The New England Patriots faced significant personnel uncertainty in their Week 16 game against the Denver Broncos. Left guard Cole Strange, tight end Hunter Henry, and safety Jabrill Peppers were all sidelined due to injuries. Rookie Atonio Mafi stepped in to replace Strange, playing the majority of offensive snaps. Veteran James Ferentz also saw limited action at left guard. Mike Gesicki took over as the primary tight end in Henry’s absence, with Pharaoh Brown and Matt Sokol also contributing. Jalen Mills and Kyle Dugger filled in at safety for Peppers, with Marte Mapu rotating in as well. Adrian Phillips saw minimal playing time.
In the offensive line, the Patriots also rotated Trent Brown and Vederian Lowe at left tackle due to Brown’s injury. DeVante Parker and Jalen Reagor led the wide receiver group in snap counts, with rookie Demario Douglas making an impact as well. Ezekiel Elliott continued to dominate the running back position, while Kevin Harris played a supporting role.
On the defensive side, Kyle Dugger, Ja’Whaun Bentley, and Jalen Mills were among the top players in terms of snap counts. Christian Barmore had a standout performance with three sacks, while Shaun Wade, Myles Bryant, and Alex Austin filled in at cornerback. Anfernee Jennings and Josh Uche saw significant playing time on the edge, and Mack Wilson contributed as an outside linebacker. Jeremiah Pharms Jr. made a fumble recovery in limited snaps.
In special teams, Chris Board replaced Matthew Slater as a gunner on punt coverage, and Jalen Reagor took one snap as a kickoff returner.
The Patriots secured a 26-23 victory over the Broncos despite the challenges posed by the personnel uncertainty.