It’s great that Russell Wilson had a perfect evening a couple of days ago before Christmas. Because his Christmas Eve wasn’t that great for him and his team. The New England Patriots pulled off a shocker, upsetting the Denver Broncos 26-23 in their Week 16 game. Although both teams put up a decent play in the Week 16 rivalry, it was Bailey Zappe and his team’s last-minute field goal that helped them pull a victory from Russell Wilson’s Orange Crush.

After the win, the Patriots have a 4-11 record, putting them tied for the third-worst record in the league, alongside the Commanders. On the other hand, the Broncos, with a 7-8 record after this season-shattering loss, have slim chances of making the playoffs and can only hope for Kansas City to lose all their remaining games for the AFC West title.

Bailey Zappe did the right things for a much-needed Denver win

In the game, the Patriots initially struggled, getting strip-sacked on the opening play and having a lackluster offensive performance in the first half. Surprisingly, they turned things around in the third quarter, with Bailey Zappe throwing two touchdown passes. Zappe experienced his highest point on Sunday Night Football as he with his first game-winning drive.

Despite the Patriots squandering their double-digit lead in the fourth quarter, their defense tightened up when needed, and Chad Ryland’s 56-yard kick secured the win. The Patriots capitalized on opportunities created by the Broncos’ mistakes. Zappe had a solid performance, minimizing turnovers and making crucial throws. He completed 25 of 33 passes for 256 yards.

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On the other hand, the Broncos went offensive for most of the game, particularly in goal-to-go situations, where they failed to score. Despite numerous chances, they couldn’t take advantage of the Patriots’ errors. In the crucial moment late in the game, their offensive drive fell short, allowing the Pats to secure the win.

Under coach Sean Payton, Russell Wilson is experiencing ups and downs in the season. In this game, he completed 25 out of 37 passes for 238 yards, throwing two TDs.

Here’s what went wrong for Russell Wilson

In the closing moments of the game, the Broncos failed a critical play. With only 1:42 time remaining on the clock and starting at their own 39-yard line, Russell Wilson attempted a screen pass to Samaje Perine. However, the play was disrupted right away, resulting in a loss of 4 yards.

This setback put the Broncos in a challenging position, ultimately leading to a three-and-out. The unsuccessful screenplay played a significant role in restricting the Broncos’ offensive choices and contributing to their inability to secure the victory. One cannot ignore that Zappe was more efficient than Wilson and committed fewer mistakes in the clutch. Wilson, on the other hand, tried pulling his team with his clutch plays, but they fell short in front of Bill Belichick’s strategies. The Patriots regained progression, setting the stage for their final drive and the game-winning kick by Chad Ryland.

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