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

[mgteich]

Prescott is a very good QB - especially given where he was drafted, but this is a terrible look. His best team was in 2016 where they had no business losing to GB. It started to deteriorate after that and they continued to run into teams that were way better than them. They are the Bills of the NFC where the media keeps hyping them up saying they have talent, but smarter fans can see there's very little talent there.

His presence will be felt in the run game and be a security blanket for Maye. It will be good to have him back.

Hollins, Henry, Diggs and Stevenson are all security blankets for Maye. It is good to have all four available.

 

[Uptown]

 

[mgteich]

Taylor from the Practice Squad should get a lot of work with Farmer out, Gregory out, Tonga perhaps not yet at 100%, and the need to rotate players a lot.

In any case, we have a 5-man rotation with no backups.
Williams, Barmore, Durden, Tonga, Taylor

 

[SVN]

I really hope they are able to establish and lean on the run. Josh has a tendency to not stick with it. I am sure the broncos are going to try and punch the ball out with rhamondre but the run game is the way for us to negate the pass rush.

 

[TommyD4207]

I really hope they are able to establish and lean on the run. Josh has a tendency to not stick with it. I am sure the broncos are going to try and punch the ball out with rhamondre but the run game is the way for us to negate the pass rush.

All I've heard all year is that he tries to run too much.

He sticks with it until it's obvious that it's not working, and there's no benefit to continuing it.

Sean Payton on the other hand, will abandon the run for a quarter after a single run stuff.

 

[WhatJustHappened]

I asked Gemini to respond to your concerns...

In the fast-paced ecosystem of the modern internet, it often feels as though every piece of content demands a reaction—a like, a share, or a meticulously crafted rebuttal. However, one of the most powerful tools in a user's digital arsenal is also the simplest: the choice to keep scrolling. Ignoring a post you don't approve of isn't just a passive act; it is a strategic decision to protect your own "digital peace" and deny attention to content you find unhelpful or inflammatory.
From a psychological standpoint, engaging with content that upsets you often triggers a "stress loop." When we stop to argue with a stranger or dissect a post we dislike, our brains release cortisol and adrenaline, keeping us in a state of heightened agitation. By choosing to ignore the post instead, you effectively break that loop before it starts. You preserve your mental energy for topics that actually bring you value, rather than allowing a random algorithm or a provocative headline to dictate your mood for the afternoon.
Furthermore, it is important to remember that on almost every social platform, engagement is the primary currency. Algorithms generally don't distinguish between a "love" and an "angry" react; they simply see activity. When you comment on or share a post to show your disapproval, you are often inadvertently boosting its reach, ensuring that even more people see the very thing you dislike. Silence, conversely, is the only thing the algorithm cannot monetize or amplify. By withholding your engagement, you are essentially "starving" the post of the visibility it needs to survive.
Ultimately, mastering the art of the scroll is a form of digital maturity. It’s an acknowledgment that while you cannot control what others post, you have absolute authority over what you allow into your personal headspace. Treating your attention as a limited, valuable resource allows you to move through online spaces with more intention and less frustration.
Would you like me to draft some polite "canned responses" you can use when you feel the urge to engage but want to gracefully bow out inst
ead?

Stop it.
Novels are ridiculous.

 

[DaBruinz]

Sure it's been mentioned, but:

Patriots activated Mack Hollins from IR
Patriots placed Eric Gregory - DT on IR

Patriots elevate Leonard Taylor and D'Ernest Johnson.

 

[DaBruinz]

Interesting that Reiss mentioned Sherfield's release when Patriots.com did not.

 

[DaBruinz]

Inactive list will be interesting.

Wallace, Bryant, Dippre, Swinson, Chism, Minor, Devito (3rd QB)

 

[DaBruinz]

Neither were activated from the IR, so this is a formality.

 

[WhatJustHappened]

I asked Gemini to respond to your concerns...

In the fast-paced ecosystem of the modern internet, it often feels as though every piece of content demands a reaction—a like, a share, or a meticulously crafted rebuttal. However, one of the most powerful tools in a user's digital arsenal is also the simplest: the choice to keep scrolling. Ignoring a post you don't approve of isn't just a passive act; it is a strategic decision to protect your own "digital peace" and deny attention to content you find unhelpful or inflammatory.
From a psychological standpoint, engaging with content that upsets you often triggers a "stress loop." When we stop to argue with a stranger or dissect a post we dislike, our brains release cortisol and adrenaline, keeping us in a state of heightened agitation. By choosing to ignore the post instead, you effectively break that loop before it starts. You preserve your mental energy for topics that actually bring you value, rather than allowing a random algorithm or a provocative headline to dictate your mood for the afternoon.
Furthermore, it is important to remember that on almost every social platform, engagement is the primary currency. Algorithms generally don't distinguish between a "love" and an "angry" react; they simply see activity. When you comment on or share a post to show your disapproval, you are often inadvertently boosting its reach, ensuring that even more people see the very thing you dislike. Silence, conversely, is the only thing the algorithm cannot monetize or amplify. By withholding your engagement, you are essentially "starving" the post of the visibility it needs to survive.
Ultimately, mastering the art of the scroll is a form of digital maturity. It’s an acknowledgment that while you cannot control what others post, you have absolute authority over what you allow into your personal headspace. Treating your attention as a limited, valuable resource allows you to move through online spaces with more intention and less frustration.
Would you like me to draft some polite "canned responses" you can use when you feel the urge to engage but want to gracefully bow out inst
ead?

Novel, I don't do novels.

