Other AFC Teams

[Uptown]

Way too early to tell, but all we KNOW is the following:

1) ONLY injuries can slow us down.
2) Any team that's gonna beat us NEEDS an ELITE Defense.

I don't care how "prolific" the other team's offense is. We win shootouts 9.5/10 times because of The GOAT & the best coaching.

This is LAW.

 

[supafly]

Head to head will be big. Gonna have to beat the raiders and Pittsburgh on the road. Not gonna be easy.

And Denver on the road, too.

All three of those games are part of the 5/6 away game stretch that Goodell and the schedule makers gave us, so it will present one helluva challenge.

Pittsburgh is the last game of the stretch and comes only 6 days after a MNF game--at Miami.

 

[dafoe2016]

People really need to stop underrating Denver

They didn't even make the playoff last year. They have a bottom three offense. I don't care about two games. TS is a terrible QB Water finds it's level. How am I underrating a team that can't even make the playoffs? No way in hell this team should be competing for a #1 seed. Even when they won the Superbowl they had a horse shoe crammed up their ass. There were 5 or 6 games that year that they needed incredible luck to pull out.

The Colts demonstrated this for years. You cannot win with half a team, Sure, every once in a while you have a fluke year. Like that 2006 Colts team. But if the Pats don't run out of gas in the AFC Championship game where most of the team was decimated by the flu, the Colts get rolled and do not sniff the Superbowl. And their defense played surprisingly well down the stretch that year. The 2013 Seahawks as well. But that defense was on another level. For that season, that defense was one of the greatest of all time. It wasn't the next year and hasn't been since. But their offense wasn't terrible either.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I can't think of a single contender that has ever been downright terrible on one side of the ball. I know they have a weak schedule coming up, so I could envision a 10-12 win season if absolutely everything goes as well as it can for them. But that's their ceiling. Not a contender

 

[Deus Irae]

Correct me if I'm wrong

You're wrong

 

[Guts]

They didn't even make the playoff last year. They have a bottom three offense. I don't care about two games. TS is a terrible QB Water finds it's level. How am I underrating a team that can't even make the playoffs? No way in hell this team should be competing for a #1 seed. Even when they won the Superbowl they had a horse shoe crammed up their ass. There were 5 or 6 games that year that they needed incredible luck to pull out.

The Colts demonstrated this for years. You cannot win with half a team, Sure, every once in a while you have a fluke year. Like that 2006 Colts team. But if the Pats don't run out of gas in the AFC Championship game where most of the team was decimated by the flu, the Colts get rolled and do not sniff the Superbowl. And their defense played surprisingly well down the stretch that year. The 2013 Seahawks as well. But that defense was on another level. For that season, that defense was one of the greatest of all time. It wasn't the next year and hasn't been since. But their offense wasn't terrible either.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I can't think of a single contender that has ever been downright terrible on one side of the ball. I know they have a weak schedule coming up, so I could envision a 10-12 win season if absolutely everything goes as well as it can for them. But that's their ceiling. Not a contender

They'll still be tough to beat at Mile High if they get a higher seed than us I wouldn't want to play them there in the playoffs. I read somewhere that they're tied for the most wins at home with our Patriots and Seattle since 2012.

 

[dafoe2016]

And Denver on the road, too.

All three of those games are part of the 5/6 away game stretch that Goodell and the schedule makers gave us, so it will present one helluva challenge.

Pittsburgh is the last game of the stretch and comes only 6 days after a MNF game--at Miami.

If we can't beat Miami (who is the the definition of mediocre) and Pittsburgh (who we've owned for 16 years) the short rest has nothing to do with it. We should be hitting our stride by then. This team owns December. Not worried. All things considered, I think we have a fairly easy schedule for a defending Champion.

 

[supafly]

You're wrong

The 2013 Seahawks as well. But that defense was on another level. For that season, that defense was one of the greatest of all time. It wasn't the next year and hasn't been since.

Taking that thought one step further, the Seahawks returned in 2014 to have the #1 ranking in points allowed and also #1 in yards allowed.

In 2015, they were #1 in points again and #2 in yards allowed.

Last year, they were #3 in points and #5 in yards allowed.

If you happen to be talking about Denver, they were top 4 in yards allowed in '14, '15 (first overall), and '16; and also top 4 in points allowed in 2015 and 2016.

 

[supafly]

If we can't beat Miami (who is the the definition of mediocre) and Pittsburgh (who we've owned for 16 years) the short rest has nothing to do with it. We should be hitting our stride by then. This team owns December. Not worried. All things considered, I think we have a fairly easy schedule for a defending Champion.

We have a first place schedule, play against the toughest division in football (AFCWest), have a 5/6 road streak which has only happened several times in the past 10 years, and play DEN, PIT, and OAK on the road.

As far as @Miami goes, historically, Brady has a losing record, so it's always a bit of a challenge. Going from Foxborough to Miami back to Foxborough to Pittsburgh all within six days will be difficult, and that's coming at the end of a 5/6 game road trip.

If you actually believe that the schedule is "easy," you're probably just here to troll and see reactions.

 

[The Brandon Five]

Is it just me, or is Von Miller lined up in the neutral zone and/or jumping offsides on pretty much every play?

That apart, the Broncos have looked the pick of the AFC so far. Demarius Thomas looked better than I've seen him since the Fivehead was healthy and throwing to him. Siemian was actually pretty good against the Pats last year. If he's had a jump, they will be a very strong team.

They finally started calling him on it yesterday, which was a welcome development. It is ridiculous how much he was allowed to get away with in the AFCCG two years ago.

