Amnorix - it's time for the Hoodie Bowl

[Mile High Mania]

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.

<<>>>

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

[Mile High Mania]

I was glancing at schedules and who some "top teams" have played... nobody really has played a stellar schedule yet.

Total wins by the teams they've faced:

Falcons = 4 (2 of 2 wins vs Miami & Carolina)
Ravens = 5 (2 of 3 wins vs KC and CLE)
Denver = 6 (2 of 4 wins vs Oak and CLE)
Patriots = 9 wins (2 of 3 wins vs Bills and Falcons)

Each of those teams has had 2 wins vs teams considered to be spare...

The Jets (I think have played the toughest schedule with 8 wins total), but 1 win was vs TN. The Bills have only defeated the Bucs, but they've also played the Pats, Saints.

What does all this mean? I really dunno... ... only wanted to point out that Denver isn't alone with the soft looking schedule through 4 games.

[BY1401]

Originally Posted by JD10367

This might be the first game of the year the Pats don't have the time-of-possession edge in.

Time of possession is overrated.

[DaFace]

What a strange board this is when we have a full-fledged discussion going on between multiple fans of other teams about a game that has nothing to do with the Chiefs.

[Mile High Mania]

Originally Posted by DaFace

What a strange board this is when we have a full-fledged discussion going on between multiple fans of other teams about a game that has nothing to do with the Chiefs.

Well, if Denver loses to NE and KC defeats Dallas... you're only 3 back...

[Garcia Bronco]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

I admit I'll be surprised if you can score 20 on the Patriots defense, and I'll be surprised if the Patriots can't score at least 21 against the Broncos.

I'll say 24-14 or somesuch, Patriots.

Except our offense is just as good as yours and our Defense is better than yours, but whatever. Our running game is definately better than yours. You guys will win walking away.

[Garcia Bronco]

Originally Posted by DaFace

What a strange board this is when we have a full-fledged discussion going on between multiple fans of other teams about a game that has nothing to do with the Chiefs.

It's a testiment to how good this board is.

[Mile High Mania]

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

Except our offense is just as good as your as our Defense is better than yours, but whatever. You guys will win walking away.

[Garcia Bronco]

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

Kyboard battey almost dea.

[Mile High Mania]

Here's what Denver wants to avoid... making this a Brady vs Orton air show. I don't think Orton can win that battle right now. Yes, he has a lot of weapons... but they're not as "in step" with each other as Brady and his weapons.

The defense needs consistent pressure on Brady... they have to do this in order to have a chance.

[listopencil]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

I haven't watched the play 10 times from different angles or anything. From the 2 or 3 times I saw it replayed during the game, it appeared he simply went low without any good reason, admittedly not hitting Brady hard, but with potentially malicious intent. Talk up here is for Suggs to expect to receive a fine from the league.

What redeeming circumstances did I miss, other than that he didn't, in fact, blow out anyone's knee?

Honestly, it didn't look malicious at all. It seems to me he was attacking the spot Brady was in when he lunged, and Brady moved back. And that's why I question the call. It's true that you can't hit that area of the body. But it wasn't a "hit". The guy barely made contact as he was moving forward. The refs can't expect a 300 pound man to magically levitate just because Tom Brady wants to throw the ball.

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

Except our offense is just as good as yours and our Defense is better than yours, but whatever. Our running game is definately better than yours. You guys will win walking away.

KnowMo, is that you?

[JD10367]

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

Except our offense is just as good as yours and our Defense is better than yours, but whatever. Our running game is definately better than yours.

You've beaten two creampuffs in Cleveland and Oakland. You beat the Bengals by a whopping 12-7 and that took a lucky bounce. You did beat Dallas by a TD... then again, Dallas is a 2-2 paper tiger with two wins over winless teams (Carolina and Tampa Bay).

The Pats beat two opponents (Atlanta and Baltimore) who are head-and-shoulders better than what you've faced so far.

If you want to say that the Broncos are exceeding expectations, fine. That the D is performing well, fine. That Orton is managing the offense well, that Knowshon has been solid so far, that Brandon Marshall is a top-flight WR... okay. But please don't act like the Broncos are some sort of unstoppable powerhouse simply because they've beaten a few pushovers so far. Your offense is as good as New England's? Ooookay.

It's pretty simple. New England, San Diego, Baltimore, Pittsburgh. All teams expected to make the playoffs. Two doing pretty good, two struggling but still dangerous. Beat TWO of those four in the next month, and I'll be impressed. Hell, beat ONE and I'll concede the Broncos might win the AFC West.

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by Garcia Bronco

Except our offense is just as good as yours and our Defense is better than yours, but whatever.

Wait, what?

[listopencil]

Originally Posted by JD10367

It's pretty simple. New England, San Diego, Baltimore, Pittsburgh. All teams expected to make the playoffs. Two doing pretty good, two struggling but still dangerous. Beat TWO of those four in the next month, and I'll be impressed. Hell, beat ONE and I'll concede the Broncos might win the AFC West.

This is an important game coming up, the first one I picked us to lose as a matter of fact. But the following week is the big one. We play at San Diego. Win that one and we have a good chance of winning the division.

[Mile High Mania]

Originally Posted by JD10367

You've beaten two creampuffs in Cleveland and Oakland. You beat the Bengals by a whopping 12-7 and that took a lucky bounce. You did beat Dallas by a TD... then again, Dallas is a 2-2 paper tiger with two wins over winless teams (Carolina and Tampa Bay).

The Pats beat two opponents (Atlanta and Baltimore) who are head-and-shoulders better than what you've faced so far.

If you want to say that the Broncos are exceeding expectations, fine. That the D is performing well, fine. That Orton is managing the offense well, that Knowshon has been solid so far, that Brandon Marshall is a top-flight WR... okay. But please don't act like the Broncos are some sort of unstoppable powerhouse simply because they've beaten a few pushovers so far. Your offense is as good as New England's? Ooookay.

It's pretty simple. New England, San Diego, Baltimore, Pittsburgh. All teams expected to make the playoffs. Two doing pretty good, two struggling but still dangerous. Beat TWO of those four in the next month, and I'll be impressed. Hell, beat ONE and I'll concede the Broncos might win the AFC West.

If I'm not mistaken... 1 of ATL's 2 wins is against Carolina (winless) and two of Baltimore's 3 wins are against KC and Cleveland (winless). Again, they were both 'expected' to do well, but they haven't played a bunch of powerhouses either. Just sayin...