Broncos @ Patriots

[Mile High Mania]

I know there's a bit of 'over load' on a certain topic, but it's Friday...

First off, I'm not expecting a Broncos' victory on Saturday night. I do think that Denver can be productive against the Patriots' defense, but they're going to need another solid game across the board.

Run with the consistency and passion that they had in the earlier game this season, mix in passing that we saw last week ... and DO NOT turn the ball over. If they do this, then yes Denver can score 21-30 points on this defense.

The big challenge is Denver's defense. They cannot allow Brady to sit back there and pick them apart. They need to mix up their looks and pressure Brady early and often. Denver has the defense that can do what's necessary to win, but it will be by far their toughest challenge of the year.

At the very least, I'm hoping for a close and competitive game. Denver has to force NE into punting situations early...

The non-homer in me says Patriots 34 / Denver 24
The cautiously optimistic fan in me says Denver 30 / Patriots 27

I do think we'll see a better game that many expect. Everything at this point to me is gravy, I never viewed it as a reality at any point in the season.

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

Sooner or later it will click.

[Mile High Mania]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

They probably didn't realize they would lose 2/3's of their D-Line in the 1st quarter either.

True, but Denver has also been without key players... they lost Decker during the game and then they went pass happy. Who knew?

Go back to the earlier NE/DEN game... McGahee has 70 of the 167 yards in that 1st quarter I believe... gets hurt, Denver develops a fumbling problem in the 2nd quarter when they can no longer run thanks to the injury and some adjustments from NE.

I think it's going to be closer than expected...

[notorious]

It would have been a closer game in Denver if they wouldn't have turned the ball over in the 2nd quarter.


With that said: 24-10 Pats.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by jd1020

Sooner or later it will click.

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

True, but Denver has also been without key players... they lost Decker during the game and then they went pass happy. Who knew?

Go back to the earlier NE/DEN game... McGahee has 70 of the 167 yards in that 1st quarter I believe... gets hurt, Denver develops a fumbling problem in the 2nd quarter when they can no longer run thanks to the injury and some adjustments from NE.

I think it's going to be closer than expected...

You better hope they don't go pass-happy this week. Mostly lost in all the glee post-game was the fact that Praise God! was 10-21. The yardage, while amazing, and the finish, while story-book, were both aberrations based on the rest of the year.

So while I think you were right on in your initial post when you talk about what you want to see, I'm not sure how much passing you really do want mixed-in. I would say the best-case scenario for you guys is a game where he doesn't throw more than 15 or 20 passes.

[Mile High Mania]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

You better hope they don't go pass-happy this week. Mostly lost in all the glee post-game was the fact that Praise God! was 10-21. The yardage, while amazing, and the finish, while story-book, were both aberrations based on the rest of the year.

So while I think you were right on in your initial post when you talk about what you want to see, I'm not sure how much passing you really do want mixed-in.

Yeah, but you type the 10-21 as if the 11 incompletes were horrible misfires. IIRC, there were 2 easy drops ... possibly 3. I know Thomas had one.

In the first game, Praise God! was 11-22 for 193 yards with another 93 rushing and 2 TDs.

Nobody should expect 25-40... that's likely not going to happen. Make 25-28 attempts and go from there. They don't have the weapons at WR/TE to be "pass happy" and it doesn't fit their strength of running the ball.

[Bane]

Shit,BB will serve up a clinic and put this ****ing Tebow shit on ICE.

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

Yeah, but you type the 10-21 as if the 11 incompletes were horrible misfires.

I didn't insinuate anything of the sort. I simply said that he was at his normal sub-50% completion rate. Which he was.

[Munson]

Pats win 34-13

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by Munson

Pats win 34-13

That sounds about right. And all the Facebook cock suckers posting how much they love Praise God! will be silent like they were the 3 weeks before the playoffs.

[Mile High Mania]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

I didn't insinuate anything of the sort. I simply said that he was at his normal sub-50% completion rate. Which he was.

Right, but it's not like the % really affected the wins or losses... there's nothing to point to and say if he does this, they win.

Again - this is going to be more about what Denver's defense is able to do or rather, stop Brady from doing. If they can't keep the Patriots from going crazy, then it doesn't matter if TT is 25-30 for 350 and 2 scores.

[Consistent1]

I honestly don't think Denver will win, but truthfully, nothing would surprise me.

[Dayze]

Pats - 30
Apostles - 16

[boogblaster]

Cheatland 24
Dorks 13

[Amnorix]

Patriots losses in the last 5 or so years all have one thing in common -- pressure on Brady which slows down the offense, with the associated item that Patriots losses are by LOWER scores than expected. Jets-Pats was 28-21. Ravens-Pats was 33-14. Patriots-Giants was 17-14.

With Miller and Dumervil (sp?) the Broncos can do it, but they didn't do it the first game and I doubt they can now. If the Broncos can get pressure with 4 rushers, or can do a truly grat job of jamming the Pats receivers etc. to slow them down and give their rushers time to get to Brady, then they've got a shot.

That or the unexpected turnover-fest, a la 2005 playoffs against the Donx. That's REALLY rare though.


I don't think the Donx can, on a short week, on a quick turnaround from a highly emotional win, go into Gillette and beat a relatively healthy, totally pissed off from two straight one-and-dones in the playoffs, Patriots team. I **REALLY** dont' think so.

So Patriots 34, Tebows 17.