Living in New England has been an interesting experience for me. I find that they are some of the kindest, giving, caring people I’ve encountered. However, there is just one big character flaw: They root for the Patriots. It’s an experience not unlike finding out that the gentle old man down the street eats live rabbits. While there is much for my neighbors to celebrate with their team, I am always quick to point out that their NFL dominance extends to all but one team, mine.

All time, the Denver Broncos are 31-23 against first the Boston and then the New England Patriots. In the very first American Football League game of all time, played back in September of 1960, Denver beat Boston 13-10 and the rivalry was born.

In the Belichick era, with Sunday’s win, the Broncos move to 10-10 including playoffs against the Patriots. With all the postseason success the Belichick era has enjoyed, Denver owns a 3-1 lead, each win a classic in the archives of Broncos football.

On Sunday, Denver’s young quarterback Drew Lock joined an elite group of quarterbacks to have beaten Bill Belichick’s Patriots. It was his 10 completions on 24 attempts for 189 yards and back-to-back interceptions (and a stout performance from the defense and Brandon McManus’ golden leg) that got it done.

So who are the others in orange and blue who have broken the hearts of Patriots fans during the Belichick era?

It all began with Brian Griese on October 28, 2001 with his 31-20 victory over the eventual Super Bowl champions. The following year, on October 27th, Griese got over again, 24-16.

Of those on this lengthy list, none of the quarterbacks have enjoyed as much success against the Patriots like Jake Plummer has. On October 16, 2005, Jake mustered a 28-20 win. A year later, New England fell 17-1 in September. However, the biggest win against the Patriots came on January 14, 2006, the divisional round of the AFC playoffs.

On October 11th, 2009 even hapless Kyle Orton beat the Patriots in overtime, 30-24. This was win number 5 of 6 in a row to open the season under known cheater and awful head coach, Josh McDaniels. Despite starting the year at 6-0, McDaniels would crash the team headlong into a tree to finish the season, 8-8.

Of all the storied matchups between the Broncos and Patriots, nothing elevated this rivalry more than the arrival of Peyton Manning. Although, Manning never beat the Patriots during the regular season while in Denver, he never lost to them in AFC Championship games. On January 19, 2014, Manning’s Broncos beat Belichick’s Pats 26-16 and again on January 24, 2016, 20-18. Both of Manning’s wins took Denver to the Super Bowl and robbed Belichick and Brady of even more trophy case hardware.

The most important win within this rivalry? That was Brock Osweiler’s overtime victory in the snow on November 29, 2015. It was this win that ensured that the Patriots would come to Denver for the AFC Championship that they would lose to Peyton Manning later in the postseason. Without this 30-24 win, Denver’s road to Super Bowl 50 would have gone through Foxborough and would have been much tougher.

So, let it be written that on October 18, 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Drew Lock, in just his 8th start in in young NFL career, vanquished Belichick’s Patriots like so many Broncos quarterbacks before him. Well done, son. Just stop chucking those picks.

HORSE TRACKS

‘You can just believe in a guy like him’: Despite imperfect stat line, Drew Lock helps Broncos grab win in return to field
Lock became the youngest quarterback to ever win at Gillette Stadium.

Cover 4: Broncos force three turnovers, cling to 18-12 win over Patriots
The Broncos held a 15-point fourth-quarter lead, but they needed a late defensive stop to earn a win.

‘That’s very Vic-esque’: On game-deciding fourth down, Fangio dials up blitz for win
HC Vic Fangio installed a new blitz this week in practice and waited until the final defensive snap of the game to call it in New England.

Delay of Game: Patriots' late comeback falls short vs. Denver
Analysis of New England's fifth 2020 regular season game from the press box at Gillette Stadium.

Denver Broncos kicker Brandon McManus sees no need for potential seventh field goal after record day | Sports Coverage | gazette.com
Brandon McManus already had a career game against the New England Patriots on Sunday and had no desire to take a chance to make it even better.

Denver Broncos Postgame Quotes 10/18
Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio and select players comment on their 18-12 win over the New England Patriots on Sunday, October 18, 2020.

