Can the Patriots:
A) Stop the run/make Denver have to pass to move the chains?
B) Make the most of FG opportunities and start them at their own 20 on Kickoffs?
C) Get good 40+ net yard punting (good punt coverage)?
D) Rush the passer at a satisfactory or better level?
E) Turn the ball over very infrequently?
Stats and observation, though admittedly biased observation, say the Patriots can do A thru E among the best in the NFL. Now consider that the Denver offense was already on the lower side of production in the NFL and is now coupled with an almost completely inexperienced QB.
Add it all up (again assuming the Patriots do A thru E well) and it equals the Patriots will be competitive in this game even factoring in for a sluggish or worse O. And if the O is sluggish?? Just like this championship caliber team does far more often than not, they will fight and scratch out an opportunity to have a shot to win it at the end. With that said, DA or no DA, as long as the OL shows up at the beginning of the game (unlike last week), it's unlikely the Patriots' O can't find a way to score 17 or more. IMHO 17 should win a game against a weaker O with a newby at QB who is starting his first Primetime National TV game.
The worst case scenario: Denver outplays the Patriots and wins the game. It is certainly possible; we are missing a lot of keys players and Denver is a good team. This leaves us at 10-1 with our next 3 against Weak Philly, @ an improving Texans, Weak Tenn followed by two road games against Weak Miami and a middling but struggling Jets. That's a full remaining schedule of Weak, Weak, Weak, middling/struggling, really sucked but now much improved(but still a lower tier O). Further, in that time there will be the Cincy vs Denver game that will assure one of our Bye rivals has 3 losses (Denver also has Pitt and a much improved Raiders on tap). So just beating the cream puff teams remaining on the schedule will have us at 13 wins. It seems to me the worst case scenario -- barring an IR type injuries occur -- ain't so bad at all.