Rob0729

So the original poster wishes the Pats would dig themselves a three or four TD hole for Brady to bring them back which sometimes works and sometimes doesn't? What the original poster either chooses to ignore or admit, the reason why Manning closes like he did last night and in a failed attempt against the Pats is because he and the rest of his team play like crap for the first half and digs themselves a huge hole to dig themselves out of.

• The Broncos were down 24-0 at the end of the half last night (won 35-24).
• Against the Pats, they were down 31-7 until late in the third quarter (lost 31-21).
• Against the Texans, they were down 31-11 going into the fourth (lost 31-25).
• Against Atlanta, they were down 27-7 going into the fourth (lost 27-21).
• Against the Steelers, they were down 10-7 at the half and up 14-13 after the third (won 31-19).
• Against the Raiders, they were up 10-3 at the half (won 37-6).

The problem with the Broncos this year is not the way Manning closes, but how he opens. Manning and the Broncos are great closers, but they are God awful openers. Against bad and average teams, they have a shot to either keep it close in the first half or dig themselves out of a hole. Against the better teams of the league, the hole is insurmountable.

The Pats desperately need to improve how they close out games, but I wouldn't want to emulate the Broncos and Manning.

Bobs My Uncle

It's kinda like picking the best between a Bentley, a Lambo and a Bugatti.

Kid~Brady

You know that the orignal poster wasn't insinuating that he wants Brady and the Pats to start off in a 24-0 hole. You even mentioned that you understood that we have a issue closing games out than typed this out.

He just mentioned the fact that this team cannot close games as of late. While the Patriots usually play with the lead for most of the game, if not all, we haven't been closing games and its been on the offense just as much as the defense. Sunday, it was the offense that failed to close the game. Defense forced Seattle into a 3-and-out and the Patriots crapped the bed.

Its not how you start, its how you finish. In all honesty, I'd take the way the Broncos game went over the way the Patriots game went anyday.

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jcdavey

too true....

Rob0729

"Its not how you start, its how you finish."

Really, in the Broncos/Pats game, the Broncos finished stronger the Pats. The Broncos totally outplayed the Pats in the fourth quarter. Same can be said on how the Broncos outplayed both the Falcons and Texans in the second half. The Broncos got an 0-3 record for those strong finishes.

It isn't how you start or finish, it is how you play all 60 minutes. Slow starts and fast finishes like the Broncos had vs. the Pats, Falcons, and Texans are no better than the Pats had with the Pats having fast starts and slow finishes vs. the Seahawks and Ravens. All produced losses.

Again, the Pats have issues closing games, but emulating a team or QB who are having similar success (actually failures) because he cannot open games is just silly. The Pats need to finish strong in games, but saying you wish the Pats could close games like the Broncos is foolish.

dannydyn

Actually we've been very good at closing games from behind.

What we CAN'T do is hang on to leads when we start strong.

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Kid~Brady

Yes, I think everyone on the board knows and agrees with you but the original poster was just referring to our inability to close games, not be down by 3 TDs, not have to make comebacks each and every game... etc, etc.

His point was that he wishes we could start games out as fast as we have, maintain the lead like we have but then NOT let the lead slip away... like we have.

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Rob0729

I don't disagree with the overall point of closing games strong, but write that and don't start a thread saying they wish Brady would close games like Manning. The Pats don't need to close games like Manning because the Pats rarely need to score 2-3 TDs in the fourth quarter like Manning has had to this year. I would much rather close games like Matt Ryan or the other Manning who protects leads and not let the other team have opportunities to get back into the game.

If the Pats' problem this year was that they needed Brady to lead a lot of come from behind victories, this thread would be valid. They have problems protecting multiscore leads. Totally different way to close out a game. Starting a thread to compare Brady to Manning to push a totally unrelated issue is not a strong premise.

PatsFan2

The Patriots better start winning from now on...the Broncos have an advantage over us because they play in a Terrible Division. Our Head to head win against them is huge so we better hold serve with wins. I have a feeling injuries are going to bring some of these Teams back to the pack.

Rob0729

The AFC East isn't much better than the AFC West. And I think the Pats have a good shot at sweeping the AFC East. The Broncos have the AFC North which is the best division in the AFC. The Pats have the AFC South which is a bad division other than the Texans. Although the NFC South is much easier than the NFC West (the Pats only have two games left there though). I don't think the Broncos' schedule is any easier than the Pats.