Stidham Starts Well, Then Makes Costly Mistake as Broncos, Patriots Tied 7-7 at Halftime
Stidham sharp early, costly pick, game tied 7-7
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 lookin…
