Patriots Offensive Line Gets Its Biggest Test Of 2016 Season In Denver

By Matt Dolloff, CBS Boston

BOSTON (CBS) -- As it usually is with any winning football team, the success of the offensive line has been the Patriots' unsung hero in 2016. Of course, Tom Brady is playing at his typical otherworldly level and LeGarrette Blount is running the ball better than ever. But offensive success always starts with the big boys up front, and the return of legendary coach Dante Scarnecchia has vaulted the Patriots' young talent on the O-line from the team's tragic flaw to one of its biggest strengths.

There's no doubt that the Patriots offensive line has greatly improved over last season, and part of that is due to good health. But they still haven't faced a test like they will on Sunday in Denver.

Surely you remember how poorly the Patriots O-line played last time they traveled to Mile High Stadium. Missing Blount, Nate Solder and Sebastian Vollmer - and, perhaps most importantly, playing with coach Dave DeGuglielmo pulling the strings rather than Scarnecchia - the Patriots were a disaster up front, failing to protect Tom Brady on almost every play and getting nothing going in the run game.

This season has been a different story. Scarnecchia and Solder, of course, are back, but the entire line is playing above expectations, and that's mainly because Scarnecchia's return has them playing better as a unit. They deserve some of the credit for the team ranking seventh in the NFL in rushing yards per game (115.5) and tied for third in rushing touchdowns (15). They also deserve credit for allowing the seventh-fewest sacks (21) on the season.

Bill Belichick agreed during his Wednesday press conference that he's seen the same kind of improvement along the offensive line, both individually and as a unit.

"I think just the overall coordination of the group and function of the group together, just working together, communicating together, seeing things, just reacting, that split-second reaction can make all of the difference in the world," said Belichick. "The better we are at that, the better those guys are at doing it together, those are all positives."

All of those things will be especially important for the Patriots in Denver, where the Broncos play in one of the league's loudest stadiums. Coaching and communication were clear issues in the 2015 AFC Championship Game, in which the Patriots offensive line kept tipping their hand to the Denver defense and giving them clean jumps on Brady without ever making any kind of significant adjustments. They also rushed 17 times for just 44 yards, a putrid 2.59-yard average.

But, again, there was no Scarnecchia, Solder, or Blount in that game. It may not be totally outrageous to suggest that the Patriots may have won that game if they had Scarnecchia on the sidelines. But regardless of what might have been, you ought to expect a significantly better effort from the Patriots up front against the Broncos on Sunday afternoon.

Of course, Solder is back and will be a huge upgrade over Marcus Cannon, who last year looked lost as the starting left tackle. Cannon has had the best season of his young career and it has earned him a long-term extension, but the team is also much improved on the interior of the offensive line with center David Andrews and guards Shaq Mason and Joe Thuney. Perhaps most important is the group's health and continuity; since Solder returned in Week 2, the five-man line of Solder-Thuney-Andrews-Mason-Cannon has played nearly every snap of every game.

With much greater health, improved play, and Scarnecchia back in the fold, expect a much different Patriots offense in Denver on Sunday. It's highly likely that they improve upon their rushing total last time out, as the Broncos have allowed the fourth-most rushing yards per game (127.2). It's also likely that Von Miller is not nearly the nuisance he was in the AFC Championship Game with Scarnecchia scheming the O-line to slow him down.

Playing in Denver, and battling the thin air and extreme crowd noise, is still going to be a challenge for the Patriots, who haven't won in that city since 2011. But this time around, they're as well-equipped to succeed in that environment than they have been in recent years.

Last season in Denver was a disaster. This Sunday should be different.

Matt Dolloff is a writer for CBSBostonSports.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect that of CBS or 98.5 The Sports Hub. Have a news tip or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff and email him at mdolloff@985thesportshub.com.