ESPN: Broncos faced more adversity, will win AFCCG

[RIpats88]

2013 NFL playoffs -- Ten questions about the Patriots and Broncos in the AFC title game - ESPN Boston

and thus the ESPN disrespect card of the pats begin

As much as New England has faced adversity throughout this entire season -- from former tight end Aaron Hernandez being charged with murder to numerous injuries to Pro Bowl players -- the Broncos have endured more.

They've lost their own fair share of star players for the season (including outside linebacker Von Miller and left tackle Ryan Clady) while also watching Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey hobble through the worst year of his career with a lingering foot injury. Their head coach, John Fox, was sidelined for a month after he underwent heart surgery. Even though they'd never admit, they've also had to remember how painful last season was, when they were upset at home in a divisional playoff loss to Baltimore.

The Patriots certainly have proved themselves to be a resilient bunch. But the Broncos have shown repeatedly that they will not lose their focus, regardless of the circumstances. This is a team that seems to have grown closer and tougher over the past 12 months and that will be something that works in Denver's favor next Sunday.

and then....

10. Who will be in the Super Bowl? Denver has been the popular pick all season, so let's stick with that today. Even if the Broncos won't admit it, they exorcised a major demon with Sunday's win. Last year's divisional playoff loss to Baltimore was the kind of defeat that can haunt a franchise for years and now it's officially gone.

The way the Broncos played San Diego -- dominating the Chargers through the first three quarters and then securing the victory with some clutch passing late -- proved that Denver can do whatever is necessary to win at this stage of the season. The Broncos are both focused and motivated and their hunger will be the difference in the latest chapter of Manning-Brady. This one is going to belong to Peyton.

 

[JMC00]

 

[dales804]

Are people really still referring to Champ Bailey as a "Pro Bowl corner?" Not that making the Pro Bowl means much but when was the last time Bailey was a true threat at CB?

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Bailey is a shell of his former self

 

[jb1095]

2013 NFL playoffs -- Ten questions about the Patriots and Broncos in the AFC title game - ESPN Boston

and thus the ESPN disrespect card of the pats begin



and then....

This is laughable...the Broncos have endure more than the Patriots? WTF? The pats have had HALF A TEAM all season long....The list of injuries to key players looks similar to a damn pro bowl roster...WTF are these monkeys talking about.

I do not think ANY team in the NFL has endured more loss than the Pats this season...The only team even close is the Falcons and I do not believe they took as many hits as the Pats...ESPN folks are smoking crack...

 

[SoonerPatriot]

This guy's a hater and has been for years. Anyone who tries to make the case Denver has dealt with more adversity has been sniffing glue.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

I'd say that with the loss of Harris, the Broncos are still not on the Patriots level of injuries, but they are getting close. If you asked a lot of people before the season who are the most irreplaceable players on both teams, here's how I think it would go down:

Patriots
1. Brady
2. Gronkowski
3. Wilfork
4. Talib
5. Mayo (although many would have argued that McCourty or Jones were as valuable, and right now, you might argue Mankins or Edelman.)

Broncos
1. Manning
2. Miller
3. Clady (his contract proves it.)
4. D. Thomas
5. Decker or Welker

Patriots also lost Tommy Kelly, but the Broncos lost Kevin Vickerson and Derek Wolfe. Patriots lost Vollmer and the Broncos had a rash of injuries on their interior OL to start the season. Now the Broncos have lost probably their best coverage guy.

The Patriots injuries have been more magnified because they are more visible involving skill players, particularly pass catchers, while Manning's "Big 4" have waltzed around with little resistance all season.

 

[Kdo5]

Whelp whoever wrote that certainly didn't watch much of the Pats this season. Cant think of another team who has overcome the adversity the Pats have dealt with.

 

[coolguy]

manning fever has spread to espn boston

 

[PATRlOT]

 

[FourierSeries]

I love this. I feel like Belichick/Brady led teams play much better in the postseason when they are underdogs and they can use the disrespect card.

They should let Rodney Harrison give the team a pre-game speech about how everyone is counting them out and not giving them any respect.

 

[qbno12]

IMO yesterday's game has more to do with Chargers not executing well than Broncos shutting them.... to start with, Chargers never seemed to try passing the ball much ... then stuck to run and it got them nowhere.... they didn't play like they were prepared to play.. they were all over the place giving away stupid penalties.. that game could've been closer than it looked ....

 

[PATRlOT]

 

[Halifax_Pats_Fan]

This epitomizes what I think of ESPN after each and every sports article.

They have been and will continue to be the laughing stock to sports fans...

Dumb and Dumber - Just When I Think You Couldn't Possibly Be Any Dumber - YouTube

 

[FourierSeries]

Our biggest weaknesses since we last won a title have been the secondary and our lack of toughness. We have vastly improved on both this season. Out of the remaining teams in the playoffs, Denver is the softest team hands down. Their receivers can't handle CBs who play physical.

We will go into their house and push them around.

 

[Crononaut]

The Broncos are both focused and motivated and their hunger will be the difference in the latest chapter of Manning-Brady. This one is going to belong to Peyton.

I'm sure Manning is motivated to win this game, that he wants it bad. I know he probably has a chip on his shoulder about his losing record against Brady, and he knows his window is closing.

But the media is desperately trying to give as many reasons as they can to spin this as though Manning and the Broncos have more hunger than the Patriots because, deep down, they know the truth:

You give Tom Brady a field, a football, and a game, with a cookie going to the winner, and he'll have more fire and hunger to win that delicious cookie than Peyton Manning is physically capable of.

 

[JMarr]

This (and the whole Peyton Manning narrative) is like something straight out of the book 1984: if you're going to lie, make the lie as outrageous and unsupportable as you possibly can--the more preposterous the better. Repeat it enough times and people will actually believe it. Whatever is the polar opposite of the truth, becomes the truth, if the media or another "trusted" source repeatedly bludgeons people with it.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

pats have no hunger..no toughness....brady sucks. Shouldn't even watch

 

[BlueThunder]

I just want to see one more Peyton Pout for old times sake

 

[CISGS]

I love this. Keep disrespecting the Patriots. It's only going to make it more hilarious next Sunday night at around 7.