The New England Patriots played without their starting quarterback last week due to Cam Newton's positive COVID-19 test. Now, after more positive coronavirus cases on the team, including star cornerback Stephon Gilmore, the Pats' Week 5 game against the Denver Broncos has been rescheduled to Week 6.
The latest news on the Patriots emerged Saturday night, when the team had another positive COVID-19 test, and the team's facilities were closed Sunday morning.
The game had originally been rescheduled from Sunday to Monday night, but on Sunday morning the league announced it would push back the game to Week 6.
Why was the Broncos-Patriots game postponed?
The Patriots had three confirmed cases of the coronavirus among its players heading into the weekend, including Gilmore and Newton, which is why the game was first pushed back to Monday night.
Subsequent testing had been negative until Saturday night, but when another positive test on the Patriots emerged, the league pushed back the game to Week 6.
When will the Broncos-Patriots game be rescheduled?
The matchup has been delayed to Week 6, on Sunday, Oct. 18 at 1 p.m. ET.
Week 6 was originally a bye week for the Patriots, but now Week 5 will serve as a bye week for the Patriots and Broncos.
The Broncos, meanwhile, have had several schedule changes; the updates are included in the schedule below.
Broncos schedule 2020
| Week | Date | Opponent | Kickoff/Result |
| 1 | Sept. 14 | vs. Titans | L, 16-14 |
| 3 | Sept. 20 | at Steelers | L, 26-21 |
| 3 | Sept. 27 | vs. Buccaneers | L, 28-10 |
| 4 | Oct. 1 | at Jets | W, 37-28 |
| 5 | BYE | — | — |
| 6 | Oct. 18 | at Patriots | 1 p.m. ET |
| 7 | Oct. 25 | vs. Chiefs | 4:25 p.m. ET |
| 8 | Nov. 1 | vs. Chargers | 4:05 p.m. ET |
| 9 | Nov. 8 | at Falcons | 1 p.m. ET |
| 10 | Nov. 15 | at Raiders | 4:05 p.m. ET |
| 11 | Nov. 22 | vs. Dolphins | 4:05 p.m. ET |
| 12 | Nov. 29 | vs. Saints | 4:05 p.m. ET |
| 13 | Dec. 6 | at Chiefs | 8:20 p.m. ET |
| 14 | Dec. 13 | at Panthers | 1 p.m. ET |
| 15 | Dec. 20 | vs. Bills | TBD |
| 16 | Dec. 27 | at Chargers | TBD |
| 17 | Jan. 3 | vs. Raiders | 4:25 p.m. ET |
Patriots schedule 2020
| WEEK | DATE | OPPONENT | Time/Result |
| Week 1 | Sept. 13 | vs. Dolphins | W, 21-11 |
| Week 2 | Sept. 20 | at Seahawks | L, 35-30 |
| Week 3 | Sept. 27 | vs. Raiders | W, 36-20 |
| Week 4 | Oct. 5 | at Chiefs | L, 26-10 |
| Week 5 | BYE | — | — |
| Week 6 | Oct. 18 | vs. Broncos | 1 p.m. ET |
| Week 7 | Oct. 25 | vs. 49ers | 4:25 p.m. ET |
| Week 8 | Nov. 1 | at Bills | 1 p.m. ET |
| Week 9 | Nov. 9 | at Jets | 8:15 p.m. ET |
| Week 10 | Nov. 15 | vs. Ravens | 8:20 p.m. ET |
| Week 11 | Nov. 22 | at Texans | 1 p.m. ET |
| Week 12 | Nov. 29 | vs. Cardinals | 1 p.m. ET |
| Week 13 | Dec. 6 | at Chargers | 4:25 p.m. ET |
| Week 14 | Dec. 10 | at Rams | 8:20 p.m. ET |
| Week 15 | Dec. 20 | at Dolphins | 1 p.m. ET |
| Week 16 | Dec. 28 | vs. Bills | 8:15 p.m. ET |
| Week 17 | Jan. 3 | vs. Jets | 1 p.m. ET |