‘Are you serious?’: Mark Dondero breaks down Patriots’ unlikely title run

Mark Dondero, a former 12 News sports reporter, said it’s been fun to watch how invested New England fans become when the Patriots are winning. The team is 2-0 in the playoffs and will face the Denver Broncos on Sunday with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.“Nobody thought they were going to be this good,” Dondero said. “Nobody thought Drake Maye could potentially win the MVP award. I certainly didn’t think we’d be talking about a Super Bowl run. Make the Super Bowl? Are you serious?”Dondero predicts the Patriots will win 28-20, largely because Broncos starting quarterback Bo Nix suffered a season-ending injury last week. Backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham, a former Patriots player, is expected to start in his place.“I don’t know how you want me to come on here or anywhere and come up with a path for the Broncos, with Jarrett Stidham, to beat the Patriots,” Dondero said. “He’s a backup quarterback who doesn’t have a real pedigree. I’m not saying it can’t happen, but I don’t see how you expect them to find enough plays from Jarrett Stidham against that defense to get the win, even at home.”“Behind the Story” co-host Dan McGowan, a self-described New York Giants fan, predicted a Broncos blowout, while co-host Eli Sherman picked the Patriots to win 30-14.Later in the show, Dan and Eli talked about the “Stories we wish we wrote,” including:Dan’s picks‘I thought I was going to die’: Wounded Brown student returns to campus by Stan Grossfeld, The Boston GlobeBucci takes ‘full responsibility,’ won’t step down by Barbara Polichetti, The Cranston HeraldEli’s picksPate dirt: North Providence residents frustrated at piles in their neighborhood by Ethan Shorey, The Valley BreezeAttleboro pushes forward with school redistricting by Rhianwen Watkins, The Sun ChronicleWatch “Behind the Story” Thursdays at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on the WPRI 12+ TV app.How to download the free WPRI 12+ smart TV appIt airs on TV (Sundays at 8 a.m. on FOX Providence and 11 a.m. on The CW Providence), and will be available on demand through the WPRI 12+ app and right here on WPRI.com.“Behind the Story” is hosted by Eli Sherman and Kim Kalunian of 12 News, along with Dan McGowan of the Boston Globe.