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

[dliverey44]

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

I worked in the medical field for over 20 years while in the military and it allowed me to make great connections with patients but led to alot of agonizing moments.

My wife lacks the ability to empathize (her words), so we balance out

 

[DaBruinz]

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.

Boutte is still under contract for another year.
I don't foresee re-signing Tonga to be an issue.

Chaisson is the only one who might go for greener pastures. But I saw an article a week or two back that pointed out how Chaisson is the perfect example of right place, right attitude and right coaching staff. So, if he signs with someone else, it might not be a big deal.

 

[XLIX]

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

This blows my mind. I know anything could happen but if we want to discuss what is most likely then it is most likely that Stidham is going to suck royally.

Even if Stidham was a mid-level starting caliber NFL QB along the lines of, say, Mayfield, Young or Murray, he would still be at an EXTREME disadvantage being dropped into the CCG as his first game of the season when everyone else on the field has been going full board for 5 months now.

So even if he was good he would be at an extreme disadvantage, and fact is there is no reason whatsoever to think he is any good.

 

[Lansdowne]

Love how the national media is making Stidham out to be Joe Montana, before the Nix injury every single one of em prob thought he was a bum to average.

Feels great to have NE hate again.

Best part is Stidham will go right back to being a bum again after the game, but only to either diminish the Patriots win or to add salt to the wound of a Patriots loss. That's how the media works.

 

[Triumph]

God. Pleeease. We just moved past 'throw it up Joe'. You know Payton is gonna be telling Stidham to take advantage of the height mismatch. I predict a lot of jump balls. PI's incoming.... Have to play with the lead now more than ever (which sounds dumb and is dumb...dosent matter...just do it)....

Marcus Jones should able to handle Mims when the Pats go Man. Mims had a stellar day vs the Bills, but that was with Nix. I will be surprised If Stidham and Mims have the same chemistry.

Sutton is the Broncos Diggs. Seems like Gonzo would be tasked with erasing him.

 

[SVN]

This blows my mind. I know anything could happen but if we want to discuss what is most likely then it is most likely that Stidham is going to suck royally.

Even if Stidham was a mid-level starting caliber NFL QB along the lines of, say, Mayfield, Young or Murray, he would still be at an EXTREME disadvantage being dropped into the CCG as his first game of the season when everyone else on the field has been going full board for 5 months now.

So even if he was good he would be at an extreme disadvantage, and fact is there is no reason whatsoever to think he is any good.

I think its a mile high advantange with the pats having a young team and QB and not playing well last two weeks. Stidam needs to be servicable like cassel was against the jets after his first start since high school. That homefiled advantage for denver is quite huge especially when their team is built on defense. one can attribute their poor defensive game last week to two+ week rust. I think they will be far more challenging sunday.

 

[Triumph]

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.

I look at Landry as this teams Brian Cox, but less volatile.

I suppose Vrabel brought Landry to NE to help implement his version of the 3 - 4.

 

[Triumph]

 

[Triumph]

 

[SlowGettingUp]

Dobbins out:



Pats will have some roster juggling to do if any or all of the 3 players on IR come back. If they cut anyone, not sure if they can then put them on the PS and elevate them.

 

[Triumph]

 

[TommyD4207]

This would be a huge mistake. Diggs and Henry could have 20 catches between them.

 

[Triumph]

 

[Triumph]

 

[palialka]

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.

Swinson needs to work his ass off in the off season to be ready to compete come TC. He won’t sniff the field on Sunday or the SB if we get there.

 

[Ross12]

This would be a huge mistake. Diggs and Henry could have 20 catches between them.

Even if he covers Diggs, there's still Boutte, Hollins, Henry, Williams, Chism.

 

[dliverey44]

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.

I think we will see some DL of Milt-Durden-Taylor-Barmore

 

[Ross12]

I think we will see some DL of Milt-Durden-Taylor-Barmore

Leonard Taylor has been making some very nice plays.

 

[Ross12]

JK Dobbins being out is big news. I didn't necessarily expect him to be a big part of the offense coming off that injury, but he had a chance to spark their run game. With him being totally out, their run game will be toast. RJ Harvey is below average, and they had little to no production going against Buffalo's very bad run defense. Now they have to face NE's elite run defense.

I can imagine Payton will want to run the ball because he surely won't want to be having Stidham throw it 40+ times, but the run probably won't do much, and they'll be facing a lot of 2nd/3rd and long situations. May lead to turnovers.

 

[Sect140]

Would have been interesting to see the AFCCG in Foxboro with the weather coming this way. I'm ok with that. I don't want an AFCCG decided by a snowstorm tbh.

I’m wondering if they would’ve delayed it a day or two or played it Saturday. As much as I like going to games the drive home last week was a nightmare.