My AFC playoff projections

[Sivy]

There are some negative ass people around here.


Team done came back from 31-3 to tie a game where nothing was going there way. Without GRONK!!! Brady came out at half time, went up to the stadium, squatted down and carried the entire place on his shoulders. With Gronk back, that weight will be a little less and they will not be stopped.

 

[Brady=Dilf]

Not afraid of Denver. Even at their place. Like another poster said, they always come out flat and the good offenses (Atl, NE, Hou) took advantage of that. Hell even against the Ravens, take away the interception return and it was 10-0 at half time with the Ravens about to score.

It happens every year, the Colts would look dominant in the regular season only to flop in the post season. Nothing new. Same QB different team.

 

[sevengables_2207]

I personally do not understand why you guys are so confident in playing @ Denver. New England is a great team and I fear New England more than any other team in the NFL. That being said, Yes, Denver is 1-3 vs the elite teams this year but they have not lost in 9 straight games. Losing 24-0 at halftime with a 2-3 record, they came back to beat San Diego 35-0 in the second half and haven't looked back since then. We had the hardest schedule in the NFL over the course of the first 6 weeks and it was Peyton's immediate return to the NFL after surgery with hardly anytime to gel with his receivers and offense. As the season goes on, he gets better and better with his teamates around him and it shows in the play on the field.

Denver is the only team in the NFL that tom brady has a losing record against.
He is 2-5 in the regular season and 1-1 in playoffs vs Denver.
If the game were to go to NE, I think it would be a close New England win.
Since more than likely the game is going to be in DEN, I'm predicting a Denver win.

All of that being said, the game could go either way, wherever it is played, but i do not think you guys should be so confident and quick to write off the Broncos in a playoff scenario, ESPECIALLY @ mile high.

Good luck to you guys the rest of the season and post season, i have the utmost respect for the Patriots organization.

I am not overconfident nor suggest Denver at MH is an automatic victory for New England.

My earlier posts were aimed at those who cite Brady's losing record against Denver as a reason to abandon all hope. The past three meetings, I would argue, are more indicative of what may unfold based on current roster makeup/coaching etc. All three game were comfortable Patriot victories (granted, the first two were played before Manning signed).

I just feel that New England is a bad matchup for Denver. However, Denver is very good and will be a challenge to beat at MH make no mistake.

 

[JMC00]

brady is 3-6 vs denver...only team that he has a losing record against..and i want to say out of those 6 losses...5 were in denver.. will be very tough


But like SVN said..the chips just fall this way i guess....if SD didn't blow their 24 pt lead over denver early in year we would be #2 right now ect ect ect..can do ifs all day..just sucks when the chips don't fall your way

He's 4-6 (has won the last 3) and 3 of them were in Denver. He's actually 2-3 in Denver.

'01 (@Denver)- Brady's rookie year. I think i'll give him a break on that one since he won a SB that year.

'02 (home) I believe that was the last loss of the the Patriots last 4 game losing streak. The Pats last single digital winning season.

'05 (home)- Brady almost brought them back in that game.

'05 (@Denver) Playoff Game- Where Faulk, Samuel, Hobbs & Brown spotted them 17 points
Up 3-0 Faulk fumbles on the NE 40. 2 Plays later Samuel gets called for PI puts the Broncos on the 1. Score 7-6
Ensuing Kick-Off Hobbs fumbles. Denver gets a FG. 10-6
Brady throws the pick. 17-6 going into the 4th quarter.
2 minutes into the 4th, Brown muffs a punt Denver gets it at the 15 run 3 plays and get the TD.
24-6

Even with Brady's pick if Faulk, Hobbs and Brown can hold onto the ball it is almost certain that is a vastly different game.

'06 (home)

'09 (@Denver) McDaniels-Over-Time Game.
-McDaniels combined with that was the worst Patriot team Belichick has ever had and they lost by 3.


Well I know 5 of the 6 had one thing in common. Mike Shanahan was Denver's coach. The guy coaches well vs Brady and Belichick. Look at last year's Pats/Skins game.

So why put more emphasis on the last lost being three years ago than the fact that the last three times they have played Brady is 3-0.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Yeah he has won last 3...but only 1 vs manning so far...the others were tebow...

