Patriots Pregame Thread Pre-Game thread - 2025 AFC Championship at Denver Broncos

[Ring 6]

Defense. Short field. Play action
Jake Plummer naked bootleg
Top offensive line in the league
This will be closer than you think

Nah, I don’t see a close game at all.
Jake Plummer isn’t playing.
Denver isn’t close to the best OL in the NFL.
Why would a team with a back up QB that can’t run the ball have play action as a positive?

 

[StockingAnarchyNumber12]

Define close?

Stidham doesn't have a field day with turnovers and I'll be shocked.

I expect Denver to fight. I don’t think we win in a blowout

 

[StockingAnarchyNumber12]

Nah, I don’t see a close game at all.
Jake Plummer isn’t playing.
Denver isn’t close to the best OL in the NFL.
Why would a team with a back up QB that can’t run the ball have play action as a positive?

I think it will be a close game for the first half

 

[denverpatsfan]

Nah, I don’t see a close game at all.
Jake Plummer isn’t playing.
Denver isn’t close to the best OL in the NFL.
Why would a team with a back up QB that can’t run the ball have play action as a positive?

IDK
Going off past results. Seems like Bills defense never saw the naked bootleg before. Allowed Jake to have a field day. Yes I'm still salty about that game.

Assuming Vrabel's team is more prepared or at least can adjust.

Denvers oline is top 5?

 

[festy1986]

I expect Denver to fight. I don’t think we win in a blowout

So a one score game.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Can't expect 5 turnovers again. And the Pats dodged a bullet beating a team by 12 when they only scored 7 points off that many turnovers.

I'm not taking Denver lightly with Stidham. I've seen too many assholes over the years that have derailed team's seasons trying to be a one game hero. Expect Stidham to be an ******* Sunday throwing passes he probably shouldn't put will have that "I don't give a F" mentality.

Broncos pass rush has the ability to do the same thing the Texans did yesterday, so ball security is critical.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

For once im not too worried about the refs in Denver. Theres no way the nfl will want to favor a sb with jarret stidham in it. The refs either stay out of it and make Denver earn it or theyll give us some calls.

 

[imahobgoblin]

If Maye and the Oline have another day with strip sacks and fumbles they won't win.
This game is on the road. Crowd noise. Crooked refs. Oh yeah the altitude will be an issue. Especially in the 4th quarter
Donks D has a day more of rest
Stidham won't be called on to do much.
I don't care that he hasn't played since preseason. I've seen bad QBs excell again and again versus the Pats.
Let's hope that Vrabel's team can rise above. He already broke the Tua streak.
Why not break this losing streak next?

We have a top 5 D in the league, and incredible defense in the playoffs. It has been a high pressure and turnover masterclass. We lead the playoffs in picks and sacks. Stidham will be called on to do everything. Denver's weakness is the run game. Its inconsistent, which means Stidham has to throw.

Weather and temp did play a part in Drake's fumbles, but you are right it needs to be better.

I am not sure of you noticed, but road games are kind of our thing. I am not being arrogant. Just factual. We are undefeated on the road this year. Citing other years where Bill's defense allowed poor QBs to excel is silly. Its not the same team, year, or scheme. The bend, but don't break on purpose era is over. We are in the smear the QB and punch everyone else in the face era.

 

[Ring 6]

IDK
Going off past results. Seems like Bills defense never saw the naked bootleg before. Allowed Jake to have a field day. Yes I'm still salty about that game.

Assuming Vrabel's team is more prepared or at least can adjust.

Denvers oline is top 5?

Belichick isn’t our coach, zero players from that game are on this team.

I dint think they are top 5. They don’t run the ball extremely well and Nix spends most of his time running for his life.
It was a slightly above average offense (aided by a good defense and a lot of off platform plays made by the QB. I’d call it very average.

 

[StockingAnarchyNumber12]

So a one score game.

I think we’ll go into the half up maybe 10-6 and then we’ll pull ahead. Maybe a 24-13 win?

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Denver ran the ball significantly better with Dobbins.
He may be back for this matchup, TBD.

 

[Uptown]

 

[PlainOldEd]

I won't go so far as to say the switch to Stidham doesn't impact the game, but I will say QB was never an area of concern for me. The question is whether Drake can beat the defense. I wasn't worried about Nix, I'm not worried about Stidham. I am a little worried about the Denver D, and that hasn't changed.

 

[Uptown]

Costly Bills Win Leaves Broncos Monitoring Injuries Beyond Bo Nix

The Broncos won, but at what cost?

www.si.com

-WR Pat Bryant (Concussion)
-WR Troy Franklin (Hamstring)
-QB Nix (Ankle..out for season)
-C Alex Forsythe (Ankle)
-S PJ Locke (Leg)

 

[TheRainMaker]

IDK
Going off past results. Seems like Bills defense never saw the naked bootleg before. Allowed Jake to have a field day. Yes I'm still salty about that game.

Jake?

I misread your post and you're referring to the 2005 matchups. Bill put up a good fight in the divisional round, but eventually cracked because the offense was so bad that day. Had the offense played better, Denver would've lost.

 

[Real fan 02]

Jake?

Maybe he meant Jake Plummer .. JK

 

[TheRainMaker]

Maybe he meant Jake Plummer .. JK

He did, but I misread his post.

 

[Uptown]

 

[denverpatsfan]

Belichick isn’t our coach, zero players from that game are on this team.

I dint think they are top 5. They don’t run the ball extremely well and Nix spends most of his time running for his life.
It was a slightly above average offense (aided by a good defense and a lot of off platform plays made by the QB. I’d call it very average.

Yes. Nix was very good at the off platform plays. Busted coverage. Throwing on the run. Not sure Stidham has that ability or he would be starting

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

Interesting stat. Pats are 1-4 in playoffs versus Denver, winning at Foxboro and losing 4 times in Denver. All 4 times they lost at Denver, they had played Denver earlier that year ( 86,05,13,15), losing 3 of those times. I don't if it's relevant but maybe that gave them film on the Patriots. Good news is that they didn't face Denver this year so maybe the result will be different.