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

PYPER · Jan 19, 2026

Denver can absolutely beat us with Jarret Stidham. Stidham is unproven but that does not mean he sucks. There are plenty of backup QB's who can play well.

We saw Bailey Zappe ball out get some "W's" on teams that were not very good. We saw a backup quarterback in 2001 who had no NFL experience other than preseason beat Peyton Manning in his first career start. Flashback to the week heading up to that game. The Colts were 2-0 after putting up 45 and 42 points in their first two games. They had been a playoff team in each of the previous two seasons and were picked by many as a potential Super Bowl team. The Patriots were 0-2 after losing to the lowly Bengals and Jets. The Colts were 13 point favorites in that game.

Insert Brady. The Patriots defense came out and balled like their season depended on it and the Patriots used their rushing game to punish the Colts. Brady had a modest game completing 13-23 passes but excelled on his 3rd down opportunities and kept the chains moving. When the game was over, the Patriots earned a lopsided 44-13 victory.

The Patriots defense just played a lights out game but that performance was supercharged by the crowd. The AFC Championship is in Denver and the Broncos will have that advantage going for them. Our Oline has struggled to protect Maye at home the past two weeks. Now they have to do so with the crowd roaring loader than anything they've been exposed to this year.

Stidham doesn't need to have a game for the ages to beat us. He just needs to play good enough. Just as Brady did in his first career start.

Here are Stidham's four career starts...

2022 season for the Raiders
Wk 17 vs San Francisco - Lost 34-37 in OT - 23 of 34 for 365 yards with 3 TD's and 2 Int's - Passer Rating of 108.1
Wk 18 vs Kansas City - Lost 13-31 - 22 of 36 for 219 yards with 1 TD and 1 Int - Passer Rating of 76.0

2023 season for Broncos
Wk 17 vs LA Chargers - Win 16-9 - 20 of 32 for 224 yards with 1 TD and 0 Ints - Passer Rating of 93.7
Wk 18 vs LV Raiders - Lost 14-27 - 20 of 34 for 272 yards with 1 TD and 1 Int - Passer Rating of 82.0

That SF game was his very first start. Thats a heck of a game for a first start. Whatever kind of QB he is, he is better now than he has ever been just by learning from Sean Payton and Josh McDaniels. The kid has learned from two of the greatest offensive minds of our generation. Sometimes all a player needs is an opportunity and once he gets it, his career takes off. For Jarret Stidham, this game is that opportunity. This is his Jeff Hostetler moment. If he plays well, some team in need of a QB will give him a chance. For all we know, he could be the next Rich Gannon. Gannon spend half his career as a backup before having a late career renaissance with the Raiders that included him winning the MVP one year.

My point is to be careful what you wish for...

Real fan 02 · Jan 19, 2026

aluminum seats said:
I would agree but losing their quarterback loses that I think

You have a good point...

imahobgoblin · Jan 19, 2026

PYPER said:
Denver can absolutely beat us with Jarret Stidham. Stidham is unproven but that does not mean he sucks. There are plenty of backup QB's who can play well.

We saw Bailey Zappe ball out get some "W's" on teams that were not very good. We saw a backup quarterback in 2001 who had no NFL experience other than preseason beat Peyton Manning in his first career start. Flashback to the week heading up to that game. The Colts were 2-0 after putting up 45 and 42 points in their first two games. They had been a playoff team in each of the previous two seasons and were picked by many as a potential Super Bowl team. The Patriots were 0-2 after losing to the lowly Bengals and Jets. The Colts were 13 point favorites in that game.

Insert Brady. The Patriots defense came out and balled like their season depended on it and the Patriots used their rushing game to punish the Colts. Brady had a modest game completing 13-23 passes but excelled on his 3rd down opportunities and kept the chains moving. When the game was over, the Patriots earned a lopsided 44-13 victory.

The Patriots defense just played a lights out game but that performance was supercharged by the crowd. The AFC Championship is in Denver and the Broncos will have that advantage going for them. Our Oline has struggled to protect Maye at home the past two weeks. Now they have to do so with the crowd roaring loader than anything they've been exposed to this year.

Stidham doesn't need to have a game for the ages to beat us. He just needs to play good enough. Just as Brady did in his first career start.

Here are Stidham's four career starts...

