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

[WaterfallJumper]

Not going to lie, that upsets me a little because this is these people lives. I know that is part of the game but it never sits right with me

Think of it this way, after he got cut, he could have been unsigned all year, or inked a futures contract for the team who wasn't in the playoffs. Presumably, he will at least get a week of pay with the Patriots, and now he's set to hit free agency. So, while I'm sure he would have liked to play and keep getting a paycheck, he's still better off than other players who were cut or whose teams have finished playing at this time of year. I know what you're saying, but I'm pretty sure he and his agent knew what they were getting into at the time.

 

[BobDigital]

Thoughts... not doing anything too in depth as i haven't really had time to closely examine anything.

TEs will be key. Denver is bad against it. Kincaid got his. Henry and Hooper will get theirs.

You have to believe the left side of the OL will get its act together at some point. I know Denver will get theirs... but you need to believe Campbell and Wilson will play better than this.

Maye has at times not learned from his mistakes after 1 game... We saw the back to back big sack games... but after 2 games he has gotten it together. I think he will be more careful with the fumbles on this one.

Don't care if Dobbins plays or not. They aren't running on our D. Maybe we don't shut them down the same way we did the Texans... but they not get much traction. People forgot how good our healthy run D was during that first 10 weeks of health span. We have those guys back and they are back to doing it. We've stopped better RBs and run games. Stidham won't be running either so he won't be able to take pressure off them and with the lack of fear in their passing game they won't see many light boxes.

Still waiting on Henderson or Williams to break a big one. Will this be the game?

Denver has a punt return game as good as ours more or less. We need to watch that.

People will point to Foles and rightly say 'look! Anything is possible!'. But that is the exception they point out.. The rule is the often forgotten majority of times it went wrong. Stidham is not going to pull a Foles and play the best 60 minutes of ball in his life at the perfect time.

Playing in Denver will be tough. Honestly that concerns me more than the team we are playing. But in the end Stadiums and HFAs don't beat Jimmies and Joes. Same is true for Xs and Os.

I am tired of everyone hedging. This is a clear Pats win. Maye and the OL finally get it all together. Henry and Hooper eat. Hollins cames back to help. One of our home run hitters breaks one. And Stidham probably hurts more than helps. Also this Denver D is one i thought was good.. but as has been pointed out, they feasted on some horrible offenses and when they faced competent ones they were scored on. Add in their pass rush has been tiring down in the 2nd half of games cause the O can't stay on the field...

Pats win 30-13. No disrespect intended to Denver... Nix would add +7 cause he not only helps your offense... he will not make the mistakes Stidham would. But i think the Pats are playing the best ball they have all year more or less right now and haven't even played their best. I am expecting them too that day. Also I think they get a cheap 3 points at the end due to Denver going for it deep in their own end in the 4th 2 scores down. So really more like 27-13.

 

[Ross12]

Not that worried about Landry being out, he has faded badly (not really his fault, that knee is killing him) and Jennings has basically taken his job and is solid there. Ponder has been good too. That said, I'd like to have more presence there - it really would be great to have Swinson do something at some point, but I'm not gonna hold my breath. Perhaps Farmer can be activated and get some reps inside, letting Barmore play outside a little.

 

[dliverey44]

Think of it this way, after he got cut, he could have been unsigned all year, or inked a futures contract for the team who wasn't in the playoffs. Presumably, he will at least get a week of pay with the Patriots, and now he's set to hit free agency. So, while I'm sure he would have liked to play and keep getting a paycheck, he's still better off than other players who were cut or whose teams have finished playing at this time of year. I know what you're saying, but I'm pretty sure he and his agent knew what they were getting into at the time.

I understand that, but its hey here is some hope, sorry we only used you. Taking football out of it, which I know is not reasonable, is just a thing I have hard time wrapping my head around. My head understands it but my heart is like wow **** move. Its a me thing, I tend to empathize to a fault.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

Money’s been coming in on the Broncos; Pats are only 3.5 point favorites now.

Patriots now favored by only 3.5 after bettors back Broncos

Thirty-six hours ago, the Broncos were 5.5-point underdogs in the AFC Championship Game, an unprecedented spread for the home team in a conference title game.

www.nbcsports.com

 

[Patjew]

Money’s been coming in on the Broncos; Pats are only 3.5 point favorites now.

