On to Denver

[RobertWeathers]

I would still say that the donkey's have a top 3 defense. Big test for our OL. They will be playing for their playoffs lives

Their run defense is soft.

 

[Guts]

I really hope we win this game , but at this point of the season I want our guys healthy more whatever the cost

 

[DaBronxPats14]

Denver has one of the worst run defenses in the leauge. I expect to see alot of Blount early and often. that should open up play action passing for some big plays later in the game and slow down the pass rushers.

This.
We were holding our own and winning last year's reg season game and dictating action before that fumble return. Again, putting somebody in a situation he shouldn't have been in. It totally changed MO and we went on to lose. Last night gave me night mare flashback but we stayed on course and that Hogan TD put it away. If we can NOT beat ourselves, Pats should come out with a Tee.

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

Top 3 pass defense

Thank you for catching that... I was gonna correct him for saying that

 

[dannydyn]

NFL Pick Watch has the Pats with 89% win chance as of right now:

2016 Week 15 Expert NFL Picks

line is -3 Pats.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I would LOVE to be able to turn off the sound and listen to the game on the radio. WBLM always covers Pats games. However, and this really torques me off, they have a 5 second delay and there's no way to sync the sound with the TV. Sigh.

Mostly, at my age, I'm able to tune out the broadcast crew, hear them mostly as background noise asI concentrate on the action on the field. That, and copious quantities of beer make things tolerable.

Huh? DVR the game and play with your playback until you're in sync. Only way this doesn't work is if TV has the delay, not the radio.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

A strong dose of running from Emily Blunt combined with exploiting weak Donk LB coverage by White (a.k.a. "Wild Panther") & Lewis then a change of pace run by Lewis. Once they change assignments to adjust to this, Hogan burns 'em. Squirrel here and there but mostly as a distraction.

 

[venecol]

If they win or tie the TO battle we win easily +10

I was thinking the same thing before the MNF game and they lost the TO battle by 3 to 1 and won by 7. Flacco is way better than semen but in Den anything can happen so I'm with just win baby.

 

[venecol]

Run, be patient, take what is given and don't turn it over.

Their D is very good but their run D is meh. Their offense is bad all around and if you stop Sanders/Thomas you pretty much stop their O. They can't run and no one else is a good pass catching option.

I think the wild card in this game will be AJ Derby

 

[mosslost]

The reality is if The Broncos had any offense this would be a very tough game. We don't have Gronk, it is in Denver, etc. I don't consider this a "re-match" though. It is a game on our schedule we still need to win.

We have not clinched anything yet and need to win. In 2001 (The Snow Bowl year) The Raiders dropped from 1 seed at 10-3 to 3 Seed at 10-6, losing three straight, and out of the first round bye. That won't happen to us, but anything is possible.

 

[ChessToCheckers]

Should be another great game. Run, run, run and punch them in the mouth! Let's hope the refs let them play. This will be another good measuring stick for our O-Line.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

It is still a must win at the moment, unless Chiefs or Oakland lose more.

You heard it here first! Patriots are not only going to beat Denver but Denver is going to subsequently do some heavy lifting for us .
Our Denver victory will officially earn the division crown and officially earn an extremely coveted BYE for the playoffs.
Then in a twist of irony, and with the Patriots beating the Jets next week, Denver will beat KC, and Oak loses to the tough division game in SD, thereby securing the coveted HFA by end of week 16.

 

[Soul_Survivor88]

Welp!

 

[BobDigital]

This game comes down to one thing. Our OL vs their DL. We just need to break even there or don't lose by too much. Add to that no cheap points on turnovers and this should be a win.

BB knows on D basically you just need to cover 2 guys. They can't run and there 3rd option is maybe AJ Derby. They have no 3rd option really. Cover Sanders/Thomas and their O goes no where.

Though this is an important game there is really not much to discuss. It is very straight forward.

 

[jimnance]

Welp!