2022 season for the Raiders
Wk 17 vs San Francisco - Lost 34-37 in OT - 23 of 34 for 365 yards with 3 TD's and 2 Int's - Passer Rating of 108.1
Wk 18 vs Kansas City - Lost 13-31 - 22 of 36 for 219 yards with 1 TD and 1 Int - Passer Rating of 76.0

2023 season for Broncos
Wk 17 vs LA Chargers - Win 16-9 - 20 of 32 for 224 yards with 1 TD and 0 Ints - Passer Rating of 93.7
Wk 18 vs LV Raiders - Lost 14-27 - 20 of 34 for 272 yards with 1 TD and 1 Int - Passer Rating of 82.0

That SF game was his very first start. Thats a heck of a game for a first start. Whatever kind of QB he is, he is better now than he has ever been just by learning from Sean Payton and Josh McDaniels. The kid has learned from two of the greatest offensive minds of our generation. Sometimes all a player needs is an opportunity and once he gets it, his career takes off. For Jarret Stidham, this game is that opportunity. This is his Jeff Hostetler moment. If he plays well, some team in need of a QB will give him a chance. For all we know, he could be the next Rich Gannon. Gannon spend half his career as a backup before having a late career renaissance with the Raiders that included him winning the MVP one year.

My point is to be careful what you wish for...

Holy Cow. Did you just say that a 29 year old QB with only 4 starts in his career with 8 TDs and 8 INTs doesn't suck and that he just unproved? What has the guy been doing for 7 years? Its not starting or winning, that is for sure. The 4 games he started were because Carr and Wilson got benched. Both seasons were the last two games of the year.

We lose this game if Drake loses this game. Its that simple.

PScottman · Jan 19, 2026

DoubleDeluxe said:
Our D has been great, but one thing to consider going into this game.

We have gone against two really banged up, and thus bad Olines.

Denver’s Oline is by the best we will see in our playoff run to date.

It won’t be as easy as the last two weeks.

No it won't, but I think the Pats have the ability to limit the run putting the game in Stiddy's hands. 1-2 third and longs per drive is likely a good expectation to have.

WeezyFbaby · Jan 19, 2026

We desperately need better production on first down. Entire first half we were 2nd and 3rd and long. Offense was way too predictable on first down, mix in a throw here and there keep the D guessing. Henderson gets stuffed for nothing WAY too often for my liking and we seem to avoid him in the passing game which is confusing cause in space hes extremely dangerous. If Maye can avoid the fumbles I like our chances, but his lack of awareness is extremely concerning. Denver offense didnt exactly scare me with Nix, let alone Stiddy. Gonzo on Sutton and watch out for harvey/Dobbins in the short underneath game. They dont run the ball well and our defense is exceptional against it. Im not particularly scared of franklin, engram, bryant. If we just get an average Drake Maye game we win

Kargetina · Jan 19, 2026

imahobgoblin said:
Holy Cow. Did you just say that a 29 year old QB with only 4 starts in his career with 8 TDs and 8 INTs doesn't suck and that he just unproved? What has the guy been doing for 7 years? Its not starting or winning, that is for sure. The 4 games he started were because Carr and Wilson got benched. Both seasons were the last two games of the year.

We lose this game if Drake loses this game. Its that simple.

Once he started comparing Stidham's career path to Brady's, he should have reconsidered his post and throw it in the bin. Brady took Mr. 100-million-dollar-contract Drew Bledsoe's job in year two, and didn't play one single game as a back-up in the next 22 years. Stidham has been in the league for 7 years and hasn't earned one starting job. No, all 32 teams haven't been myopic for 7 years, Stidham just isn't a starting caliber QB.

''Be careful what you wish for''

Yeah, i sure as hell am thankful the team gets to play a jag that has won one game in his career over Josh Allen and the guy that took the Broncos to 15-3, and outplayed Josh Allen two days ago in a playoff game.

The sheer insanity surrounding Stidham is something else. You would think we're talking about some former All-Pro caliber QB that has had a couple of bad years, not an absolute nobody, someone Patriots fans would never have heard of, if he wasn't drafted by the Pats.

Patsfanin Philly · Jan 19, 2026

Having taken lots of crap after SB loss to Philly ( Boston native transplanted here 40 years ago) I enjoy the schadenfreude (?sp) of asking everyone what time the Eagles play next Sunday..........

imahobgoblin · Jan 19, 2026

Kargetina said:
Once he started comparing Stidham's career path to Brady's, he should have reconsidered his post and throw it in the bin. Brady took Mr. 100-million-dollar-contract Drew Bledsoe's job in year two, and didn't play one single game as a back-up in the next 22 years. Stidham has been in the league for 7 years and hasn't earned one starting job. No, all 32 teams haven't been myopic for 7 years, Stidham just isn't a starting caliber QB.