Patriots now favored by only 3.5 after bettors back Broncos

Thirty-six hours ago, the Broncos were 5.5-point underdogs in the AFC Championship Game, an unprecedented spread for the home team in a conference title game.

www.nbcsports.com

Sharps are taking the points, but that does not mean they are predicting a Denver win.

 

[DaBruinz]

Gone from 1 foot out the door with trade rumors haunting him from TC through the trade deadline to being the Game Captain to replace Landry...

 

[DaBruinz]

Not going to lie, that upsets me a little because this is these people lives. I know that is part of the game but it never sits right with me

So, it upsets you that the guy wasn't picking up the defense and they cut bait rather than wasting more time on him??? Could you explain that?

 

[DaBruinz]

Landry out doesn't really change anything. He's basically been out the last 2.5 months.
I love seeing Jennings showing up, Chaisson got his 2nd wind, and we'll have to have either Ponder provide something, or I don't see how newcomer D. Taylor wouldn't be a more useful call-up than any other for Edge rush.

Landry missed the games against Miami and the Jets. How is that being out 2.5 months?

 

[patchick]

Gone from 1 foot out the door with trade rumors haunting him from TC through the trade deadline to being the Game Captain to replace Landry...

How many careers has this coaching staff rescued? Who would have imagined this summer that we'd be talking about whether the Pats can afford to re-sign Chaisson, Tonga and Boutte.

 

[dliverey44]

So, it upsets you that the guy wasn't picking up the defense and they cut bait rather than wasting more time on him??? Could you explain that?

As I said I tend to empathize too much and it is heart thing, so its not logical. I also said that I understand in my brain,so I understand the reasoning. Don't pretend it was about him not picking up the defense, it was a cutthroat move "we need you for this reason but nothing else".

 

[patchick]

Landry missed the games against Miami and the Jets. How is that being out 2.5 months?

I took his "basically out" comment to mean Landry hasn't been nearly the same player since the injury.

 

[dliverey44]

If they'd cut him on MONDAY, immediately after the game, then I might agree with you. But they didn't.. they gave him 8-9 days to show he could start picking things up and possibly contribute. To cut him from the PS today might also imply that something else happened with him..

You're right it could mean something else. It the same as when BB called Asante Cleveland on X-Mas to cut him. I understood the football move but it still felt ****ty.

 

[DaBruinz]

As I said I tend to empathize too much and it is heart thing, so its not logical. I also said that I understand in my brain,so I understand the reasoning. Don't pretend it was about him not picking up the defense, it was a cutthroat move "we need you for this reason but nothing else".

I understand that, but its hey here is some hope, sorry we only used you. Taking football out of it, which I know is not reasonable, is just a thing I have hard time wrapping my head around. My head understands it but my heart is like wow **** move. Its a me thing, I tend to empathize to a fault.

We're going to agree to disagree.

If they'd cut him on MONDAY, immediately after the game, then I might agree with you. But they didn't.. They gave him 8-9 days to show he could start picking things up and possibly contribute. To cut him from the PS today might also imply that something else happened with him... Especially with how Vrabel made the statement during the PC.

EDIT: Updated this one.

 

[dliverey44]

We're going to agree to disagree.

If they'd cut him on MONDAY, immediately after the game, then I might agree with you. But they didn't.. They gave him 8-9 days to show he could start picking things up and possibly contribute. To cut him from the PS today might also imply that something else happened with him... Especially with how Vrabel made the statement during the PC.

It's fair, like I said my over empathizing is a me thing.

 

[NFL Mystique]

Stidham just needs to not make mistakes as the rest of the team is good enough.

 

[bakes781]

I think the gameplan should be this....

Defensively with Stidham we have the advantage of confusing him. I would simulate man/blitz presnap and stay back in zone primarily. We can't afford to be beat by the run so rotate the front 4 to keep them fresh especially due to the high altitude.

Offensively take some shots early to get a lead early. Teams who score 1st are 9-1 in these playoffs. Screen game should work if we can get to the 2nd level and block Singleton their leader in tackles. Moss leads the league in DPI so take him deep repeatedly.

 

[Patjew]

It's fair, like I said my over empathizing is a me thing.

If that is a personality fault, it is a kind one.

 

[Patjew]

My 2 keys to a victory:

1. no weird **** happens.
2. I mean it, no weird ****.

 

[DaBruinz]

Dobbins, Krull and Drew Sanders all out..
Need to watch Troy Franklin and that Hamstring.

Looks like the Broncos are getting Wattenberg back. That will help their O-line..
It would seem that Pat Bryant cleared the Concussion Protocol.