Monday's New England Patriots Links 1/13 - It was always going to be Broncos vs. Patriots

PATSFANS.COM:

Patriots Now Have Mile High Aspirations - Bob George - George writes that the playing in the altitude in Denver is a very real challenge, and after beating Manning twice as a Bronco in Foxboro, they'll now have to do it out there.

For Patriots QB Tom Brady, He Likely Saw This Rematch Coming - Ian Logue - When Brady stormed off from his press conference after their loss against Miami, the reason he was probably upset was because he saw this game coming.

BOSTON GLOBE:

Scouting the Denver Broncos - Erik Frenz - Frenz has his scouting report on the Broncos, and feels that a key cog of Denver's defense is Shaun Phillips, who is Denver's best pass-rusher with linebacker Von Miller on injured reserve.

Notable achievements from the Patriots' playoff victory over the Colts - Zuri Berry - Berry looks at some of the milestones reached by New England Saturday.

Ryan Allen injury could put Patriots in a bind - Michael Whitmer - Whitmer files his notebook this morning and writes that Allen's injury have the Patriots in a tough spot heading into this weekend.

Broncos become focus of Patriots' preparations - Shalise Manza Young - Manza Young writes that Belichick said in a conference call before Sunday's match-up between the Broncos and Chargers that he'd be watching, and now they'll start preparing to face Manning in Denver next weekend.

Patriots shouldn't be fazed by Broncos defense - Ben Volin - Volin was in Denver for Sunday's game between Denver and San Diego, and writes that the Broncos nearly choked away the game.

It was always going to be Broncos vs. Patriots - Christopher Gasper - Gasper writes that we should have seen this game coming, and feels it was written with the Sharpie of destiny.

Brady vs. Manning XV: Let the hype begin - Obnoxious Boston Fan - In this piece he writes that this is the AFC Championship Game match-up that many saw coming in August.

BOSTON HERALD:

Borges: Generation's greatest quarterbacks square off for AFC title - Ron Borges - Borges looks at the match-up between Brady and Manning and feels if this is the end of their great rivalry, it ends in the right arena: with a championship on the line.

Buckley: Tinker Bill fixes it - Steve Buckley - Buckley looks at all the adjustments made by Bill Belichick this season, which now has them set to play in the AFC Title game.

Tom Brady's calls, not arm, set stage for huge win - Jeff Howe - Howe writes that despite Brady's unimpressive statistical performance, it was the calls and adjustments he made that were quietly a big key why they won.

WEEI:

Five Incredibly Early Thoughts on Patriots and Broncos - Christopher Price - Price has his thoughts on this match-up, and feels that Brady will be happy to face off against Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio.

ESPN BOSTON:

Getting to know the Broncos, again - Field Yates - Yates takes another look at the Broncos, providing a closer look at their current personnel on both sides of the ball.

Quick take: Patriots at Broncos - Mike Reiss - Reiss has some thoughts on this weekend's match-up, with Belichick's prediction coming to fruition after telling Wes Welker after their earlier win that they'd see them again.

ESPN:

Bucs made right call on LeGarrette Blount - Pat Yasinskas - Yasinskas has a bizarre entry as to why he feels the Buccaneers did the right thing by getting rid of Blount and claims to see the logic, and then doesn't offer much in terms of legimate reasons to back it up.

WORCESTER TELEGRAM:

Patriots will be ready for Broncos rematch - Rich Garven - Garven writes that these two teams know each other well, with this being their third meeting in 16 months.

USA TODAY:

Morning Win: The best Super Bowl doesn't have New England in it - Chris Chase - Chase goes over each potential scenario for Super Bowl teams and ranks them, but has either game involving the Patriots ranking lower then Denver in terms of how compelling each one would be.