 

[supafly]

They'll still be tough to beat at Mile High if they get a higher seed than us I wouldn't want to play them there in the playoffs. I read somewhere that they're tied for the most wins at home with our Patriots and Seattle since 2012.

Denver has been a formidable opponent due to their excellent defense and home field advantage. The fact that they now have a good running game and their QB is settling in just make them that much stronger.

Hoping that some of the teams from the West will beat them up a bit. With that said, it was very disheartening to see them pull their usual lucky horse shoe out of their asses in the week one victory over the Chargers, but we should be used to that by now.

 

[drewskie]

They didn't even make the playoff last year. They have a bottom three offense. I don't care about two games. TS is a terrible QB Water finds it's level. How am I underrating a team that can't even make the playoffs? No way in hell this team should be competing for a #1 seed. Even when they won the Superbowl they had a horse shoe crammed up their ass. There were 5 or 6 games that year that they needed incredible luck to pull out.

The Colts demonstrated this for years. You cannot win with half a team, Sure, every once in a while you have a fluke year. Like that 2006 Colts team. But if the Pats don't run out of gas in the AFC Championship game where most of the team was decimated by the flu, the Colts get rolled and do not sniff the Superbowl. And their defense played surprisingly well down the stretch that year. The 2013 Seahawks as well. But that defense was on another level. For that season, that defense was one of the greatest of all time. It wasn't the next year and hasn't been since. But their offense wasn't terrible either.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I can't think of a single contender that has ever been downright terrible on one side of the ball. I know they have a weak schedule coming up, so I could envision a 10-12 win season if absolutely everything goes as well as it can for them. But that's their ceiling. Not a contender

Last year is last year, and Siemien has looked the part of a solid NFL QB, better than a lot of QBs in the league right now IMO. The weak link on DEN is their OL, and teams that have a strong defensive front will give them problems. But structurally, they are strong at the important facets of the game by in large, and with an elite defense at a high altitude they will be a threat. Their run defense up the middle which was their achilles heel last year looks pretty good thus far.

 

[luuked]

It's you. Von Miller has the best explosiveness in the NFL and an incredible instinct of timing off the snap. He's a first ballot hall of fame talent unfortunately

Except for the fact that he regularly gets away with false starts for some reason. As soon as you have a group of refs that keeps flagging him for it his productivity suddenly sharply declines.

 

[luuked]

interesting article on a reenergized broncos team. i have the feeling these guys are going to be trouble for a lot of teams. Nov. 12 will be critical for us.

Mike McCoy's Broncos offensive makeover on display in win

I am pretty sure their offense will get figured out better in the next 2-3 weeks. Not particularly concerned about them.

 

[TBR]

interesting article on a reenergized broncos team. i have the feeling these guys are going to be trouble for a lot of teams. Nov. 12 will be critical for us.

Mike McCoy's Broncos offensive makeover on display in win

Siemian throws multiple INTs per game, which will eventually be caught by competent defenses and not dropped.

 

[jmt57]

The Patriots still have a tough stretch ahead of them. Spare me whatever stats or websites that say they have an easy schedule.

There is the remainder of the NFC South, none of which are gimmes. Then after the bye there is that five road games in six weeks gauntlet.

While getting the number one seed is most certainly doable, it is also going to be a difficult battle. Not very many automatic W's.

Week 3 - vs Texans (good defense)
Week 4 - vs Panthers (good defense)
Week 5 - at Bucs (TNF, short week, good all around team)
Week 6 - at Jets
Week 7 - vs Falcons (very good team, seeking revenge)
Week 8 - vs Chargers (potential letdown game)
Week 9 - bye
Week 10 - at Broncos (good defense, mile high altitude)
Week 11 - Raiders in Mexico (very good offense)
Week 12 - vs Dolphins (potential letdown game)
Week 13 - at Bills
Week 14 - at Dolphins (MNF)
Week 15 - at Steelers (short week, end of long road trip)
Week 16 - vs Bills
Week 17 - vs Jets

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

Its week 2.

Anyway Oakland will go as far as their oline will take them. Oakland's Oline is just playing amazing and Carr is taking full advantage. The line has only given up 9 pressures and Carr is getting rid of the ball in 1.91 seconds.

Their DLine is playing very well also and on pace for a ton of pressures as well. Their rookie CB Conley (my #2 CB) looked pretty well in limited action as well.

Let's see where they are after Denver, Belt & KC in the next few weeks.

Even still they look like their only getting stronger. This isn't a, " Let's take away Cooper and Mack and let the other guys beat us" type team. The other guys will beat you all day.

I also want to wait and see on Carolinas defense until after N.O. & N.E.

 

[PScottman]

I can't think of a single contender that has ever been downright terrible on one side of the ball

Ravens. Dilfer. Nuff said.

 

[borg]

Beating Denver will be critical for NE. Losing the tie breaker advantage to both KC and Denver will create a playoff path on the road at inhospitable venues.
Good news...Pats go into Denver after a bye week.
Bad news..Pats go into Denver after a bye week.
My fear playing Denver: NE's WR situation could allow Denver's D to put 8 in the box. I also fear Denver's running game that has proven it can dominate verses NE.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

I've noticed that siemian is only productive when he has an effective running game. The key to stopping denver's offense is shutting down CJ Anderson. This guy is so slippery when he runs I hate it.

 

[zoostation]

I am wondering if Baltimore should be added to the list. Their defense has forced ten turnovers in two games (twice as many as any other team). They have allowed only ten points in two games.

At this early stage may as well add them. Hard to distinguish pretenders from contenders until mid October or so. I think if the Donkeys are in the list the Ratbirds should be too.