Means nothing. Has zero bearing on this game.

 

[BobDigital]

Pats game plan.

Run Blount 30 times
Run White 5 times
Run Lewis 5 times
Run end arounds with Hogan/Edelman 5 times total
Pass 25 times and 15 of them on a play action.

When you pass it is to a RB, Bennett or Edelman. Look for Hogan/Mitchell over the top but those players will likely be taken away mostly. However maybe 1 or 2 shots open up if they bite hard.

Play safe and do not turn the ball over above all else. This team will be lucky to score 17 without a turnover.

Lots of Develin and extra OL/TE. See if you can force them to go heavy on D. They don't want to cause all their top players are undersized and CBs.

On D bump Sanders/Thomas every time. Have safety help for both. Know the ball is going there and try to jump it. You don't need to respect the run game so stay in your heavy nickle.

On STs... Just fair catch. This team want to feast on mistakes and get cheap point then hold on to the lead with their D. Don't let them. No STs turnovers. Just fair catch.

 

[long distance]

A lot has changed.

1. The two major deficiencies from AFCCG - demolished OL and virtually non-existent running game - are now surprisingly the strength of the team - and both amongst top in the league. This reason alone should be enough to base a lot of optimism on returning to MH.

Here's a nice comparison in Reiss article: Stronger run game has Patriots better prepped to handle Denver challenge

2. One could argue that the offence is weaker this time with no Gronk but that's not necessarily the case. Firstly, well balanced offence is much more important (and productive) asset than any single star player even if it is called Gronk (btw - Brady was 27/56 w 2 INT). Second, without the running game play-action against a D like Denver is virtually impossible as well and short passing game much more difficult. Third, the passing offence alone proved itself against the top D Monday night.

It was basically Brady and Gronk vs Denver D in the 4th quarter comeback attempt. Without Gronk Denver D will have to pay attention to a “plethora“ of weapons all over the field that proved to be very productive and versatile - and that should be more difficult to defend.

3. Pats D has more depth (strong rotation in all front 7 positions), possibly more versatility as well as witnessed Monday. And is stronger against the run .. with Denver running game virtually non-existent after CJ Anderson and Janovich went on IR.

4. Last but not least - the hot Pats D with thousand faces will go against rookie QB instead of someone named Payton Manning. Even if Manning was in decline and hurt his experience was there to recognise what Patricia is throwing at him. It is reasonable to believe rookie Siemian will have more truble deciphering whats going on in front of him.
_

On the other side Denver lost some depth and a little bit of the edge as well on D in the offseason with some important FAs leaving. There are some injury concerns with both starting ILBs Marshall and Davis. Talib and Harris are not 100% as well.

On offense the running game as mentioned is virtually gone, OL has struggles all year and actually Sanders and Thomas are doing wonders to keep this offence going at all.
_

Bottom line: Broncos still play as tough as anyone and they are monsters on their home field .. but they have many shortcomings at the moment and they need a perfect game to upset Pats.

The only liability the Pats have is the punt return game. Ironically - they will probably have a lot of work returning Denver punts. They have good PR options on the team but possibly too valuable to use them (Edelman, Lewis, White) - though that might change on Sunday.

 

[Gwedd]

Huh? DVR the game and play with your playback until you're in sync. Only way this doesn't work is if TV has the delay, not the radio.

Thanks. Unfortunately, my receiver doesn't have a DVR function. I've never upgraded as I'm considering dropping DirecTV after the season, and going with SlingTV and some other aps through my Amazon FireTV.

DirecTV is nice, but it's getting pricey and I can get everything I want, I believe, through Fire and Sling.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

My bad. Thought they had DVRs up they-ah in Maine

 

[PatsDeb]

Welp!

It feels like it's time for a change in these numbers. I am feeling good about this weekend, mostly because of our better running game this year, and Denver's worse run D. Go Patriots!! Go Brady!! Monkey off the back time!!