least, keep the “ghosts of Christmas present” quite satisfied. 

Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Bailey Zappe Finally Made the Third Quarter His Charm

Despite entering this game in search of a cure for his second-half swoon, Zappe seemingly flipped the script on the game's first snap. Denver defender D.J. Jones strip-sacked the Pats starter and recovered the loose ball himself at the New England five-yard line. Fortunately for Zappe, the Pats defense delivered a four-and-out, keeping Denver from reaching the end-zone. 

Despite new life, Zappe did not truly find his rhythm until the second half. The Western Kentucky product engineered two touchdown drives in the third quarter, each capped by red zone completions to running back Ezekiel Elliott and tight end Mike Gesicki respectively. In the process, Zappe also demonstrated an ability to complete the deep pass, finding Demario Douglas for a 41-yard connection and DeVante Parker for a 30-yard first-down strike. In spite of his first-half inconsistencies, Zappe played turnover-free football [after his first-possession mishap] and finished the game going 25-of-33 for 256 yards with the two aforementioned touchdowns. Though he ultimately remains a work in progress, Zappe is earning both the trust and confidence of his teammates, who continue to support him in the face of adversity. 

Ryland Delivers in the Clutch

While the Patriots offense has been the subject of much scorn throughout the fan base as a collective unit, rookie kicker Chad Ryland may be one of the team’s most maligned individuals. The Eastern Michigan-turned-Maryland product entered Week 16 having connected on only 13 of 20 field goal attempts — the worst percentage among full-time kickers (65 percent) in the NFL.  

As Ryland prepared to make his game-winning attempt, he had already missed a 47-yard field goal wide right before halftime along with an an extra point which clanked off the left upright. Still, the 24-year-old remained undaunted as he connected from 50+ yards for just the second time in his young NFL career. His previous best was a 51-yard field goal at the New York Jets on Sept. 24. It is the fifth-longest field goal in team history.

More Barmore 

Although much of the Patriots season has been defined by trials and tribulations, defensive tackle Christian Barmore has been arguably their standout star. The 24-year-old finished the game with eight total tackles (two for loss,) four quarterback hits and three sacks. In fact, Sunday night marked his first career three-sack game — logging two eight-yard sacks and one nine-yard sack of Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson, all coming in the third quarter. Barmore now stands at 8.5 sacks on the season. 

Ghost of Christmas Past: Patriots Upset Broncos on Last-Second Field Goal

His ability to push the pocket and take a stand against the run continues to keep him among the team’s premier defenders. The Alabama product plays with good leverage and is strong enough to take on double-teams. He locates the ball quickly, chases with good effort and has excellent range for his size. Barmore has also demonstrated quick hands, which has made him effective in both stuffing the run and challenging the passer. His total effort was a major reason for the Pats defense earning key stops on several Denver drives on Sunday night. Keeping Barmore in a Patriots uniform for the long-term should be a priority for the team when he reaches eligibility next year. 

Up Next:

New England will ring in 2024 with a New Year’s Eve matchup with the Buffalo Bills (9-6) at 1 p.m. ET from Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. 

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