New England Patriots have fought back from a 24-0 half-time deficit to beat the Denver Broncos in over time at Gillette Stadium.
Von Miller put the visitors ahead early in the game after Welsey Woodyard put pressure on Stevan Ridley, causing him to cough up the ball for the outside linebacker to return it 60 yards for a touchdown.
Knowshon Moreno stretched the lead by taking a hand-off from Peyton Manning to rush the end zone from two yards, before Matt Prater made it 17-0 by the end of the first quarter.
John Fox's men went in 24-0 at half time after Jacob Tamme got in between Duron Harmon and Dont'a Hightower to claim a 10-yard Manning pass for another score.
The Patriots looked as if they would be falling to a second-straight defeat following Tuesday's heartbreak in Carolina, but a rousing third quarter saw them fight their way back to within three points.
Tom Brady finally made his impact on the game after a somewhat anonymous first 30 minutes, producing two touchdown passes for Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski.
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In between those plays, Brandon Bolden had burst over from a yard as Bill Belichick's side galloped back into the game.
A third pass - and second for Edelman - completed the unlikely turnaround from half time, before Stephen Gostkowski kicked his first field goal of the evening from 31 yards.
The Broncos refused to lie down and drew level when Demaryius Thomas gathered Manning's 11-yard pass with just over three minutes left on the clock.
Over time was a tense affair, with the decisive moment coming with just over three minutes remaining, when a mix-up between two former Patriots gave Stephen Gostkowski the chance to win the game from 31 yards.
It was Wes Welker who shouldered the blame, as Nate Ebner smothered a loose ball after the wide receiver had misjudged Ryan Allen's punt, allowing it had bounced off Tony Carter.
Gostkowski nailed his kick straight between the posts to help the Patriots go 8-3 at the top of the AFC East, while at the same time ending the Broncos' three-game winning streak.
Fox's side still lead the way in the AFC West on 9-2.
Michael Penkman