 

[Froob]

The bad record vs denver is almost irrelevant. Champ Bailey is probably the only bronco left from the same team that gave Brady and company trouble over the years. No more shanny, no more Jake the snake, no more rod smith, no more javon walker, no tatum bell or mike anderson(w/e his name was). This is an entirely new team.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

The bad record vs denver is almost irrelevant. Champ Bailey is probably the only bronco left from the same team that gave Brady and company trouble over the years. No more shanny, no more Jake the snake, no more rod smith, no more javon walker, no tatum bell or mike anderson(w/e his name was). This is an entirely new team.

javon walker...now thats a name i haven't heard in a lonnnnng time..wow that was a while a go

 

[JMC00]

Yeah he has won last 3...but only 1 vs manning so far...the others were tebow...

And that one was this year.

People keep saying how Manning and the Broncos have improved over the season. Nope just ran into a bunch of crappy teams and a Baltimore team that has imploded because of injuries.

The best team they have played is the Bengals and that game was 20-17 Cincinnati with 14 minutes left. But they are the Bungles so.

Then there was Tampa who went in there and held Manning to under 250 yards (worst pass defense in the league). Were up 10-7 with 10 minutes left in the 3rd. Then went down 28-10 after a pick six. with 4 minutes left in the 3rd quarter and then got back within 8 with 2:30 seconds left in the game.

 

[Brady2Gronk]

I am so sick of Manning and would love to see Brady and the Pats take them out on their march to the superbowl. On the other hand, if they lost to Manning it would make me sick.

 

[1960Pats]

Yes they will. Some people need to stop this nonsense and stop putting so much weight on home field advantage.

We just got beat in Gillette stadium by a first year starting QB in the cold and rain(one of the most ideal conditions against a west coast team).
We lost to Arizona at Gillette stadium.
The Giants made 2 Superbowls by going on the road.


Why the hell can't we go on the road and win games? What are we the Saints or Seattle?

This is a mentally tough team and whether they play at home or on the road isn't going to make a difference to them. Just to us the fans. They're hungry, they want it, and it doesn't matter where they have to go. The Superbowl isn't played at home either.

I'm not scared at all about going on the road. We'll be fine at Reliant, we'll be fine at Mile High. We'll be fine wherever we have to go. We'll be ready.

I agree 100% that it doesn't matter that much for games, but a better playoff ranking would get an extra home game for our fans. The bye hasn't helped that much lately.

 

[Gronkowski123]

if we play denver we have to win.

ugh..i cant stand peyton and all of the whores one espn who continue to wash his balls. especially tom jackson.

 

[1960Pats]

I personally do not understand why you guys are so confident in playing @ Denver. New England is a great team and I fear New England more than any other team in the NFL. That being said, Yes, Denver is 1-3 vs the elite teams this year but they have not lost in 9 straight games. Losing 24-0 at halftime with a 2-3 record, they came back to beat San Diego 35-0 in the second half and haven't looked back since then. We had the hardest schedule in the NFL over the course of the first 6 weeks and it was Peyton's immediate return to the NFL after surgery with hardly anytime to gel with his receivers and offense. As the season goes on, he gets better and better with his teamates around him and it shows in the play on the field.

Denver is the only team in the NFL that tom brady has a losing record against.
He is 2-5 in the regular season and 1-1 in playoffs vs Denver.
If the game were to go to NE, I think it would be a close New England win.
Since more than likely the game is going to be in DEN, I'm predicting a Denver win.

All of that being said, the game could go either way, wherever it is played, but i do not think you guys should be so confident and quick to write off the Broncos in a playoff scenario, ESPECIALLY @ mile high.

Good luck to you guys the rest of the season and post season, i have the utmost respect for the Patriots organization.

I think we're confident because of our team's success. It's hard not to be.

I also wonder why you have us going to Denver when you haven't clinched home field over the Pats yet. That would make you the overconfident one.

You also need to understand that the older Manning has had some really hard times against our team, even when he hadn't lost some zip on his fastball. What scares me most about the older Manning is how much the ball washers of the NFL will want him to succeed, and that could have an impact on the field. That's what took place in 2006.

Are you really thumping your chest over the Broncos coming back against the Chargers? They suck, just like KC and Oakland. Don't get me wrong, I also respect the Broncos and P6, but I'm pretty sure that the schedule and weak division is exactly the reason that P6 went there in the first place.

