Mile High Struggles: Tom Brady's Career In Denver
BOSTON (CBS) -- When Tom Brady goes up against Peyton Manning, it's more probable than not that he and the Patriots will come away with a win.
Unfortunately, the same can't be said for when Brady takes the field in Denver -- even if Manning is under center.
The Patriots head to Denver later this week for their fifth-straight AFC Championship Game, but it's a place that Brady probably enjoys visiting even less than Miami (6-8 in his career). In eight career games in Denver, regular season and postseason, Brady sports just a 2-6 record. His last win in the Mile High City came back in 2011, with Brady and the Patriots losing in each of their last two visits.
Does this mean anything come Sunday? Probably (and hopefully) not. But since we took a look back at Brady's career against Manning on Monday, it's only fair that we look back at Brady's career in Denver.
October 28, 2001: Broncos 30, Patriots 21
Brady's Line: 25/38, 203 yards, 2 touchdowns, 4 interceptions
As Tom Brady got used to life as a starting quarterback in the NFL, he got his first taste of defeat in Denver after throwing four interceptions in the fourth quarter. It was one of only three games he would lose that season, as the Patriots went on to win their first Super Bowl in franchise history.
November 3, 2003: Patriots 30, Broncos 26
Brady's line: 20/35, 350 yards, 3 touchdowns, interception
Nothing is easy, or predictable, in Denver for the Patriots, as Bill Belichick called for a late own-safety to help secure a win on Monday Night Football. Rather than give Denver good field position with a punt, Belichick gave them two points to put them up 26-23 and played the field position game with the free kick. Ken Walter's boot set the Broncos up at their own 15-yard line, and after the New England defense forced a three-and-out (with a false start on Denver mixed in), Brady had the ball back.
He exorcised those Denver demons temporarily, finding David Givens for an 18-yard touchdown with 30 seconds to play to secure the victory. The win was part of 15-straight for the Patriots, who went on to win their second Super Bowl in three seasons.
October 16, 2005: Broncos 28, Patriots 20
Brady's line: 24/46, 299 yards, touchdown
In Brady's third career visit to Denver the Patriots found themselves in a 28-3 hole shortly after halftime before clawing their way back with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns, but it wasn't enough as they fell to 3-3 on the year. And it wasn't even their worst loss in Denver that season.
January 14, 2006: Broncos 27, Patriots 13 AFC Divisional Round
Brady's line: 20/36, 341 yards, touchdown, 2 interceptions
Brady threw one of the worst passes in his career with his team down 10-6 in the third quarter, a pass that was picked off by Champ Bailey at the Denver one-yard line. He didn't score on the play, as tight end Ben Watson raced from the other side of the field to knock Bailey out of bounds after his 100-yard return, setting Denver up at the New England one-yard line. You can even debate that the ball went through the end zone after Watson leveled Bailey (which would have been a touchback for New England), but nevertheless the Broncos came out on top, handing Brady the first postseason loss of his career.
October 11, 2009: Broncos 20, Patriots 17 OT
Brady's line: 19/33, 215 yards, 2 touchdowns
Going against his former offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels, for the first time, Brady and the Patriots were shut out in the second half and Denver came away with a win on an overtime field goal.
It was the biggest win of McDaniels' unsuccessful coaching career in Denver. We blame those horrendous uniforms worn by the referees.
December 18, 2011: Patriots 41, Broncos 23
Brady's line: 23/34, 320 yards, 2 touchdowns
"Tebow Mania" was in full effect in Denver heading into this game, and the Broncos owned a 13-7 lead after rushing for 167 yards in the first quarter.
But a Brady touchdown pass to Aaron Hernandez and a one-yard touchdown run by the QB, along with four Stephen Gostkowski field goals, had the Patriots up 27-16 at halftime and they never looked back.
The Pats clinched the AFC East with the win, as Chad Johnson caught his first and only touchdown of the regular season.
But even when he wins in Denver, it's not easy on Tom Brady.
January 19, 2014: Broncos 26, Patriots 16 AFC Championship Game
Brady's line: 24/38, 277 yards, touchdown
This one wasn't even that close, as the Broncos owned a 23-3 lead in the fourth quarter. Peyton Manning outdueled Brady with 400 passing yards, and the Broncos had the ball for 35:44 with a pair of seven-plus minute touchdown drives.
Denver went on to lose to the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl.
November 29, 2015: Broncos 30, Patriots 24 OT
Brady's line: 23/42, 280 yards, 3 touchdowns
The 10-0 Patriots went into Denver to face off against Brock Osweiler and the Broncos, and improving to 11-0 was looking good as they took a 21-7 lead early in the fourth quarter.
But after the Patriots' D forced a three-and-out, Chris Harper muffed a punt and the Broncos turned it into a touchdown to make it 21-14. The Patriots punted away their next three possessions (Rob Gronkowski was injured on the third one) while the Broncos put 10 points on the scoreboard, and the Pats needed a late field goal by Stephen Gostkowski to send it into overtime.
Brady and Co. started overtime by going three-and-out, with Brady getting sacked by Von Miller on second down, and C.J. Anderson broke off a 48-yard touchdown run on the ensuing Denver possession to hand the Patriots their first loss of the season -- and Brady his sixth career loss in Denver.
The Patriots' defense sorely missed Jamie Collins (illness) and Dont'a Hightower (who left in the first half with a knee injury), as Denver rushed for 179 yards in the win.