Pats Cast Episode 8: Long-Awaited Preview of Broncos vs. Patriots

Cam Newton is back, and that should greatly play into New England's favor this week. (Photo: SportingNews.com/Getty Images)

There's been plenty of chaos surrounding the Patriots over the last two or three weeks, and that made this game very uncertain – and even delayed it by a week.

But now the time has come. With that, here's my preview of the matchup, which will take place at 1:00 p.m. ET from Gillette Stadium.

Links to podcast via Anchor, Breaker, Google Podcasts, Overcast, Pocket Casts, RadioPublic, Spotify and Apple Podcasts

All things considered, the Patriots are rather healthy. Byron Cowart and James Ferentz have been added to the COVID list, but Cam Newton and Stephon Gilmore have been removed from it.

No Patriots players have been ruled out due to injury at this point. Adam Butler (shoulder), Julian Edelman (knee), Isaiah Wynn (calf) and Shaq Mason (calf) were each listed as questionable on Friday.

The Broncos will be without starting OLB Jeremy Attoucho, starting RB Melvin Gordon and WR KJ Hamler, and TE Noah Fant is among the players entering Sunday at less than 100%.

Nobody aside from RB Phillip Lindsay and OLB Bradley Chubb – and Fant, if he plays – should worry New England much, especially considering Gilmore will likely cover Jerry Jeudy. JC Jackson will probably see most of his reps against Tim Patrick, and a combination of Jason McCourty and Jonathan Jones should be assigned whoever the third wideout ends up being (DaeSean Hamilton, Tyrie Cleveland or Diontae Spencer) while Hamler is out.

Who the Patriots place on Fant if he plays could be interesting, but it likely ends up similar to their matchup with Darren Waller a few weeks ago. My guess is he won't be full strength, they'll try a combination of numerous guys on him, and Kyle Dugger and Joejuan Williams will see considerable time against him.

I'll guess that N'Keal Harry mostly draws rookie Michael Ojemudia – Denver's bigger starting cornerback – while Bryce Callahan travels between Julian Edelman and Damiere Byrd, with the other being covered by a rotation of unproven players.

All in all, the Patriots shouldn't have much trouble in this game. After all, Denver's only win through four games was against the winless Jets – and even that was a close game.