''Be careful what you wish for''

Yeah, i sure as hell am thankful the team gets to play a jag that has won one game in his career over Josh Allen and the guy that took the Broncos to 15-3, and outplayed Josh Allen two days ago in a playoff game.

The sheer insanity surrounding Stidham is something else. You would think we're talking about some former All-Pro caliber QB that has had a couple of bad years, not an absolute nobody, someone Patriots fans would never have heard of, if he wasn't drafted by the Pats.

Thank God we have some sanity here.

SVN · Jan 19, 2026

DomCasual · Jan 19, 2026

upstater1 said:
Does getting to the QB mean sacks? Because while Denver is better than Houston on that, the pressure from Houston was intense.

So, I will say he will be more bothered by the crowd noise than by the pass rush, if that makes sense. It's not like he hasn't seen anything like the Broncos pass rush. He saw it this past weekend.

Noise is very difficult for any QB to deal with.

Our 68 sacks were the 5th most NFL history, and led the NFL by a lot. We get pressure on the edge and up the middle (Zach Allen only trailed Myles Garrett in pressures). We led the league in QB pressures, as well.

That said, our defense has games where they look scary-good - just dominant; and games where they just look scary, in a bad way. I'd like to think that we'll get the former, considering what is at stake.

upstater1 · Jan 19, 2026

DomCasual said:
Our 68 sacks were the 5th most NFL history, and led the NFL by a lot. We get pressure on the edge and up the middle (Zach Allen only trailed Myles Garrett in pressures). We led the league in QB pressures, as well.

That said, our defense has games where they look scary-good - just dominant; and games where they just look scary, in a bad way. I'd like to think that we'll get the former, considering what is at stake.

I think you misunderstood what I wrote.

Maye just played a defense that gets an immense amount of pressure. That's why I said pressure isn't only measured by sack statistics.

denverpatsfan · Jan 19, 2026

For those of you that think Stidham will make the game "easier" to win.

Pats have lost in Denver to the following QBs:
Jake Plummer
The corpse of Peyton Manning
Kyle Orton
Brock Osweiller
Brian Griese

That defense, home field, special teams and running game or threat of one all factor in.

The Pats offensive line has struggled at home. How will they play on the road? If they can be average to slightly above they can pull off the win.
A repeat of Sunday and this game can get away fast. Especially on the road.

As a side note I once played in a charity dodge ball tournament here in Denver. We had to play a team who had Brian Griese as their guest. It did not end well for us...

PYPER · Jan 19, 2026

imahobgoblin said:
Holy Cow. Did you just say that a 29 year old QB with only 4 starts in his career with 8 TDs and 8 INTs doesn't suck and that he just unproved? What has the guy been doing for 7 years? Its not starting or winning, that is for sure. The 4 games he started were because Carr and Wilson got benched. Both seasons were the last two games of the year.

We lose this game if Drake loses this game. Its that simple.

There are two sides to every coin. Many think Stroud lost the game for the Texans. I think the Patriots defense won it. Stroud was under pressure all game and got no help from his running game. That is the formula to beat every quarterback. If our oline struggles to protect Maye and we can't run the ball, we probably will lose this game. If we lose, we'll lose because the Denver defense gets in a frenzy and feeds off the crowd just like our defense did against Houston. Home field advantage is a significant factor and there might not be a better home field advantage in the league than the one the Broncos enjoy in Denver.

Some of you will blame Maye which is unfortunate. The OLine of this team is still the weak link. Its much improved from where it was a year ago but more improvement is still needed. I believe we need to add another OT with one of our first two picks. Moses is 34 years old and Campbell might be better suited at OG. I'm not sure we wouldn't be better off right now with Lowe at LT and Campbell at LG.

My post above was only trying to point out that this game is not going to be a cakewalk. It seems like many Pats fans are planning their SB trips just because of the Nix injury. I don't believe there is a tremendous drop off between Nix and Stidham. There are likely aspects of Stidham's game that may be better and Sean Payton is a great offensive mind capable of taking advantage of those. This is going to be a battle. We need to strike first and take the crowd out of the game. If its a close game and the crowd is in it until the end, we will be coming home with the L.

