Amnorix - it's time for the Hoodie Bowl

[Mile High Mania]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

My thoughts, randomly stated:

1. Patriots have always had trouble with Denver, epsecially at Mile High. With Shanahan, especially, but even before him with Dan Reeves.

It's the benefit of home field.. NE has the same when they play at home, which is where they played in 2008 when NE blasted Denver. But, both teams have had a face lift since that meeting.

Originally Posted by Amnorix

2. Patriots had TREMENDOUS turnover this past offseason. Much more than normal for any NFL team, much less one that went 11-5 last year. Lots of coaches left, not just McDaniels, and a number of senior players retired or were traded. Because of that, we started off very slow. Squeaking past the mediocre Bills, and losing to the Jets. But we're improving faster than any team in the NFL, as Brady gains more confidence and the defense learns each other's names (with Mayo out, only something like 4 starters otu of 11 returned on the defense). The Pats team that played the Ravens was exponentially better than the pathetic version that squeaked by Buffalo.

Denver has started slow too... with a new coaching staff, new offense and new 3-4 defense with 52% roster turnover. Defensively, there are 5 new starters and on offense... new QB, two new RBs... lots of new players, some you are familiar with as well. Massive turnover has touched both teams, but I don't think NE experienced more...

Originally Posted by Amnorix

3. Patriots defense is surprisingly good. If Mayo comes back, and he may be back this week as he seemingly participated in practice last Friday, then look out. This defense may be much better than anyone had anticipated before the season started.

I don't believe there are any injury concerns coming from yesterday's game for Denver, but the exact same applies for Denver. Nobody expected much from this team... there's a "Garbage" clip around here somewhere. 75% of Denver's secondary was churned for the better... new starters up front and at LB are proving to be fantastic additions so far.

Originally Posted by Amnorix

4. McDaniels is a good coach, and I have no doubt he has several very explicit thoughts on the weaknesses of the Patriots players. That said, it's not as if every other team in the NFL hasn't been attacking the Patriots' perceived weaknesses for years. You think Mangina didn't speak with other coaches and try to give them tips when he was HC of the NYJ? Haven't Patriots coaches left to go to other franchises before. Other players have moved on too -- Ty Law, Lawyer Milloy, Drew Bledsoe, the list is nearly endless.

Enh, too much is made of this in my opinion... yeah, McD has intimate knowledge of what NE does... maybe some things you can't pick up on film. But, it's not like Bill doesn't know how McD thinks... and McD is still a rookie HC, so I'm not going to suggest that McD has some jedi tricks ready to roll. Unless he's ready to unveil the league's next greatest phenomenon since the Wildcat.

Originally Posted by Amnorix

I think it will be a tough game, but I think the Patriots can and will take Marshall out of the game, as they did TO and Tony Gonzalez, while the Broncos will struggle to contain the rapidly improving Pats offense.

BUF and NE games were in NE... tough place for any young QBs to play and taking TO out of the mix hasn't proved to be that incredibly difficult this year. And, based on the games I've seen... McD has done a fine job of taking Marshall out of the mix, but the good thing is... they have several other very capable weapons and what I do like is that after this last game, a happy and productive Marshall will require special attention from the NE defense. But, to suggest taking TO out means they will take Marshall out... that's a bit dreamy. Again, we'll see.

Originally Posted by Amnorix

I admit that I don't believe, yet, that the Broncos are "real". In fact, the entire AFCW seems pretty unreal to me, and not in a good way.

I don't know if they're "real" yet either... but, I do know they've played damn well ... everyone was touting the vaunted Cowboys' rushing attack and they didn't break 80 yards. The game is in Denver... the place will be electric and at the very least, Denver's defense has played consistently well and while they break on a few plays, they stand tall when it matters. So far...

I could see a 20-17 ending to this one... I just hope that Denver does enough to be on the 20 side of that equation.

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

I could see a 20-17 ending to this one... I just hope that Denver does enough to be on the 20 side of that equation.

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.

[Mile High Mania]

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.

We'll soon find out... NE is 3-0 on the home turf and they lost the one road game they played vs the Jets. The Bills put up 24 points against NE, so I'll take my chances with Denver hitting the 20 point mark in Denver.

[JD10367]

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.

I dunno, I can see Denver scoring 14 offensively, but add a few FGs and another Matt Light "Ole!" block that results in a fumble... It wouldn't shock me if the Broncos put up 24, 27 points.

The question, really, is going to be which Brady shows up (the off-target one of the first halves, or the more accurate Brady of the second halves). And which Patriots' O-line shows up. And whether or not the WRs catch all the passes or drop more of them. Depending on how all that goes, the Pats could hang 31 or 34 on Denver, or could only score 13.

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by JD10367

I dunno, I can see Denver scoring 14 offensively, but add a few FGs and another Matt Light "Ole!" block that results in a fumble... It wouldn't shock me if the Broncos put up 24, 27 points.

Ravens with #2 rated offense averaging 30'ish points and 430'ish yards of offense per game put up 21, only 14 of it by offense. I like Flacco more than Orton, and the Ravens' OLine more than Denvers. I also don't think any RAvens defender is nearly as good as Monsieur Suggs.

Finally, you're ignoring the fact that, unlike against the Ravens stellar defense, I expect the Pats to possess the ball for 35+ minutes against Denver, as they have against nearly every other team they have played this year. I think the Denver defense is performing over its head the first month here.

The question, really, is going to be which Brady shows up (the off-target one of the first halves, or the more accurate Brady of the second halves). And which Patriots' O-line shows up. And whether or not the WRs catch all the passes or drop more of them. Depending on how all that goes, the Pats could hang 31 or 34 on Denver, or could only score 13.

If Welker and Moss play, we'll be fine. Game 1 was pathetic, as the offense couldnt' find it's rhythm with Brady back, etc. Next two games we didn't have Wes Welker, who helps make everything go in a big way.

I'm expecting to see teh Pats offense improve steadily from here out, assuming no serious injuries.

OLine did fine last week against the Ravens, other than the Suggs disaster.

[JD10367]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

Ravens with #2 rated offense averaging 30'ish points and 430'ish yards of offense per game put up 21, only 14 of it by offense.

On the other hand, Baltimore's numbers (like Denver's) might benefit from the opponents. The Ravens did play KC and Cleveland, and the schitzo Chargers.

If this were in Foxboro, it'd be a different story. But that thin air, and a few long drives... This might be the first game of the year the Pats don't have the time-of-possession edge in.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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...

[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?