Thanks

 

[DaBruinz]

Yep. Denver’s defense is susceptible to big plays; particularly out of bunch formations. Maye is fearless when it comes to taking shots down the field & he won’t be afraid of targeting Surtain, but Moss is the weak link. Their LBs are weak in coverage as well, and I believe our run game will feast against that small Denver from seven.

I'd love to see a screen to Rhamandre or Henderson with them being the one moving into the bunch..

 

[DaBruinz]

why?
just review last week's list and repeat, probably with the addition of Chism instead of Gregory. If Mapu can't play, I suppose that Swinson could be active.

• G Caedan Wallace
• OLB Bradyn Swinson
• TE C.J. Dippre
• OT Marcus Bryant
• DB Kobee Minor
• DT Eric Gregory
• QB Tommy DeVito

Gregory was IRed.. And your post came in response to Mack's mentioning that. *SMH*

 

[patfanken]

Vrabel, as the HC, needs to step in and tell McDaniels to have help set up for Campbell. It should be on every snap unless the Patriots are up by three scores late or something. This isn't the game nor environment to have "hope" he gets it together.

That's BS. Bonito is NOT Anderson, he isn't even close to Anderson, especially the last month of the season, which happens to be the Month we are playing them in.

Yes you DO help him just like you would against any quality rusher, but you DO NOT drop everything you normally do in order to help Campbell at the expense of running an effective diverse offense. It is not necessary against Bonito because HIS strengths align with Campbell's strength unlike they did with Anderson.

 

[hornetfb85]

IT’S GAMEDAY…LETS ****IN GOOOOOOO!!!!

 

[WhatJustHappened]

I asked Gemini to respond to your concerns...

In the fast-paced ecosystem of the modern internet, it often feels as though every piece of content demands a reaction—a like, a share, or a meticulously crafted rebuttal. However, one of the most powerful tools in a user's digital arsenal is also the simplest: the choice to keep scrolling. Ignoring a post you don't approve of isn't just a passive act; it is a strategic decision to protect your own "digital peace" and deny attention to content you find unhelpful or inflammatory.
From a psychological standpoint, engaging with content that upsets you often triggers a "stress loop." When we stop to argue with a stranger or dissect a post we dislike, our brains release cortisol and adrenaline, keeping us in a state of heightened agitation. By choosing to ignore the post instead, you effectively break that loop before it starts. You preserve your mental energy for topics that actually bring you value, rather than allowing a random algorithm or a provocative headline to dictate your mood for the afternoon.
Furthermore, it is important to remember that on almost every social platform, engagement is the primary currency. Algorithms generally don't distinguish between a "love" and an "angry" react; they simply see activity. When you comment on or share a post to show your disapproval, you are often inadvertently boosting its reach, ensuring that even more people see the very thing you dislike. Silence, conversely, is the only thing the algorithm cannot monetize or amplify. By withholding your engagement, you are essentially "starving" the post of the visibility it needs to survive.
Ultimately, mastering the art of the scroll is a form of digital maturity. It’s an acknowledgment that while you cannot control what others post, you have absolute authority over what you allow into your personal headspace. Treating your attention as a limited, valuable resource allows you to move through online spaces with more intention and less frustration.
Would you like me to draft some polite "canned responses" you can use when you feel the urge to engage but want to gracefully bow out inst
ead?

Another Novel.
Thanks for giving me another Block

 

[mgcolby]

Novel, I don't do novels.

Thank

Another Novel.
Thanks for giving me another Block

Imagine a world where you need to ask AI to provide you with a cognitive response to another human. While lacking any deductive reasoning. Scary.

 

[Triumph]

Prescott is a very good QB - especially given where he was drafted, but this is a terrible look. His best team was in 2016 where they had no business losing to GB. It started to deteriorate after that and they continued to run into teams that were way better than them. They are the Bills of the NFC where the media keeps hyping them up saying they have talent, but smarter fans can see there's very little talent there.

His presence will be felt in the run game and be a security blanket for Maye. It will be good to have him back.

Jerry Jones must be hitting the scotch via IV watching Kraft on the doorstep of reaching another Super Bowl. Especially this time when BK has taken a more active role in operations of his football team picking GMs and HC and making the combination work. To my knowledge there isn't any front office drama and infighting like in Miami and Buffalo.Were back to stepping out of the tunnel as a team again.

I've been a Hollins fan since day 1 arguing with Andy Ring 6 Johnson about his value.

 

[1960Pats]

I would have preferred for Pats to get beat in CG rather than lose in the SB... if we lost to the Bills or Jags or someone, giving us a good year with understandable room to grow. But now, it'd take a colossal disaster to lose with Stiddy which would be much worse.

But IF we do win, I am quite sure we'll loose in the SB to either Rams or Hawks. And that will stink.
Because the AFC was not very good this year, and either of those NFC teams seem like a cut above... they are not the historic chokers like Chargers & Texans.

If we had to lose I'd rather lose in the SB than the AFCG.

The NFC vs AFC record was 41-39 this year after a horrible start by the AFC. The AFC was behind by 14 games earlier in the season.

Overall in their history the AFC has dominated the NFC with a winning head-to-head record in 2/3 of the seasons and a huge lead in games, but the NFC has a slight edge in SB wins. They were tied but then Brady went to TB and got the NFC the lead back.

 

[1960Pats]

I made this post last week lol. The parallels to 2001 are strong:

1. 5 or fewer wins prior season, turned around to an AFCCG or better this season
2. 2nd year quarterback having a breakout year
3. Same offensive scheme
4. The divisional round game was a snow game for both teams
5. Both teams involved Mike Vrabel
6. Every week, other fans said "that's cute, but they're not ACTUALLY good... They'll get wrecked by [next opponent]"
7. Both were the 2nd seed

8. Silence of the Rams is still a possibility.