NFL Postpones Denver Broncos-New England Patriots Matchup After More Positive COVID-19 Tests
The New England Patriots are once again rescheduling their home game against the Denver Broncos.
The NFL announced the showdown between Cam Newton’s Patriots and the injury-plagued Denver Broncos has been moved from Monday, October 12 to Sunday, October 18. ESPN first reported the news.
Here’s the latest on yet another postponement in the era of COVID-19.
The NFL postponed the Broncos-Patriots game
New England Patriots and Denver Broncos fans –and fantasy football owners — will have to wait at least one more week before the teams square off.
The NFL announced Sunday, October 11, that the league again moved the rescheduled Monday night showdown between Denver and New England.
“This decision was made to ensure the health and safety of players, coaches and game day personnel and in consultation with medical experts,” the league said in a statement.
That game was initially scheduled to be played Sunday, October 11.
The NFL moved the game after the New England Patriots closed their practice facility following positive COVID-19 tests.
New England closed the facility on Sunday following another positive test.
The Broncos intended to play the Miami Dolphins in Week 6. Instead, they will still make the trip east, but to Massachusetts.
COVID-19 problems are nothing new for the New England Patriots
COVID-19 is becoming the one foe Bill Belichick and the Patriots seemingly can’t do their job against, no matter how hard they plan.
Patriots quarterback Cam Newton missed a Week 4 loss to Kansas City after he tested positive. The league pushed that game back one day.
New England started Brian Hoyer and turned to backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham in the loss.
Patriots star cornerback Stephon Gilmore tested positive for COVID-19 this week.
ProFootballTalk reported starting defensive tackle Byron Cowart is the latest player who tested positive. Cowart, a fifth-round pick out of Maryland in 2019, has eight tackles in four games this year. He had a career-high three tackles in the Week 4 loss at Kansas City.
COVID-19 is really affecting the NFL right now
The New England Patriots and Denver Broncos aren’t alone in having COVID-19 issues.
As easy as this is to forget, the NFL got through the season’s first three weeks without any significant COVID-19 issues.
At that time, the only problem was coaches — and some players — not wearing masks. Now, the NFL is in a position to be panicked about what the future holds.
The NFL had no game postponements or rescheduling through the season’s first three weeks. Tennessee had a mass outbreak that forced last week’s matchup between them and the Pittsburgh Steelers to be rescheduled for Week 7.
Tennessee is expected to host Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday night. The NFL hasn’t had a Tuesday night game since Adrian Peterson and the Vikings played the Eagles in December 2010.
Some, including ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio, have suggested the NFL move to a bubble format. The NFL has announced no intentions of pursuing anything to that degree, whether that is a true bubble like the NBA, NHL, and WNBA had, or enforcing far stricter rules involving hotels and travel.
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