Is the Broncos defense no longer terrifying?

The Patriots-Broncos rivalry doesn’t quite have the same appeal it used to, and there’s only one man to blame for it: Peyton Manning.

Manning’s retirement — and if we’re being honest, his declining play beforehand — has sent Denver into an offensive spiral. The Broncos have cycled through quarterbacks like Brock Osweiler, Trevor Siemian, Paxton Lynch, and then Osweiler again in search of a game manager who can do just enough to allow his monster defense to win games. On Sunday night, they’ll turn to the former Bronco, Texan, and Brown in hopes he can topple a 6-2 New England team. The two meet on Sunday Night Football, broadcast live at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC (live stream).

The Patriots have rebounded from a 2-2 start to win four straight and creep back into the AFC’s upper echelon. They can strengthen their hold on a first-round bye by beating a Denver team last seen giving up 51 points to the Eagles.

Time, TV channel, and streaming info

• Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
• Location: Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colo.
• TV: NBC
• Streaming: NBC Sports Live
• Odds: New England is favored by 8 points.

Patriots at Broncos news:

• The Broncos are sticking with Osweiler Sunday, which means a guy who the Browns cut has to face the Patriots:

After the game, Osweiler questioned some of the decisions he made.

“Looking back on it, I [threw] it to Emmanuel [Sanders] in the red area,” Osweiler said. “Well, if I throw it to [Demariyus Thomas], maybe we have a touchdown. But that’s football. It’s easy to second-guess yourself after the plays happen. We just have to clean it up.

• The Patriots added some veteran help to address their defensive line issues in the season’s second half.

The New England Patriots signed DL Ricky Jean-Francois, according to ESPN’s Field Yates. The 6’3, 300 pound Francois has played 115 games over the past nine seasons and should provide depth to the Patriots defensive interior as Malcom Brown continues to recover from an injury.

• Facing the Broncos questionable offensive line could be just the thing to get the New England pass rush back on track.

The Denver Broncos had a really rough game against the Philadelphia Eagles, but the picture of that game became a little clearer in reviewing the Pro Football Focus grades for the team.

What shocked me the most was the number of times Brock Osweiler was under pressure when he dropped back to pass. The number was more than half of all drop backs. Half!

• Kyle Van Noy’s willingness to step up in Dont’a Hightower’s absence has made him the Patriots’ most-improved player.

A mid-season acquisition last year, it took Van Noy some time to get used to his new environment. But get used to it he did. Van Noy has grown into one of the Patriots' core defenders; a player who rarely ever leaves the field and is vital against the pass and the run. Quite the leap forward for the former role player.

How long until Vance Joseph turns the offense over to Paxton Lynch?

Denver spent a first-round pick on the Memphis product in 2016, knowing full well the big-armed passer would be a project. Lynch has appeared in spot starts in his career, but the raging tire fire known as the Broncos’ depth chart is gearing up to give him another shot. The second-year passer has been held out of action this fall due to a shoulder injury, but has been progressing back to normal health. If he’s feeling good Sunday — and Osweiler remains ineffective — he could make his season debut against the Pats.

Patriots at Broncos prediction:

SB Nation’s experts tipped heavily in favor of the Patriots on this one in their Week 10 picks. Seven of eight — all but Adam Stites — think New England wins this game.