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Broncos fans: I hope your fingernails grow back quickly. As someone who is generally in favor of being aggressive and trying to win the game, even I had to question the Broncos' decision-making down the stretch against New England. With 3:23 left, they were up 18-12 and had a first down at their own 25. On first down, Drew Lock went deep down the middle of the field to Tim Patrick and was intercepted. This was on the first play after Lock had just been intercepted! Want to pass the ball there? Fine. But maybe a more high-percentage, low-risk throw? As was the case all afternoon, the defense came up huge. The Broncos delivered my favorite defensive performance from Week 6. They got contributions from a number of different players like Michael Ojemudia, Kareem Jackson, Malik Reed, Bradley Chubb and Shelby Harris. The Broncos forced four fumbles and intercepted Newton twice. It was another reminder that Vic Fangio is one of the game's best defensive coaches and will maximize his talent on that side of the ball. Denver's defense is up to fifth in EPA per snap, and that's despite having to deal with a number of injuries.

Winning at New England, which is two wins in a row, is a good sign for this young group. The defense came up big against the Pats.

Can they build momentum after upset in New England? Not if K Brandon McManus is only source of points Sunday against Kansas City.

Most impactful injury: LB Von Miller

Only Dak Prescott's injury might have the same kind of impact to a player's franchise. Miller is the Broncos' hub, the guy who put a third Lombardi in the trophy case in the lobby of the team's complex. He also was the center of their preseason defensive plan. With Miller and Bradley Chubb, and with Jurrell Casey in the middle of the defense, the Broncos were expected to consistently pressure opposing quarterbacks. Without Miller -- Casey later suffered a season-ending torn biceps -- the Broncos have had to blitz far more than they'd like to. They are tied for 11th in the league in sacks but are taking more risks to do it. -- Jeff Legwold

That's two wins in a row -- 17 days apart -- for the Broncos, who delivered a (mostly) crisp effort after a long layoff connected to positive coronavirus tests for the Patriots. Winning in Foxborough isn't the same achievement it used to be, but Denver deserves credit for throttling Cam Newton and staving off a potential collapse after Drew Lock threw a pair of interceptions in the fourth quarter. Lock failed to get the Broncos into the end zone in his return to the lineup, but he moved the offense and set the table for Brandon McManus, who drilled six field goals. McManus is a weapon -- the best kicker in the league not named Justin Tucker.