Good stuff from Price, these guys should be big factors this weekend.
The first time the Patriots faced the Broncos on Dec. 18, New England was without two of their better run defenders in safety Patrick Chung and linebacker Brandon Spikes, both of whom were both in the middle of extended stretches on the sidelines because of injury (Chung with a foot problem and Spikes with a knee issue). In addition, the Patriots had defensive end Andre Carter in the lineup, who was providing some of the most sustained pressure of any pass rusher in a New England uniform since 2008. In that game, the Broncos – the best team in the league over the course of the regular season when it came to running the football – finished with 252 yards (and an astounding 8.1 yards per carry) against New England, including seven rushes of 10 yards or more in the first half. The Patriots were able to make the necessary adjustments to shut down the Denver offense and came away with a 41-23 win. However, it’s debatable how much damage the Broncos would have done early if both Chung and Spikes were in the lineup to begin with.