TheBostonStraggler

You make some solid points. But the bad news is that and 5 bucks gets you a Venti Mocha at Starbucks. Denver earned the best opportunity to host the AFCCG. IMHO doesn't really matter how you get that #1 seed, you just find a way to get it. Then once you get it, next step is to play your best football. You do that and regardless of how much schedule or divine intervention helped, you are playing in the SB. So unless your stat research suggests the Broncos will not play their best football over the next few weeks, they just are not relevant......

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letekro

This is the understatement of the year. It was hard enough beating Jake Plummer in Denver. Beating Peyton Manning and that Pass rush in the altitude and in front of those great fans is going to be a tall order.

Deus Irae

They're a good team, although I think they're overrated. They'll have a chance to measure up in the playoffs, and all will be decided.

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PATRIOTSFANINPA

IF the Pats and Broncos both win their divisional game and meet then I would expect a healthy dose of film study on how the Texans were able to achieve success in Mile High and win.

We all know Denver has a distinct advantage at home,I just am not frightened of them and their top seed ranking,I would be more concerned of facing an angry and under the radar Texans team again.

NextGenBronco

Hi everyone, Broncos fan here. Thought it might be fun to have some fun discussions over here. From my obviously biased perspective i cant disagree more.

The Broncos DID have an easy conference schedule, but so do the Pats. In fact, they might play in the 2 worst conferences in the league, certainly the AFC.

But...
The Broncos haven't had an easy schedule. Our 3 losses come from 3 teams that all held the 1 seed at times during the season. All three came early in the season when the entire offense was basically dysfunctional, Peyton still lacked arm strength, and our D was adjusting to their 7th new D coordinator in 7 seasons. Despite all of this the Broncos only lost because of ealy mental mistakes such as turnovers and penalties. Not to mention, the Broncos almost came back in all 3 of these games.

Since then the Broncos have beaten...

- streaking Saints (wk 8) and Bucs (wk 13)teams that at the time were called "the hottest team in football." These teams were both scoring a lot of points making cases for the playoffs.

-Cinnci and Baltimore... Both on the road. (BTW the Pats are 0-2 vs teams over .500 on the road this year.)

-And they never came CLOSE to losing to any of the bottom tier teams they played. (Unlike the Patriot's poor performances vs. the Jags and on the road vs Miami)

While I concede the point that we had an easy closing schedule and havent faced a great QB the last few weeks, the Pats cant claim that they have fared any better having closed with the Jags and Miami and not performing great in the former.

SO...
overall I think that while the Broncos havent had a difficult schedule, it wasnt easy either. And you cant discount the fact that, dispite the easy schedule, the Broncos have used these games to work on things and improve each and every week.
GO BRONCOS!

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Champ Bailey - 100 yd INT (2005 AFC Divisional vs. New England)

RYObroncosfan

As one of the resident broncos fans here, I'm obligated to chime in, despite being on mobile right now, so forgive any typos or shorthand...

The fact that we haven't played a good team recently scares me, it really does (unless you count a beaten up Baltimore team or the Bengals). I'd be lying if I said in wasn't nervous. However, good teams win games and as you all know from your many win streaks...an 11 game win streak is impressive regardless of who you're beating.

Not only have we won 11 straight, but we've become just the second team in 60 years to win 11+ by 7 or more points. In other words, not only are we winning, but were not even playing close games. So as far as what else they can prove going into the playoffs...not much. We did lose to the three best teams we played, but its hard to say how we would've played if we matched up later in the season. Not to make excuses (though I will), Peyton's first few games he was playing on a brand new team, in a brand new scheme, after sitting out a year of full speed regular season games. That's not easy, and it was going to take time to adjust. Getting DJ Williams back from his suspension at LB was helpful and our D has really looked strong the second half of the season (granted, we didn't play many scary offenses, but still). Although, I think it was the OP that said we beat the Saints in week 2...it was later than that, after Bree's had really started playing better, and aside from that falcons game, the saints didn't have a worse offensive performance all season.

What will happen if/when we play the Pats? Who knows, it's the NFL...but while last game was very one sided...we're in a groove offensively now AND we'd be at home, which is a huge, huge advantage for us.

I'm really confident in my team, and I still think we can win it all...the only top 5 offense AND defense in the league indicates we have the balance for it...but if there's one team that can stop us, it's you guys. Whatever happens, it should be fun.

Feel free as always to ask any questions about how we play, might match up, etc. I haven't missed a Pats game or a Broncos game all season, so I have a good idea about the two teams. Now if you'll excuse me, I think my hand is about to fall off from typing this on mobile.

Deus Irae

The Broncos didn't beat a single good opponent that was healthy and playing well at the time they met up. Also, I don't know what Broncos team you watched this year, but the one from planet Earth struggled against the Chiefs the first time around, and only beat the Chargers because Rivers imploded in the second half, so pointing to lackluster Patriots wins is a bit silly on your part. Finally, the Broncos lost all 3 of their games because they were beaten by better teams, not because they made a few early mistakes.

Don't be blind to your team's question marks and weaknesses. That doesn't make you a better fan and it doesn't make the games any more fun.

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PATRIOTSFANINPA

I blame the lackluster game against the Jags was because it was coming off 2prime time games in a row against good teams and that failed just short comeback against the Niners probably took a lot out of them,I was not surprised they didn't blow out the Jags coming off two tough opponents and while being on the road after they gave it all in that 28 point 4th quarter.

Besides it was surely hard to get fired up after those games when you are facing a 2-12 team that almost caught them napping.

I can assure you that you won't see another lackluster effort like that Jags game again in the playoffs....Belichick I am sure made his presence known in the locker room after that game as if it were a loss,they won't get caught playing like that again this year.

You want to knock the Pats out of the playoffs,then you better force turnovers.

JMarr

The fact that they've had an easy schedule doesn't negate the fact that they're playing lights out right now. That being said, ***** horseface, the luckiest bastard in the history of the NFL, whose greatest legacy will be the regularity with which he throws teammates under the bus when things go wrong, and who has benefited from more bogus PI calls than any QB in NFL history.

And ***** the Donkeys and their stupid fans, the majority of whom thought Tebow was a legit QB and would of practically died for Him....that is until Peytie came to town and the forgot about Tebow like he never existed. I started going to their boards when McDaniels was hired and, on the whole, they are almost as idiotic and delusional as Jets fans.

I want Houston to grow a set and wipe the floor with them in two weeks because I DO NOT want Goddell's wet dream to come true with a Peytie/Brady matchup in Mile High where the refs WILL gift the Tennessee Teabagger another trip to the SB.