One of the things that develops naturally when a team is as successful as the New England Patriots have been for the past two decades is that fans think of them only as they are now. The memory reflex for the past gets weaker.
But there has indeed been a past, a long and interesting history that the Denver Broncos and New England (née Boston) Patriots have shared, starting since the franchises were born in 1960.
This is the 50th meeting between the Broncos and Patriots, combining regular and postseason play.
They met in the first game in American Football League history, as many fans know.