Patriots Pregame Thread AFC Championship: We are on to Kansas City!

[Todd Bradley]

We’re going to crush them back to reality.

No one’s stopping this freight train.

 

[mcmurtry86]

JC Jackson and Gilmore will need to be at their highest games against the Chiefs. Hightower will be chipping Kelce...

Trey Flowers, Clayborn, Brown, Shelton, Wise, Butler, Simon, KVN. Need to hit Pat Mahomes like they did to Rivers today. Beat him up

Not going to be able to blitz KC the way they did Rivers. That’s the problem the Pats need to try to solve

Playing cover 0 and sending high pressure will get them blown out in KC. They have to find another way to disrupt Mahomes

 

[RobertWeathers]

Agree, however our attitude imo is key here. We look extra motivated right now.

I think many of the veterans who have been here many years are glad the playoffs are here. I also believe because some of them have uncertain futures are operating with a high level of urgency.

I'm expecting a 110% effort in KC next Sunday. I'm still thinking about win/lose but I'm pretty confident they will be very competitive.

 

[Redman443]

Not going to be able to blitz KC the way they did Rivers. That’s the problem the Pats need to try to solve

Playing cover 0 and sending high pressure will get them blown out in KC. They have to find another way to disrupt Mahomes

What did we do back in September

 

[patsfan13]

I want to thank:

Kellerman
Wiley
Sharpe
Wright
Parker
****erson

For putting that huge chip on Beady's shoulder, and their unending disrespect of the Patriots as a team. True the mediots are overpaid for being stupid, however from my POV they earn the $$$ by providing me with entertainment with their unending stupidity and ability to provide bulletin board material for our team.

I will enjoy theit lame spin this week trying to explain away what they just saw

The speculation about Brady being injured earlier this year was confirmed. He looked healthier the last 2 games of the reg season and looks crisp today. Note how he moved in the pocket thsi week hadn't seen that for awhile. Gronk looks the week off helped with his ankle and back.

I don't care about 3-5 on the road. This is a new season and none of that matters ONLY how they play next Sunday everything else is BS.

KC can certainly win, Mahomes is a great young QB. But Brady is still the GOAT and win or lose my team is gonna show up. Would never bet against a healthy Pats team.

The run continues as a fan of the Pats since the beginning I know how special this run is and that I will never see anything like it again. 13 AFCCG appearances, 8 SB appearances with 5 wins and opportunity for another is beyond what we could ever expect.

 

[bigballas]

That can’t be right. Week 2 of 2015 was in Buffalo against the Bills, they were defending super bowl champs and just beat Pittsburgh opening night. They were underdogs against the Bills?

was true...Patriots slight favorites over Bills in Week 2

sorry, wrong link originally provided: pats opened -2 and closed +1 it seems:
Week 2 NFL Odds: Las Vegas NFL football odds from week 2. Pro football betting odds.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

People keep citing that the Pats haven't won on the road ( not neutral) since 2006. Well they haven't played too many road games since them and those three losses were all to Peyton Manning..
I don't see Peyton walking through that door...Just saying...

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

With Gronk looking healthier but not big receiving numbers, Football Outsiders ranks Chargers #1 in the NFL vs TE and KC #25. So next week could be a lot more interesting for #87 catching the ball than today was.

FWIW, they rank Chargers #23 vs RB (receiving) and KC #21. Also KC #32 vs the run.

However the KC defense is ranked much better at home so those stats may not be 100% relevant.

I thought Maholmes was good, not great, yesterday, a decent number of balls came out wobbly.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

The key to this game for us is the defensive line. We have to stop the run! We have to put pressure of the kc qb.

If the defense can have success doing those two things, I believe our offense will score enough for us to win!

 

[Brandon Manning]

Three weeks ago, I was convinced this would end like the 09 season. But they made it further than I thought. With sll the adversity, BB has done a masterful coaching job. Brady, for all the criticism he's gotten, put up numbers most other fans could only dream of. I am a proud fan. Season is a success regardless of next week's outcome.

 

[ViperGTS]

How do we cover Tyreke this time? First two times we failed badly of course. If you stumble, he’s gone. Underrated route runner, guy really is a top five receiver in this league.

How does he do with press man? If you give he free release, it’s a big thing. Jam him at the line and have help over the top. Use Chung on Kelce and let Gilmore take on Watkins. Might work. Might not lol.

 

[PortPatriot]

Keep the pressure on Mahomes and don't let him get out of the pocket. Force him to pass the ball and limit him from extending plays with his legs.

 

[nabwong]

Mahomes needs to be hit. Hard. Not a lot of fun being levelled in 10 degree cold.

I think I disagree. I think the key is to be patient.

1. He needs to be contained. We cannot allow our DEs to rush behind him. Keep 11 men in front of him.

2. Bait him. He hasn’t seen everything yet. If it’s a close game, he will want to force things. If we can be very discipline in our pursuit, I think we can make him lose patience.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

I'm really worried about Chris Jones, Justin Houston and Dee Ford in this one

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

If the Pats were to win this game, where would it rank in terms of most "improbable" playoff wins of BB era?

1) vs Rams (SB36)
2) @ Pittsburgh (AFC Championship Game 2001)
3) @ Chargers (2006)

In terms of lines/expectations going in, it would be 4th though I'd personally rank it second.

Spreads to the best of my recollection

Rams -14 over Patriots
Patriots -1 over Steelers (confidence was low on Steelers after they struggled to beat the Jets in AFCDG)
Chargers -7 over Patriots (I think, not positive, that was the spread)
Chiefs -3 over Patriots

The Rams game is the only me that was highly improbable by the oddsmakers. The Chiefs game is not that far from a coin flip in Vegas. Patriots fans feel it is more improbable because it’s been 12 years since they won a road playoff game. In reality the teams are essentially even on paper, with KC getting three points just for home field.

 

[WaterfallJumper]

If anyone wants to do some advanced scouting:

 

[IllegalContact]

We had a better home record at 8-0 than they had a road record at 7-1

Woop-de-damned-doo

 

[RobertWeathers]

Stat of the Week

Mahomes w/ Hunt 12 games: Passer rating 117.9

Mahomes w/o Hunt 5 games: Passer rating: 101.7.

Still very good, but not god-like

 

[gitgronked82]

That can’t be right. Week 2 of 2015 was in Buffalo against the Bills, they were defending super bowl champs and just beat Pittsburgh opening night. They were underdogs against the Bills?

It is Volin so it is more probable than not that he is wrong.

Here you go. We were -1
Last time Brady was an underdog was that packers game in 2014 that we lost before we essentially ran the table

 

[DaBruinz]

The Chiefs Secondary is no better than the Chargers secondary, imho.
The Chiefs have Chris Jones, Dee Ford and Justin Houston in their front 7 which will provide a challenge to the Pats O-line like they did last time.

I think that the Pats offense has the advantage as long as they don't commit costly Illegal Motion penalties.

The Pats defense will have to shut down Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce. They can't sleep on Damien Williams either, though he's a significantly less of a threat than Kareem Hunt was.

The Pats need to find a way to get consistent pressure on Mahomes and keep him in the pocket. They can't let him roll right. That's when he kills opposing teams.

I'm looking forward to this game. McDaniels and Brady need to put another masterpiece on offense together and Flores needs to do so on Defense.