Daily news and links for Thursday.

TEAM TALK

• Patriots-Broncos initial Injury Report.
• Game Preview – Patriots at Broncos: Series history, Scouting the matchups, Tale of the tape.
• Broadcast Info: Patriots at Broncos – How to watch/listen.
• Press Conferences: David Andrews – Myles Bryant – Bailey Zappe – Bill Belichick – Mike Gesicki – Jalen Mills.
• Award: David Andrews awarded the 2023 Ron Hobson media “Good Guy” Award. (10 min. video)
• Previewing the Matchups: Tamara Brown talks with Mike Dussault and Evan Lazar to preview the key matchups during New England’s upcoming game against the Denver Broncos. (3.43 min. video)
• Patriots Unfiltered: Previewing the Broncos, roster updates. (2 hours)
• Patriots Playbook: Previewing the Broncos and NFL Week 16 predictions. (2 hours)

LOCAL LINKS

• Tim Crowley suggests Ezekiel Elliott could bounce back this week against the Broncos last-ranked rush defense.
• Greg Dudek relays ESPN’s Matt Bowen who selected Christian Barmore as the league’s best pass-lane swatter.
• Doug Kyed spotlights how the Pats’ cornerback depth has been tested by everything in 2023.
• Alex Barth notes Patriots leading pass catcher, tight end Hunter Henry missed the first practice of Week 16.
• Mark Daniels finds that according to multiple sources, kicking balls weren’t inflated properly for Patriots vs. Chiefs. ‘After team complaints, officials took the ‘K-Balls’ into the locker room at halftime where they were discovered to weigh 11 pounds per square inch instead of the legal limit of 13.5, per sources.’
• Alex Barth points out how similar the conditions were this past Sunday to that AFC Championship Game almost a decade ago. This past Sunday the temperature at kickoff was 53 degrees, with 74 percent humidity. The AFC Championship Game against the Colts? 51 degrees with 71 percent humidity.
• Conor Ryan talks about the report that the kicking balls were underinflated last Sunday vs. Chiefs. ‘According to NFL rules, teams are not allowed to use the kicking balls in pregame warmups. With both teams unable to spot the issue ahead of time.’ /Wondering if the official in charge of the K-balls made a quick trip to the bathroom.
• Richie Whitt presents the top 10 reasons for the Patriots’ forgettable season. 1. Mac Jones.
• Alex Barth addresses this week’s Patriots Mailbag: Pondering personnel.
• Dakota Randall notes former Pats receivers coach Ross Douglas took time Wednesday to thank the organization that gave him his first NFL opportunity.
• A Clare Perspective podcast: Mailbag episode! Clare welcomes Chudders in to answer Patriots and festive questions. (32 min.)

NATIONAL NEWS

• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Report: Kicking balls were underinflated during Patriots-Chiefs.
• Josh Dubow (AP) The Patriots and Packers still seeking their 1st 100-yard games from rusher or receiver.
• Jay Busbee (Yahoo! Sports) Re-drafting the QBs of the past 5 years.
• Barry Werner (TouchdownWire) NFL reveals Week 16 announcers schedule. Patriots at Broncos, NFL Network: Rich Eisen, Kurt Warner, Jamie Erdahl.
• Staff (Football Zebras) Week 16 referee assignments. Patriots-Broncos: Carl Cheffers.
• David Carr (NFL.com) Offensive player rankings, Week 16: Building the AFC 2024 Pro Bowl Games roster on offense
• Joel Corry (CBS Sports) Agent’s Take: Inside the 2023 performance bonuses of 15 notable players.
• Brian Costello (NY Post) How the Jets lost the race to succeed the Patriots atop the AFC East.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) With Aaron Rodgers taking up a roster spot, Jets FB Nick Bawden gets short straw.
• Mike Vaccaro (NY Post) Jets stuck in ridiculous Aaron Rodgers ‘Groundhog Day’ loop.
• Joel A. Erickson (IndyStar) ‘There’s standards around here’: Colts head coach Shane Steichen on suspensions.
• Ian Cummings (ProFootballNetwork) Top WRs in the 2024 Draft: Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, and others.
• Ian Cummings (ProFootballNetwork) Top DTs in the 2024 Draft: Ranking Jer’Zhan Newton, T’Vondre Sweat, others.
• John Breech (CBS Sports) NFL Week 16 picks. Broncos win 20-16.
• Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) Week 16 NFL picks. Bronco win 24-10.

BITCHING ‘BOUT BELICHICK

• Donnie Wahlberg takes Pats Nation to task for slamming Bill Belichick. He deserves better. He may not be our coach next season, but he deserves our respect — forever.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Report: Patriots might be trying to set up a “bidding war” for Bill Belichick.
• Mike D’Abate discusses the latest drama report: Whether the Patriots would consider selling the services of Bill Belichick to the highest bidder.
• Conor Orr (SI) Ten burning questions on the NFL head coaching carousel: Taking a look at top candidates, best jobs that may come open, where Bill Belichick could land and more.