Patriots score two touchdowns in six seconds after Broncos kickoff blunder

Life comes at you fast sometimes, and the Broncos learned that the hard way on Sunday night. 

The struggling Patriots rattled off two touchdowns in the span of six seconds as they stunned the Broncos, 26-23, in a true Mile High surprise in Denver.

The Broncos and Patriots were the final game on the NFL’s Christmas Eve slate on Sunday, and the Patriots pulled off the 14-point swing late in the third quarter of the finale. 

It started during Bailey Zappe’s seven-play, 52-yard drive, which he capped off with an 11-yard pass to tight end Mike Gesicki in the back of the end zone to extend the Patriots’ lead to nine with 1:41 left in the third quarter. 

The touchdown pass was Zappe’s second of the evening. 

But where things went from bad to worse for the Broncos was seconds later on the kickoff. 

Return man Marvin Mims Jr. muffed the catch but did recover the ball — only to have it stripped from him by Marte Mapu.

Cody Davis recovered the football for the touchdown, giving New England a 23-7 lead.

“To have a defense like we do, I mean it’s phenomenal. It’s just awesome to see those guys play,” Zappe said after the game, per the Associated Press. “They’re one of the best — if not the best — defenses in the entire league.”

Neither the Patriots nor Broncos have had a particularly good season, as New England’s struggles have been well-documented, entering Sunday’s game with just three wins. 

Despite the Patriots opening up a large lead off the two touchdowns in the six-second span, Russell Wilson and the Broncos managed to respond and tie the game late at 23-23.

But the Patriots rolled away with a win after struggling kicker Chad Ryland nailed a 56-yard kick in the final seconds.