DENVER — Jarrett Stidham looked poised and confident early, but a single miscue proved costly as the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots went into halftime deadlocked at 7-7 in a tightly contested first half.
Making a start against his former team, Stidham opened the game with crisp decision-making and efficient ball placement, guiding the Broncos on an impressive opening drive.
Mixing short, quick throws with timely checkdowns, Stidham capped the possession with a red-zone strike that gave Denver an early 7-0 advantage and energized the home crowd.
For much of the first quarter, the Broncos’ offense appeared in rhythm.
Stidham showed good pocket awareness, avoided pressure, and distributed the ball to multiple receivers.
Denver’s offensive line held up well early, allowing the quarterback to settle into the game and operate comfortably within head coach Sean Payton’s system.
That momentum, however, shifted late in the second quarter.
With the Broncos driving near midfield and looking to extend their lead, Stidham forced a throw into coverage on an intermediate route over the middle.
Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai stepped in front of the pass for an interception, immediately swinging the tone of the game.
New England capitalized on the short field, methodically moving the ball before punching in the tying touchdown a few plays later.
The mistake was a reminder of the fine margins at the quarterback position.
Until that point, Stidham had been largely mistake-free, but the interception loomed large in a game dominated by defense and field position.
The Patriots’ offense struggled to find consistency early, but the turnover provided a spark.
New England leaned on a balanced approach, mixing the run game with controlled passing concepts to avoid further mistakes.
Their lone scoring drive was emblematic of the approach: patient, physical, and opportunistic.
Defensively, both teams tightened up as the half progressed.
Denver’s pass rush generated steady pressure, forcing hurried throws and limiting big plays.
The Patriots countered with disciplined coverage and timely stops, preventing the Broncos from regaining their early rhythm after the interception.
At halftime, the stat line reflected the even nature of the contest.
Stidham’s numbers were solid but marred by the interception, while New England’s offense remained efficient but unspectacular.
With the score tied, both teams headed to the locker room knowing the second half would likely come down to execution — and mistakes.
For Stidham, the challenge moving forward is clear: rediscover the confidence and precision he showed early while avoiding the risky decisions that can swing momentum.
As the Broncos and Patriots prepare for the second half, the game remains wide open, with little separating the two sides beyond one costly throw.
