Win or Lose against Denver, Patriots win

[Grogan14]

Magical unexpected season

Win and they are in SB
Lose and they still advanced all the way to the championship

Neither team is beating the NFC champion in SB

Denver has better OL and DL than pats. These games are won in the trenches.

 

[Kdo5]

It will hurt if we lose today. Season is far more successful than anyone imagined but the bar has been raised substantially.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Neither team is beating the NFC champion in SB

If the 2001 Rams and 2007 Patriots can lose, anybody else can lose.

 

[Hyped]

Yeah, we made it farther than any of us (on here) expected....

BUT I still want to keep the train rolling......let's see if we can't manage to keep hanging around.

 

[NFL Mystique]

Honest question:

How would this message board react if Buffalo, Baltimore, or KC went into Denver an lost an AFC title game to Stidham?

Think of that answer and why the Patriots should not get the same treatment.

 

[NFL Mystique]

If the 2001 Rams and 2007 Patriots can lose, anybody else can lose.

This.

 

[Lansdowne]

Losing would hurt especially coming so close to a championship. But I’ll be proud of what this team accomplished regardless. I’ll remember this 2025-26 Patriots team fondly for the rest of my life. But they’re not done, there’s still football to be played, and I believe they can go all the way.

 

[Water Boy]

If Denver had Nix a loss would be very understandable. Losing to Stidham would leave a little bit of sour taste.

Pats are probably 7 point dogs in the Super Bowl.

 

[NFL Mystique]

Losing would hurt especially coming so close to a championship. But I’ll be proud of what this team accomplished regardless. I’ll remember this 2025-26 Patriots team fondly for the rest of my life. But they’re not done, there’s still football to be played, and I believe they can go all the way.

I think losing to Nix would hurt. But it's understandable. Losing to Stidham would realllyyy hurt and be looked at as a blown opportunity.

I mean when will they ever get a backup QB in a huge playoff game again?

I would not consider it a failure though.

 

[Joey007]

The pressure ramped a little more for this once one it became Stidham as the starter for Denver. Like that would suck losing to him.

But either way, once the dust settles, you couldn’t make me disappointed with this season. I’ll be fine with whatever happens.

 

[Joey007]

I think losing to Nix would hurt. But it's understandable. Losing to Stidham would realllyyy hurt and be looked at as a blown opportunity.

I mean when will they ever get a backup QB in a huge playoff game again?

I would not consider it a failure though.

The only nice thing is that losing to Nix would’ve created some very annoying Nix vs. Maye resume discourse. If anything, a win for Denver today definitely reflects poorly on Nix.

 

[reflexblue]

Magical unexpected season

Win and they are in SB
Lose and they still advanced all the way to the championship

Neither team is beating the NFC champion in SB

Denver has better OL and DL than pats. These games are won in the trenches.

Your back....good

 

[DoubleDeluxe]

Magical unexpected season

Win and they are in SB
Lose and they still advanced all the way to the championship

Neither team is beating the NFC champion in SB

Denver has better OL and DL than pats. These games are won in the trenches.

Denver ranks dead last in run D in the playoffs, gave up 183 to Buffalo.
Denver also ranks 2nd to last in rushing offense in the playoffs (and that was against a bad Buff run D).
So do they really have a better OL and DL?
Yes they rush the passer well, better than us. But we run the ball better and stop the run about the same.
We also pass the ball better.
Not sure they are much better on both lines like you think.
And stop with anointing the NFC as the SB winner. Both those teams are beatable.

 

[Stu Pidassle]

Losing a today would be disappointing. The thing is that we won't know how disappointing until Maye retires. If a loss in his first year becomes a stepping stone to a long playoff run with at least one super bowl championship, the disappointment will fade and change to perspective. If a loss turns out to be a Dan Marino scenario, that disappointment will never go away.

 

[NFL Mystique]

The only nice thing is that losing to Nix would’ve created some very annoying Nix vs. Maye resume discourse. If anything, a win for Denver today definitely reflects poorly on Nix.

I think Payton will get most of the credit. He is good with backup QB's. Whether we like it or not, he is a brilliant HC.

 

[Ring 6]

Magical unexpected season

Win and they are in SB
Lose and they still advanced all the way to the championship

Neither team is beating the NFC champion in SB

Denver has better OL and DL than pats. These games are won in the trenches.

30 minutes before the team you said would go 5-12 plays as a favorite in the AFCCG and you can’t help but announce negativity. You are a lost cause.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Id still be crushed temporarily if we lose. Im sure in a week or 2 id come to this realization but when a Jared Stidham led broncos team is all thats standing in the way for a trip to the sb and you can’t convert thatd be a sick feeling

 

[NFL Mystique]

Id still be crushed temporarily if we lose. Im sure in a week or 2 id come to this realization but when a Jared Stidham led broncos team is all thats standing in the way for a trip to the sb and you can’t convert thatd be a sick feeling

This.

To get this far and lose to a guy like that is....brutal.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Magical unexpected season

Win and they are in SB
Lose and they still advanced all the way to the championship

Neither team is beating the NFC champion in SB

Denver has better OL and DL than pats. These games are won in the trenches.

Disagree, with Drake Maye the Patriots can beat anyone.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Your back....good

He hasn't left yet. The bet doesn't kick in until they play the next game.