 

[jah]

I think we're confident because of our team's success. It's hard not to be.

I also wonder why you have us going to Denver when you haven't clinched home field over the Pats yet. That would make you the overconfident one.

You also need to understand that the older Manning has had some really hard times against our team, even when he hadn't lost some zip on his fastball. What scares me most about the older Manning is how much the ball washers of the NFL will want him to succeed, and that could have an impact on the field. That's what took place in 2006.

Are you really thumping your chest over the Broncos coming back against the Chargers? They suck, just like KC and Oakland. Don't get me wrong, I also respect the Broncos and P6, but I'm pretty sure that the schedule and weak division is exactly the reason that P6 went there in the first place.

It's pretty obvious that the Broncos are going to get a higher seed than us at this point.

 

[The_Riddler]

The way I look at last night is so what ? Regardless of being the 2 or 3 seed, we are going to have to play a really tough Denver team. They would be just as tough in Foxboro as they will be in Mile High. Only difference here is that we don't get that extra week to rest, so be it. We trounce whoever comes to Foxboro on Wild card weekend and walk into Denver with a healthy team (Hello Gronk, Hello Cunningham) and I love our chances.

Edge Patriots - (Solder/Vollmer) vs (VM/Dumervil)

The key matchup which I feel favors us and which Denver relies on is their edge rushers against anyone's Offensive Tackles. VM/Dumervil vs Solder/Vollmer is a matchup I'll take. Our stud LT who I feel is Pro Bowl worthy this year has the feet to stay with Miller or Dumervil and Nate's length will really neutralize either of them. After Aldon Smith's quick start here last night, Nate simply had to feel him out and figure out his moves, once Nate did that, it was shutdown time for Aldon. Nate mauled him. I see the same thing against Von Miller/Dumervil and if they get deemed somewhat ineffective, that Denver Defense isn't quite the same.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

we can also hope for houston to stumble for 2 games , if they lose to minn which is not a given and then play the colts in a emotional chuck pagano game... we can still be number 2.... no way number one...


reality says... last night and the arizona game has put us in this position.... and with that said... 4 more games and the result will be the same as last year ... the pats season will end in a loss to a manning..sorry but no way we beat manning in denver.... we may beat cincy , jets or pitt.. and if we dont well time for some changes ...but beating denver in denver with manning will be to tough to ask.... i think denver is going to the super bowl... i think houston is a better match up...

 

[1960Pats]

It's pretty obvious that the Broncos are going to get a higher seed than us at this point.

Pretty obvious? What exactly does that mean? They still have to win them, just like we do.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

Pretty obvious? What exactly does that mean? They still have to win them, just like we do.

Home vs. Cleveland, home vs. the Chiefs is what it means

It's practically like two bye weeks, except you get a "w""

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

If we're #3, I hope the Raven lose out and the Bengals or Steelers win out, putting the Ravens at #6.

I'd love pounding those mouthy guys into submission

 

[Sivy]

we can also hope for houston to stumble for 2 games , if they lose to minn which is not a given and then play the colts in a emotional chuck pagano game... we can still be number 2.... no way number one...


reality says... last night and the arizona game has put us in this position.... and with that said... 4 more games and the result will be the same as last year ... the pats season will end in a loss to a manning..sorry but no way we beat manning in denver.... we may beat cincy , jets or pitt.. and if we dont well time for some changes ...but beating denver in denver with manning will be to tough to ask.... i think denver is going to the super bowl... i think houston is a better match up...

yea, no way the Best QB, Best coach, and best TE in the game, with the best offense in the entire NFL can win on the road at denver. No ******* chance right?

Gash Dam peope.

 

[Patriot Missile]

we can also hope for houston to stumble for 2 games , if they lose to minn which is not a given and then play the colts in a emotional chuck pagano game... we can still be number 2.... no way number one...


reality says... last night and the arizona game has put us in this position.... and with that said... 4 more games and the result will be the same as last year ... the pats season will end in a loss to a manning..sorry but no way we beat manning in denver.... we may beat cincy , jets or pitt.. and if we dont well time for some changes ...but beating denver in denver with manning will be to tough to ask.... i think denver is going to the super bowl... i think houston is a better match up...

Always the optimist as usual.