Tom Brady and the Patriots will travel to their personal house of horrors tonight as they battle the Broncos in Denver. Brady has a career record of 7-9 against the Broncos and he is 3-7 in his career in Denver. 

Despite those numbers, the Patriots need to win this game if they want to stay atop the AFC East and in the home field advantage race against Pittsburgh and Kansas City. 

Here are five keys for the Patriots in this game.

1. Get Off to a Fast Start: The Patriots have to get off to a fast start offensively. They have to score first and put pressure on Denver by forcing them to play from behind. The Broncos have struggled offensively this season so if they fall behind, it will be a tall order for them to get back into the game. 

2. Help LaAdrian Waddle With Von Miller: Waddle will get the start at right tackle for the injured Marcus Cannon. That means he will line up opposite Von Miller. Waddle has struggled in pass pro this season and will need help against Miller. If he doesn’t get it, the Patriots will struggle to throw the ball. Look for New England to slide protections to Miller and chip him with backs and tight ends. 

3. Get the Tight Ends On Their Safeties: The Patriots will have a tough time getting their receivers open looks down the field against Chris Harris and Aqib Talib but they should be able to get Rob Gronkowski, Dwayne Allen and Martellus Bennett one on one match ups inside the hashes against Denver’s linebackers and safeties. Look for the Patriots to do that by being in 12 personnel a lot in this game. 

4. Get The Broncos Offense Into Long Down Situations: The Patriots defense has to win on 1st and 10 and get the Broncos into second and long and third and long situations. It is imperative that the Patriots make Brock Osweiler beat them. Don’t allow Denver to establish their ground game.

5. Managing the Altitude: It is tough to win in Denver for a variety of reasons. Perhaps the biggest obstacle for opposing teams is dealing with the altitude. The Patriots have to manage the altitude in Denver because it will affect the way they play. The longer the game goes on, the more it favors Denver. 

Final Thoughts: This is a must win game for Denver but it is for the Patriots as well. With Pittsburgh winning today, the Patriots have to win tonight in order to keep pace. If they do not, their chances of getting home field throughout the playoffs will take a major hit. Bottom line. This game has major implications for both teams.