The Official Patriots vs Broncos AFC Championship game thread

I'm very calm, normally nervous...weird.

It is fitting that 12 years ago today a dynasty was born.

Happy Snow Bowl Anniversary!

I hope my body is ready to take a pounding, not on the field but I don't do good watching these sober.

I've forgotten how less nerve racking it is being the underdog it's been so long, like when we were the dogs against the Steelers and Colts way back when. When the Ravens and Jets knocked us out in recent years part of why it was so bad, was that empty feeling of under achieving. For the first time in around a decade, win or lose I'll still feel like we over achieved this year considering the adversity. If we win, it feels like 2001, if we lose,,, it was still a great unexpected run.

I watched Lone Survivor yesterday to pass the time and take my mind of the game.
It was emotionally draining...can't believe the team saw it before the Baltimore game and came out so fired up. The PittPatriot felt emotionally worn out!

obgod3 said:

I'm very calm, normally nervous...weird.

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Same here, I don't know why.

PittPatriot said:

I watched Lone Survivor yesterday to pass the time and take my mind of the game.

It was emotionally draining...can't believe the team saw it before the Baltimore game and came out so fired up. The PittPatriot felt emotionally worn out!

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Was it a good movie? I want to go see it

Wax Frog said:

So, did you and your buddies score any nosebleeds?

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We are lined up on the roof at the stadium ready for action lol

We have to play better than them all the game. It's easy, right? . Said that ,I'm very very nervous but I'm sure that we'll win ! :rocker:


Go Pats !

Fitzy on Twitter sent out a nice GFY to Ray lewis for wearing a blue suit and orange tie on that former sports network he works for.

My clock is going backwards , the ba$tard! Enjoy the game ladies and gentlemen. We are very lucky to have this run with Brady and BB and I feel pretty relaxed knowing that our coach has got all the players ready. Denver makes more mistakes than we do and we win.

And please Baby Jesus, give me 3 Paymeaton Manning interceptions during today's game. Just so I can see that face and body language one more time.

let's the dream come reality...

go Pats !!!

forza Patrioti !!!

For what it's worth last night I had a dream that I met and was talking to Bill Belichick. I asked him if he had a chance to watch the late game after his game today. Then I realized what a stupid question it was because he would be studying it on game film for the next couple weeks.

Nick Underhill ‏@Nick_Underhill 12m
Allen just listed his arms to catch a pass, so that’s good.

Never has a punter catching a ball been such good news to a fan base.

Random thoughts.

Pats win if they don't turn the ball over (can't give Peyton any extra possessions and/or field position)...

and...if they don't fall behind by more than one score early (Fox and Manning will panic if they have to play from behind but they will win if they get in a groove with a lead...no miracle comebacks for NE today).

Manning has more to prove today than Brady.

Brady will still have great stats and three rings in five trips to the SB if he loses today.

But, Manning will always be the guy with GOAT stats who couldn't close the deal if he loses this afternoon. Even a fawning national media is saying that.

I am unexpectedly calm. A fourth ring would strengthen Brady's argument for GOAT, but he's already in the discussion. Smart people "know" that BB is the greatest HC of all time, but he will never be anointed as such because of Spygate.

Not to jinx anything, but I'd prefer the Pats to face the Seahawks in the SB. Kaepernick has shown he can win away from Home in all sorts of weather (just ask Green Bay). Seattle is almost an entirely different team on the Road, let alone in the wind and cold.

I can live with either outcome as long as the winner is determined by the players and not the officials.

Keys to the game:

The motherfX%&@*%g offense line must protect Brady. An early jailbreak by the Broncos could f--k w/ Brady's head and make this a long day. The reality is, offensive line breakdowns have been mostly responsible (or at least stand out in my mind as such) for many of their recent playoff losses.

And, as I previously posted, the most interesting aspect of this game will be which offensive game plan New England chooses. Run to set up the pass or vice versa? I have nightmares of the San Diego game where they stuck with establishing the run first (and staying with it until it was too late). I think I'd rather Brady start the game with a hurry up, passing strategy. If I could make a deal with the devil I would choose a 8 yard run behind Mankins or Solder, but I couldn't bear the more probable start of a handoff feeding right into Denver's hands and leading to a one yard loss and a quick three and out. I think the first couple of series are going to be huge in determining the game's outcome.

Finally (and obviously) bring some pressure to Manning.

pheenix11 said:

It is fitting that 12 years ago today a dynasty was born.

Happy Snow Bowl Anniversary!

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Ok so that year and day I was in RI visiting my dad had tickets in my hand but decided to go to dinner with dad drove back to the house in the snow storm to watch to the game and history was made. Today I had plenty of opportunity to go to the game...choose to watch it here at the house with the family....maybe my choice is good?

. @jeffphowe: Kenbrell Thompkins (hip, concussion) is usually part of this stretching group. His absence is curious.

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Oh noez....

patsinthesnow said:

Oh noez....

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Well, it ain't as if we didn't know he and AD were GTDs...

Come on, Thompkins. Where you at?