‘Rock ‘em, sock ‘em, bop ‘em Phil’: Lindsay returns to energize Broncos, help key win in New England
The Broncos are now 6-0 in games in which Lindsay rushes for at least 100 yards.

Broncos up-down drill: Best and worst performances against the Patriots
The best and worst of the Broncos' first win at New England since 2006.

Patriots vs. Broncos score: Denver survives New England's fourth quarter surge, puts them under .500 for 2020 - CBSSports.com
Denver is now 2-3 on the season after beating the Pats in Foxborough

Denver Broncos New England Patriots Week 6 2020 NFL | 9news.com
The Broncos and Patriots battled in New England.

Patriots sloppy in loss to Broncos after COVID-19 disruption
Judy Battista says the Patriots delivered an uncharacteristic -- but predictable -- performance in Week 6. Can the team get back on track after having its season disrupted by COVID-19?

Buccaneers trade future draft pick to Jets for defensive tackle Steve McLendon, per report - CBSSports.com
McLendon can help replace Vita Vea, who sustained a broken leg in Week 5

Minnesota Vikings QB Kirk Cousins -- Won't finish season if interceptions continue
Kirk Cousins admitted his chances of finishing the season as the Vikings' starting QB will be slim if he keeps throwing so many interceptions.

New York Jets' Adam Gase - 'I wasn't happy' about defensive coordinator Gregg Williams' veiled shot at offense
Jets coach Adam Gase, trying to keep his winless team from fracturing, wasn't pleased that defensive coordinator Gregg Williams took a veiled shot at the offense when speaking to reporters on Friday.

Giants first-round pick Andrew Thomas benched for violating team policy - CBSSports.com
Thomas was not in the starting lineup when New York kicked off against Washington

Steelers' Devin Bush set for season-ending surgery after tearing ACL in win over Browns - CBSSports.com
The undefeated Steelers have suffered their first major injury

Packers vs. Buccaneers score: Tampa Bay's defense rolls over Aaron Rodgers as Bucs claim first place in South - CBSSports.com
Tom Brady, meanwhile, threw two touchdowns on an uncharacteristically bad day for Rodgers

Titans' Taylor Lewan suffers potential torn ACL in Week 6 win vs. Texans, per report - CBSSports.com
Lewan will undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the extent of his knee injury

FMIA Week 6: Ryan Tannehill, Titans Are Changing The Narrative In AFC - ProFootballTalk
Peter King's Football Morning In America column for Week 6 begins with Ryan Tannehill and the Titans and how Sunday showed why they're so dangerous.

Aaron Rodgers on Ndamukong Suh: "That goes back a long time" - ProFootballTalk

49ers climb back to .500 with 24-16 upset of Rams - ProFootballTalk

Gase worried about winning, not job: Being 0-6 'sucks'
The Jets remain ice cold as the last winless team in the league and the first to be shut out in a game. And, of course, coach Adam Gase's seat remains red hot.

Browns replace banged-up Baker Mayfield with Case Keenum during loss to Steelers
Baker Mayfield's bad day ended early. The Browns QB was removed late in the third quarter of Sunday's loss to the Steelers. A chest injury limited him in practice this past week and made him questionable to play against his AFC North rivals.

NFL Week 6: What we learned from Sunday's games
Buoyed by a Minkah Fitzpatrick pick-six, the Steelers ran roughshod over the Browns, while the Broncos earned a surprising victory over the Patriots and the Falcons collected their first win of 2020.

Houston Texans' Romeo Crennel on 2-point try - Tried to put game out of reach for Tennessee Titans
Texans interim coach Romeo Crennel explained his decision to go for two late in Sunday's game against the Titans, saying, "It felt like that would kind of put it out of reach for them." Tennessee went on to win in OT after Houston's failed attempt.

Pittsburgh Steelers defeat Cleveland Browns, move to 5-0 for just second time
The Steelers sacked Baker Mayfield four times and intercepted him twice in a 38-7 win that gave them just the second 5-0 start in franchise history and first since 1978.

Tua Tagovailoa makes NFL debut in Miami Dolphins' blowout win
Tua Tagovailoa played his first NFL snaps for the Miami Dolphins close to the end of their 24-0 win over the New York Jets on Sunday.