Denver Broncos (6-1) at New England Patriots (6-2)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass. – TV: CBS

*TV announcers: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, Tracy Wolfson

*Keys to the game: The Patriots are pliable for several reasons not including injuries. The defense struggles on third down (44.9 percent conversions) and isn’t holding up against the run (129.6 yards per game). Where coach Bill Belichick often finds the right answer is in the red zone. But that’s also an area of strength for the Broncos, who lead the NFL with 35 red-zone receptions as a team and 22 TD passes.

The Broncos’ emerging defense has shot up to fourth in yardage allowed per game, and first in yardage per play. Where they want to flex some muscle is third down, and the Patriots’ front five is not bulletproof. Pass rushers Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware have a combined 16 sacks, but their challenge is more difficult against a quick-timing offense that revolves around tight end Rob Gronkowski more than ever.

Gronkowski has seven TDs and 558 yards on 40 receptions this season, and presents a matchup nightmare for a coverage scheme that struggled to keep pace with San Diego’s Antonio Gates last week. The Broncos tried multiple safeties against Gates, to no avail, and might be forced to sacrifice size for speed by putting a cornerback on the 265-pound tight end. QB Tom Brady has 14 touchdowns, no interceptions in the past month.

Broncos QB Peyton Manning will hand the ball off to RB Ronnie Hillman if New England drops flooded zones behind light fronts as the Patriots did last season – allowing the Broncos 280 rushing yards in a Patriots win – but he’ll work underneath to control the clock and keep the Patriots honest.

*Matchup to watch – Broncos WRs Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders and Wes Welker vs. Patriots cornerbacks Darrelle Revis, Brandon Browner, Logan Ryan and Alfonzo Dennard: The Patriots might try to counter Thomas’ size by placing Browner opposite him; last year, that assignment fell to Aqib Talib, who shut Thomas down in their November 2013 showdown until a late, game-tying touchdown. If the Patriots use Browner on Thomas, Revis would be free to cover Sanders, and could defuse the deep posts that have become a staple of the Broncos offense; Revis has allowed just one reception of more than 24 yards, and hasn’t permitted a touchdown since Week 1. But against Welker, the Patriots could have problems, and with the wind expected to gust to 20 miles per hour, Dennard could see plenty of action if Manning chooses to emphasize Welker.

*Player spotlight – Patriots RB Jonas Gray: As part of a rotation Gray could evolve into a workhorse to give offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels the ability to slow the pace and salt away games in the fourth quarter. But this is his first high-profile NFL showdown, three weeks after being activated from the practice squad.

*Fast facts: Manning’s last win in Foxborough was in 2006. … The Patriots have won four of the past five meetings. … Broncos coach John Fox is 2-6 against Belichick.

WHO WILL WIN AND WHY

Manning and the Broncos have 10 double-digit quarters in seven games and are never out of a contest, but this time the defense has its day against Brady and the Patriots.

*Our pick: Broncos 34-24