Dedhampatsfan · Jan 19, 2026

SVN said:

Good for you Nick Foles but history is irrelevnt for the game next Sunday.

denverpatsfan · Jan 19, 2026

For those of you that think Sean Payton is overrated. He directly impacted the game on Saturday.
The Winners and Losers of the NFL’s Divisional Round

This is twofold. The Broncos beat the Bills on Saturday in large part because of head coach Sean Payton’s offensive creativity and his ability to draw up the right play at the right moment for quarterback Bo Nix to exploit the weaknesses in Buffalo’s defense—particularly a banged-up secondary.

In the final minute of the first half, Bills safety Cam Lewis headed to the locker room early because of cramping in his legs. He was replaced by Darnell Savage—and the Broncos immediately took advantage. Nix rolled out of the pocket to his right, planted his feet, and launched a pass deep for receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey, who went streaking down the right seam and caught Savage out of position just outside the end zone. Savage could only dive at Humphrey’s feet as the receiver hauled in the touchdown.

Late in regulation, the Bills’ most experienced cornerback, Tre’Davious White, briefly left the game after getting pancaked by a Denver offensive lineman during a Nix scramble, and he was replaced by Dane Jackson. Payton determined it was the perfect time to dial up a pass play for Marvin Mims Jr. that the receiver ran to perfection earlier in the week in practice against Pat Surtain II, beating Denver’s best corner and last season’s NFL Defensive Player of the Year with a double move. Payton added the play to the call sheet Friday night and asked his assistants to remind him to call it in the game. “When we did our video the night before and we put the practice clip up, I said, ‘You’re beating the no. 1 corner in the world. All right? I don’t care who they put over there in the game tomorrow, we’re running this play,’” Payton told reporters Sunday morning.

That moment came as soon as White left the game. Mims motioned from the right side of the formation to the left to get lined up opposite of Jackson. A stutter-step about 6 yards into his route froze Jackson just enough for Mims to burst past the corner and get a step ahead as Nix laid the pass over Mims’s shoulder in the end zone. That 26-yard touchdown gave the Broncos a 30-27 lead with 55 seconds remaining.

TommyD4207 · Jan 19, 2026

denverpatsfan said:
For those of you that think Stidham will make the game "easier" to win.

Pats have lost in Denver to the following QBs:
Jake Plummer
The corpse of Peyton Manning
Kyle Orton
Brock Osweiller
Brian Griese

That defense, home field, special teams and running game or threat of one all factor in.

The Pats offensive line has struggled at home. How will they play on the road? If they can be average to slightly above they can pull off the win.
A repeat of Sunday and this game can get away fast. Especially on the road.

As a side note I once played in a charity dodge ball tournament here in Denver. We had to play a team who had Brian Griese as their guest. It did not end well for us...

I was with you until said 'running game', you fell back on troll tropes with that one.

This is Sean Payton. Specifcally, Playoffs Sean Payton. They ran 12 times for 30 yards against the worst rush defense in the league - in a game where they had the lead for the vast majority of the game.

Suffice it to say, I am unconcerned about the Broncos running game.

The Patriots are undefeated on the road this year. That's where a lot of my confidence comes from.

TommyD4207 · Jan 19, 2026

denverpatsfan said:
For those of you that think Sean Payton is overrated.

Zero people have said Sean Payton is overrated. Zero people.
I've been pimping him for coach of the year all year long because he had to deal with having Bo Nix as a QB.

XLIX · Jan 19, 2026

Ross12 · Jan 19, 2026

XLIX said:

I told my wife when that catch happened that we were going to see that play in commercials for years. This is definitely the shot they're using.

PATSYLICIOUS · Jan 19, 2026

denverpatsfan said:
For those of you that think Stidham will make the game "easier" to win.

Pats have lost in Denver to the following QBs:
Jake Plummer
The corpse of Peyton Manning
Kyle Orton
Brock Osweiller
Brian Griese

That defense, home field, special teams and running game or threat of one all factor in.

The Pats offensive line has struggled at home. How will they play on the road? If they can be average to slightly above they can pull off the win.
A repeat of Sunday and this game can get away fast. Especially on the road.

As a side note I once played in a charity dodge ball tournament here in Denver. We had to play a team who had Brian Griese as their guest. It did not end well for us...

I don’t expect it to be a cakewalk but all those guys listed at least have seasons worth of starting experience and at some point were true starters in the nfl. Stidham has 4 starts in 7 years, theres a reason for that.

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