Everything changed with a sneaky punch.
Yet it was a kicker’s head-butt that sealed Denver’s turnaround Saturday night.
In a 28-second patch of street fighting near the close of the first half, the Broncos forced back-to-back fumbles with some well-placed, well-timed violence, notching their first 10 points of the game and building a lead they never surrendered.
“Turnovers killed them,” Denver linebacker Ian Gold said.
The first blow came from defensive lineman Courtney Brown, who jabbed the ball free from Kevin Faulk after the New England running back burst through the line for what would have been a first down. With two minutes to go, Gold smothered the football at the Patriots’ 39-yard line.
“I saw him coming inside, I just went in and hit him,” Brown said.
Gold, who played at the University of Michigan with Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, later ribbed his old teammate as they walked off the field.
“I guess,” Gold said, “I got the bragging rights.”
After his offense had stammered and stumbled during the first half, Broncos coach Mike Shanahan seized the moment, sending Ashley Lelie to the corner of the end zone. Jake Plummer’s pass floated wide, but an official flagged New England cornerback Asante Samuel for pass interference. From the Patriots’ 1-yard line, Denver’s Mike Anderson rammed into the end zone to put the Broncos ahead 7-3.
It was the first sniff of real momentum for Denver, and the home crowd jumped and roared as Todd Sauerbrun placed the ball on a tee for the kickoff. His boot carried to Ellis Hobbs at the 4-yard line. Hobbs weaved to the 39-yard line, pulling free from a leg tackle.
But Sauerbrun was waiting.
“You know, I figured I’ve got to contribute. I’m not going to do it during the season. I figured I’d let it all hang out here,” said the kickoff specialist and punter. “I was going for the knockout.”
As he wrapped up Hobbs, Sauerbrun’s helmet shoved the ball free. Denver’s Cecil Sapp fell on it at the New England 39. Four plays later, Jason Elam coaxed a 50-yard field goal through to put Denver ahead 10-3.
“Did he make the play?” Shanahan asked about Sauerbrun. “I like that. Tough son of a gun.”
Coming out of high school, Sauerbrun earned a college scholarship to play lacrosse, Shanahan said, “so he’s more than your typical punter.” And at 215 pounds, Sauerbrun, has the beef to throw himself around on the field.
“But I need every bit of it,” he said. “If you go down there it will hurt.”
Bill Briggs can be reached at 303-820-1720 or bbriggs@denverpost.com.
