New England at Denver AFCCG pre game thread.

I was already confident at the beginning of the week, but I'm gaining even more confidence as we hear the players talk. Both McCourty and Hightower hinted that they would focus on stopping the run. Hightower mentioned that they are happy with their game plan, which I can only assume that means they've been having a good week of practice. We all know the results after a good week of practice.

If they successfully stop the run, or at least contain it, this game will be a blow out like I predicted.

phil112 said:

One thing I thought about watching the Steelers up there. All the kickoffs went through the endzone. Special teams were irrelevant on kickoffs.
Maybe the nfl should let a little air out of the kicking balls so special teams would have a shot at running one back. Thin air up there lets those kicks really sail.
After the New England game of course, since the Pats kick coverage is pretty sucky of it's own accord.

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I know this was somewhat tongue in cheek, but if anything the league has been trying to create FEWER kick returns. That's why they moved the kickoff spot from the 30 to the 35, so increase the number of touchbacks and reduce the number of full speed collisions that ST players endure on kick returns.

glm said:

You should bring up the fact that the only time the Broncos have won any SB's was when they cheated the salary cap.

Cap zap: Broncos pay with fine, pick

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Didn't Mark Schlereth admit that the linemen put vaseline on their jerseys?

patriot1136 said:

Didn't Mark Schlereth admit that the linemen put vaseline on their jerseys?

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Yes. It was so bad that the refs had to wipe it off their jerseys during the game. He also said that "gaining a competitive edge by cheating" was celebrated in their locker room.

For anyone who wants to read - I didnt because i dont want to spoil my mood listening to blandino

Dropped by orangemane and denverbroncos forums for a min. Just a shame the Denver players and coaches aren't as delusional as most of their fans. Apparently Brady isn't as good of a QB as I was thinking. I guess he's just been pretty lucky. Oh, wait.............I forgot that pot's legal there. Well, that does explain a lot.

Here is one posters thoughts: "
If you watch the highlights of the Pats final 4 games of the regular season and the KC game you'll realize that they are a very beatable team. Against the Dolphins NE could not protect Brady, he was sacked twice and hit another 8 or so times. Against the Jets they gave up two more sacks and Brady was hit a lot as well. The pats gave up almost 150 yds on the ground with their so called Superstar Hightower playing in the game stopping the run.
When NE played KC they played a tired team who were no doubt tired from the Houston win compared to the freshness that NE had to bring to that divisional game. NE struggled early against Smith and KC and only later in the game put it away with KC mismanaging the clock and KC could have made a better showing against them if not for that clock wasting.
My point here being that I've decided to take the points and bet on Denver here locally in California. If our receivers hold onto the ball and our D plays lights out, this could be a rout in Denvers favor provided that we can get a pedestrian 100 yards from our backs. Please start CJ.
You can argue that NE had a banged up O line but any man on the roster is suited to playing at an all pro level, especially when you play for BB and you have home field advantage on the line which NE blew by losing the final two games. NE does not scare me. Good luck Patsies fans but this Denver team is for real but keeping on thinking Manning is going to retire after this game. I'm call this one 24-17 Denver."

phil112 said:

Dropped by orangemane and denverbroncos forums for a min.....

Here is one posters thoughts: "
If our receivers hold onto the ball and our D plays lights out, this could be a rout in Denvers favor provided that we can get a pedestrian 100 yards from our backs. Please start CJ.
You can argue that NE had a banged up O line but any man on the roster is suited to playing at an all pro level, especially when you play for BB and you have home field advantage on the line which NE blew by losing the final two games. NE does not scare me. Good luck Patsies fans but this Denver team is for real but keeping on thinking Manning is going to retire after this game. I'm call this one 24-17 Denver."

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Neither did the Colts last year, you f****ing bunch of a55hats. It still didn't stop the Dolts from tearing you a new one and done....

SVN said:

Denver RB C.J. Anderson: Broncos are being ‘disrespected’

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Here's the thing. You cannot be disrespected if you have numerous members of your team that have zero respect for the game or the health of the opposing players.

In other words, shut the hell up hypocrite.

I don't know if this has been posted but it's a great article about the Patriots offense:

Tom Brady, Patriots' offense built to adapt

dannydyn said:

Neither did the Colts last year, you f****ing bunch of a55hats. It still didn't stop the Dolts from tearing you a new one and done....

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I guess I find the greatest humor is his belief that Denver can rout the Pats. Now THAT would be an upset.

Tony Dungy picks both home teams in conference title games

Here are Dungy’s picks:

— “I’m picking Denver,” Dungy said. “It’s hard to win those games on the road. …. It’s going to be a tight game and low scoring.”

— He also likes Carolina because of homefield advantage. “I like Carolina,” Dungy said. “I think Arizona has a better team. …. In a neutral site, Arizona would win six out of 10.”

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FourierSeries said:

I was already confident at the beginning of the week, but I'm gaining even more confidence as we hear the players talk. Both McCourty and Hightower hinted that they would focus on stopping the run. Hightower mentioned that they are happy with their game plan, which I can only assume that means they've been having a good week of practice. We all know the results after a good week of practice.

If they successfully stop the run, or at least contain it, this game will be a blow out like I predicted.

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I think they've got a good game plan and all the pieces to make it work. On paper this should definitely be a win for the Pats. But that assumes that we execute it, that we don't drop the ball, and don't turn it over.

ST mishaps, turnovers, crucial injuries are the only things that may result in a loss. That's key. If we can avoid that we win. But anything can happen. I actually think this game will be a bit closer than people think. A 7-10 point Pats victory of things go well.

Here are Dungy’s picks:

— “I’m picking Denver,” Dungy said. “It’s hard to win those games on the road. …. It’s going to be a tight game and low scoring.”

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Steelers, Chiefs, Seahawks, and Packers all say hi…


Denver is only playing at home by pure virtue of luck and questionable officiating in numerous games. THOSE got them the #1 seed, not their playing abilities. Their playing level along the season indicates they don’t deserve to be in the playoffs, let alone the #1 overall seed.

Kdo5 said:

I think they've got a good game plan and all the pieces to make it work. On paper this should definitely be a win for the Pats. But that assumes that we execute it, that we don't drop the ball, and don't turn it over.

ST mishaps, turnovers, crucial injuries are the only things that may result in a loss. That's key. If we can avoid that we win. But anything can happen. I actually think this game will be a bit closer than people think. A 7-10 point Pats victory of things go well.

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I'm most concerned with our defense getting gassed by the middle of the third quarter. That's when Denver usually closes gaps. Let's also hope the officials stay out of it.

dannydyn said:

I'm most concerned with our defense getting gassed by the middle of the third quarter. That's when Denver usually closes gaps. Let's also hope the officials stay out of it.

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I'm most concerned about HT and particularly Collins. We can't afford losing them halfway through the game. If Denver gets the run game going, their offense will be able to score. Stopping the run is critical and keeping the backup LB's off the field is important.

Anyone wanna place bets on which Bronco defender says something along the lines of "I don't know, it's like they knew exactly what we were going to do" after the game Sunday?

SVN said:

I think will be a big mess by gametime .dont know how I will watch the game or If I will.

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Xanax my friend haha

As the days go on...i am getting more and more confident in this game. Hightower saying last time in DEN it left a bad taste and they want to change that...all of the Broncos and broncos writers acting like the game is already won.

I just have a good feeling weirdly