I think many of us – NE fans as well as national media – have underplayed how good the Broncos are.
They went 8-0 at home, have a great running game and an abundance of speed on D.
Earlier in the year the Pats were torched by Denver early then held on to win 28-20.
That being said the Pats have a very good chance of winning this game.
While most people say that the first game was not as close as the score indicated, if you look at what happened it was closer than people believe.
The Pats outplayed the Broncos in the first quarter but having no running game – Amos Zereoue was the feature back early – killed the Pats.
First Drive the Pats got out to midfield all on the arm of Brady. Zereoue had 2 carries for 3 yards.
Denver went 3 and out.
Pats took over for their second drive at the Bronco 43. Brady had one competition, there were 3 carries - 2 by Zereoue for 4 yards and 1 by Pass for 0. Pats stall at Den 21 and settle for FG.
Denver next series – 1 first down and then punt.
Next NE series – Brady to Branch for 19, 15-yard penalty on Den, Zereoue for 0, Brady to Pass for 7, incompletion then punt.
Denver got the ball back, 1st quarter ended then everything went to hell.
Give the Pats any type of running game at all and this game could have been 10-0 New England earlier.
I know Dillon has looked average – at best – but with him and Faulk the running game should be better.
As for the defense, Starks was brutal and Sanders was getting his first start at SS. Seymour was out as was Tedy B. While the D might have been playing scrubs for the last month of the season they played 2 playoff teams – TB and Jax – and outscored them 56-3. This has to mean something.
Do I think this will be an easy win for the Pats? No. Do I think they can go into Denver and beat a very good Denver team? Hell Yeah!
They went 8-0 at home, have a great running game and an abundance of speed on D.
Earlier in the year the Pats were torched by Denver early then held on to win 28-20.
That being said the Pats have a very good chance of winning this game.
While most people say that the first game was not as close as the score indicated, if you look at what happened it was closer than people believe.
The Pats outplayed the Broncos in the first quarter but having no running game – Amos Zereoue was the feature back early – killed the Pats.
First Drive the Pats got out to midfield all on the arm of Brady. Zereoue had 2 carries for 3 yards.
Denver went 3 and out.
Pats took over for their second drive at the Bronco 43. Brady had one competition, there were 3 carries - 2 by Zereoue for 4 yards and 1 by Pass for 0. Pats stall at Den 21 and settle for FG.
Denver next series – 1 first down and then punt.
Next NE series – Brady to Branch for 19, 15-yard penalty on Den, Zereoue for 0, Brady to Pass for 7, incompletion then punt.
Denver got the ball back, 1st quarter ended then everything went to hell.
Give the Pats any type of running game at all and this game could have been 10-0 New England earlier.
I know Dillon has looked average – at best – but with him and Faulk the running game should be better.
As for the defense, Starks was brutal and Sanders was getting his first start at SS. Seymour was out as was Tedy B. While the D might have been playing scrubs for the last month of the season they played 2 playoff teams – TB and Jax – and outscored them 56-3. This has to mean something.
Do I think this will be an easy win for the Pats? No. Do I think they can go into Denver and beat a very good Denver team? Hell Yeah!