Amnorix - it's time for the Hoodie Bowl
 

Yeah, yeah... this is a Chiefs' board, but I wanted to stir something up with the resident NE fan. I definitely like the location of this game and it has to be nothing but a solid advantage for Denver. If Dallas was favored by a FG, I'm guessing NE will be favored by at least 6-7 points.

It is what it is, but if Denver's defense plays like they have in the first 4 games... then it's going to be a close game and one that Denver could actually win. Can they go 5-0? That's a tall freaking order, but they're slowly getting more aggressive on offense and defensively, they're going to be tested for 4 straight quarters with NE.

The realists in me says Denver will not go 5-0... something has to give and Denver will lose a number of games this year, but I'm very optimistic about their chances of winning if they can put the pressure on Brady like they did with Romo.

Amnorix - what do you think of this matchup? Oh, and the rest of you can chime in as well... this will be an interesting chess match between teacher and pupil.

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Stats are stats... but, here you go.

Total Offense
Patriots - 8th
Passing - 5th overall (273 ypg) / Rushing 18th (102 ypg)
Broncos - 9th
Passing - 17th overall (217 ypg) / Rushing 4th (148 ypg)

NE averages 21.8 points per game / DEN averages 19.8 points per game
NE ranked 3rd in TOP with 35+ minutes / DEN ranked 12th with 30+ minutes

Total Defense
Patriots - 8th
Passing - 8th (192 ypg) / 11th (95 ypg)
Broncos - 2nd
Passing - 3rd overall (162 yg) / 5th (77 ypg)

NE allowing 17.8 points per game / DEN allowing 6.5 points per game
NE ranked 14th with 8 sacks / DEN ranked #1 with 15 sacks

From what I remember, the Broncos always seem to give New England fits.

5-0 isn't out of the question for Denver, IMRO.

The Donkeys are an aberration. They will come down to earth. I'd make the Pats about a 8-9 point favorite.

Denver has a solid W/L record overall vs NE... 24 wins and 16 losses overall.

NE thumped Denver in 2008 in NE. DEN defeated NE in 2006 in NE and twice in 2005, once in the regular season and once in the playoffs - both in Denver.

Denver could have an advantage over the Patriots in the coaching department this week. McDaniels knows everything about Tom Brady and the strengths and weakness of that offense.

Belichick knows McDaniels well, but he doesn't know our players and their strengths and weakness.

This will be an interesting sideline chess match.

After almost 8 years of game film, I'd imagine the entire league knows everything they need to know about Tom Brady.

That doesn't mean you stop him.

And laugh out freaking loud at the comment that McDaniels might have the coaching edge over Belichick.

There is no way you believe the things you type on here.

Is it wrong to wish for a meteor shower to hit the field during the game?

I'm cool with just a single large meteor.

Who would know more about a team....

Someone who coached that team for 8 years?

Or someone who played them once every 4 years?

McDaniels would know more than anyone what Tom Brady struggles against. He was his QB Coach after-all.

McDaniels is one of the smartest coaches in the NFL. Mike Shanahan was great at coming up with a gameplan to start out hot early in the game, but he rarely made adjustments at halftime and we almost always started out slowly in the 3rd Quarter.

McDaniels has been EXCELLENT at adjusting on the fly especially after halftime.

Denver is better than people thought they'd be, especially on D. On O, I grudgingly concede that Knowshon was a good pick, and the formerly-unhappy WR has got game. Orton is a game manager who isn't asked to do too much, but if the O-line can chop-block... er, I mean, pass-protect--then he can get the job done.

Playing in Denver is always an advantage for the Broncos.

McDaniels will add nothing to this week. As mentioned, EVERYONE knows what Brady can do. It's not like he's new to the league. And, trust me, Belichick always has tricks up his sleeve that he hasn't shown his minions. Belichick knows what it is that he has and hasn't shown McDaniels, so Belichick will gameplan accordingly.

It'll probably be a close game, especially if Brady continues his off-target first-half performances. But the Broncos have yet to play an opponent as good as the Patriots, IMO. Yeah, their stats are better than the Pats, but they also played weaker teams. The Pats are on a weird roll where each team they play is undefeated at the time (Buffalo was 0-0, the Jets were 1-0, the Falcons were 2-0, the Ravens were 3-0, and the Broncos are 4-0).

If the Broncos win, or keep it within 7, I'll concede that they're for real and have a solid shot at winning the AFC West, especially if the Chargers keep shitting their pants and underachieving.

Really, nothing would surprise me this weekend. Big Pats win, squeaker win by either side, big Broncos win. Although, of course, as a Patriots fan I feel the latter is a very slim possibility. :)

The Broncos can beat the Patriots, provided none of their defenders goes within three yards of Tom Brady. Any violation of Tom Brady's Personal Space will result in a 15 yard penalty and automatic first down.

As a Patriots fan going to Denver is one game I'm always nervous. I've learned to hate the Broncos because they give us fits. But after beating Atlanta and the Ravens, if the Patriots can gpo in there and beat Denver they are all the way back.
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Yeah, yeah, we get it. The fouls were a bit ticky-tack. But, frankly, everyone knows that star players get star treatment. Michael Jordan made a living off it in the NBA. If you whack a Brady or a Peyton they're gonna call it quicker than if you hog-wrestle Joe Flacco or JaFatAss Russell. It's not right, but that's how it goes.

On the one hand, I agree with Rodney Harrison. The QBs are protected too much. On the other hand, "it is what it is". Everyone knows the rules. Everyone knows that if you even graze a QB's head with your hand it's getting called. Everyone knows that if you hit the knees it's getting called. Whether you meant it or not ain't worth shit. I'm pretty sure that Squirmin' Herman didn't tell the Chiefs D at the start of last season's opener, "Okay, no matter what, we have to take Brady out!" :shrug: The NFL has put the QB in a protective bubble.

Uh... no. If they beat Denver, they are not "all the way back". In the first place, Denver is not the measuring stick for that. In the second place, the Pats were never "not back". In the third place, they don't hand out hats and T-shirts for beating Denver in early October. It's just another game in a long line of tough games.

Now, if Brady does NOT have a shaky first half, and has a nice 70% completion rate day of 400 yards and 4 TDs, then maybe HE is "all the way back". That's about it.

I think Brady is the only QB in the league who gets that call on Suggs.