Patriots quaterback Bailey Zappe led his fist career game-winning drive on Christmas Eve night in an entertaining, up-and-down battle against the Broncos.

The Patriots and Broncos were knotted at 23-23 when Zappe took over with 58 seconds on the clock. Consecutive runs from Ezekiel Elliott caused Broncos head coach Sean Payton to take two timeouts. Zappe then hit wide receiver DeVante Parker downfield for a 27-yard gain to put the ball at the Broncos’ 47-yard line. Zappe then hit Elliott for a 5-yard completion and tight end Mike Gesicki for 4 yards before spiking the football.

Rookie kicker Chad Ryland, who had missed a field goal and extra point, nailed a 56-yard field goal to go up 26-23. The Broncos’ last-chance Hail Mary attempt fell incomplete, and the Patriots won to improve their record to 4-11 on the season. It was the ghost of what could have been haunting the Patriots on Christmas Eve night.

Sunday night’s win started in the most predictable and inauspicious of ways. Left tackle Vederian Lowe and left guard James Ferentz — starting in place of a litany of injured offensive linemen, including Trent Brown, Conor McDermott and Cole Strange — were beat on the Patriots’ first offensive snap for a strip-sack of Zappe. Brown and rookie Atonio Mafi eventually rotated into the game.

Similarly unsurprising: One of the NFL’s most underrated units, the Patriots’ defense, didn’t allow a score despite the Broncos taking the ball over at New England’s 6-yard line, forcing a turnover on downs.

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The Patriots punted on their next two drives, giving the Broncos the ball at New England’s 46-yard line and 25-yard line. The Patriots forced a punt on a three-and-out when the Broncos took over from the 46. But they couldn’t hold on forever and finally allowed a score on a five-play, 25-yard touchdown drive midway through the first quarter on a 3-yard touchdown run from Broncos running back Javonte Williams to fall behind 7-0.

The Patriots showed some life on their next possession, putting together a 13-play, 61-yard drive that culminated in a 33-yard field goal by Ryland.

Linebacker Jahlani Tavai forced a fumble that was recovered by defensive tackle Jeremiah Pharms Jr., but the Patriots couldn’t capitalize on the Broncos miscue and went three-and-out before punting.

A Broncos three-and-out led to missed field goals in consecutive drives by the Patriots and Broncos. Ryland missed the net wide right from 47 yards, while Broncos kicker Will Lutz was wide left on a 57-yard try.

The Patriots’ defense forced a three-and-out straight out of the gate after halftime, and the offense responded with a five-play, 70-yard drive that ended with a 15-yard touchdown catch and run from Bailey Zappe to running back Ezekiel Elliott. Rookie wide receiver Demario “Pop” Douglas accounted for 54 of those yards on two catches. Ryland missed the extra point for the Patriots to go ahead 9-7.

The Broncos managed just one first down before outside linebacker Josh Uche forced a punt with a 10-yard sack. The Patriots went three-and-out before punting back to the Broncos. Defensive tackle Christian Barmore forced a three-and-out with a 9-yard sack on third-and-13. It was Barmore’s second sack of the night.

Zappe came out firing on the Patriots’ next drive, finding tight end Mike Gesicki for an 11-yard touchdown on a five-play, 52-yard drive. Wide receiver DeVante Parker picked up 30 yards on a downfield pass from Zappe on the offensive series to put the Patriots up 16-7.

On the Patriots’ ensuing kickoff, rookie safety Marte Mapu forced Broncos rookie returner Marvin Mims to fumble from the Broncos’ 9-yard line. It was recovered by Patriots special-teamer Cody Davis for a touchdown to extend their lead to 23-7.

The third quarter ended with Barmore’s third sack in 15 minutes. He now has 8.5 on the season. Both teams traded punts with three-and-outs.

The Broncos began to make things interesting but cutting the Patriots’ lead to one score on their next series, a nine-play, 83-yard drive that ended with a 3-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Russell Wilson to tight end Lucas Krull. The Broncos’ two-point conversion attempt was good when Wilson hit wide receiver Brandon Johnson in the end zone.

Leading 23-15, the Patriots punted with another three-and-out.

Wilson then carved up a Patriots secondary decimated by injuries and other issues on an 11-play, 88-yard drive. Wilson hit Johnson for a 21-yard touchdown catch and then converted the two-point attempt on a pass to Williams to tie knot the game at 23-23.

Zappe and the Patriots couldn’t get anything going with the Broncos forcing their seventh three-and-out of the game. The Patriots’ first punt attempt was a touchback, but Chris Board was flagged for running out of bounds. Bryce Baringer’s next punt went out of bounds at the Broncos’ 39-yard line, a 19-yard swing. Still, the Patriots’ defense stepped up with their own three-and-out to give their offense a final shot to win.

BEST

DT Christian Barmore: Currently the Patriots’ best player and eligible for a contract extension this upcoming offseason, Barmore registered three sacks in one quarter, including a strip-sack. He had another QB hit and drew a hold, as well.

WR Demario Douglas: The talented rookie caught five passes on eight targets for 74 yards.

QB Bailey Zappe: Zappe went 25-of-33 for 256 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. His strip-sack was his only turnover of the night.

WORST

Special teams: With captain Matthew Slater out, the Patriots allowed a 52-yard punt return from rookie Marvin Mims. Ryland missed a field goal and extra point, and offseason free-agent addition Chris Board was flagged for being out of bounds on a punt within the final two minutes of the game. Ryland did nail the final field goal, however.

Offensive line: The Patriots allowed a strip-sack on the very first offensive play of the game. Mafi, who didn’t start, was flagged for three holds. Lowe might have been guilty of one of those penalties, however.

Injured secondary: The Patriots’ secondary, missing Jabrill Peppers, Christan Gonzalez, Marcus Jones and J.C. Jackson, among others, let the Broncos get back into the game on the back of Wilson’s two-touchdown performance.