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

Halifax_Pats_Fan · Jan 20, 2026

Triumph said:
You were not exaggerating about inflation in Denver. Ticket prices are insane.

$500 - $600 to sit eye level with the Rocky Mountains.

Not for this cat. My basement has a kegerator and reasonably priced appetizers...

Real fan 02 · Jan 20, 2026

Sect140 said:
I think Sean Peyton is a really good coach and great offensive mind but Denver won because Josh turned the ball over four times.

Agreed 100%.. I recently posted that we have the advantages as far as Stidham goes.. he was drafted by us.. Josh coached him and knows him better than anyone.. we also have to remember this He couldn't beat out Cam Newton in 2020

RobertWeathers · Jan 20, 2026

Rob0729 said:
Can we give Elliot Wolf a little credit for this. I don't think Vrabel is the one scouring waiver wires and practice squads for hidden gems.

Yes, Wolf deserves credit but so does Cowden, Vrabel, Josh, Marrone, Houghtaling and Kugler all deserve credit for getting the most out of the player.

Finding talent and scheme fit are important but so is coaching.

Real fan 02 · Jan 20, 2026

RobertWeathers said:
Yes, Wolf deserves credit but so does Cowden, Vrabel, Josh, Marrone, Houghtaling and Kugler all deserve credit for getting the most out of the player.

Finding talent and scheme fit are important but so is coaching.

And Highsmith...

yukon cornelius · Jan 20, 2026

uknepatsfan said:
They are an elite defense.

But, like Houston, you can score points on them too.

i'd argue right now, with a healthy davis, the patriots D is better overall than the Bronocs D

patriot offense, line aside, is much better than the bronco offense

shmessy · Jan 20, 2026

MrBigglesWorth said:
I think Drake will have a much more productive game. Chargers had bookend d ends and Texans even more so. He wasn't able to slide right or away from it like he did with Myles Garrett. He couldn't even move up in the pocket. Denver has one elite rusher and a bunch of good guys. He should have more time and I think we'll be able to run

Is there something lost in translation there? Garrett had 5 sacks that game - - he was on Drake more than Ann Michael.

.

Nikolai · Jan 20, 2026

I highly doubt Denver is going to run the ball very well on us and the game will be in Stiddy's hands. That's mostly good for us, but if their OL holds, and there's no reason to think it won't, he'll have his good moments. I wouldn't be shocked to see a stat line like this:

26/41 256 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

Lots of attempts due to the running game's ineptitude. I recall Peyton has a tendency to abandon the run game if it's not there (open to correction here).

I don't think it'll be enough to stop whatever McDaniels has cooked up with Maye, to go with a solid run game.

Pats 27
Liddy J Stiddy 20

upstater1 · Jan 20, 2026

Mack Herron said:
Stevenson has been outstanding of late, but Henderson has gone the other way. Now when Stevenson leaves the game, so does our rushing attack. Hopefully they can get more production out of folks not named Stevenson.

What in the world is going on with Henderson out there?
He looked lost and out of it. Like he was on another planet. At one point, he stopped dead still 2 or 3 yards past the line of scrimmage. He didn't even know the playcall on the broken play when Maye ran and fumbled.

PATSYLICIOUS · Jan 20, 2026

Nikolai said:
I highly doubt Denver is going to run the ball very well on us and the game will be in Stiddy's hands. That's mostly good for us, but if their OL holds, and there's no reason to think it won't, he'll have his good moments. I wouldn't be shocked to see a stat line like this:

26/41 256 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

Lots of attempts due to the running game's ineptitude. I recall Peyton has a tendency to abandon the run game if it's not there (open to correction here).

I don't think it'll be enough to stop whatever McDaniels has cooked up with Maye, to go with a solid run game.

Pats 27
Liddy J Stiddy 20

Agreed and this is one of my key reasons for optimism. Since spillane and milton returned we’ve gone back to dominating on run d. Dobbins if back and their rookie rb (name escapes me) have both looked good when ive watched denver but we’ve shut down james cook and bijan robinson with the d at full strength(as well as pretty much any other rb we faced with those 2 in). Their whole offense is likely to ride on stidham unless the d and st’s creates points.

PatsFan2 · Jan 20, 2026

MrBigglesWorth said:
I think Drake will have a much more productive game. Chargers had bookend d ends and Texans even more so. He wasn't able to slide right or away from it like he did with Myles Garrett. He couldn't even move up in the pocket. Denver has one elite rusher and a bunch of good guys. He should have more time and I think we'll be able to run

Even though Myles Garrett is Great: his overall impact wasn't felt as much as Will Anderson's. The Texans Defense is excellent overall compared to the Browns.

upstater1 · Jan 20, 2026

PATSYLICIOUS said:
Agreed and this is one of my key reasons for optimism. Since spillane and milton returned we’ve gone back to dominating on run d. Dobbins if back and their rookie rb (name escapes me) have both looked good when ive watched denver but we’ve shut down james cook and bijan robinson with the d at full strength. Their whole offense is likely to ride on stidham unless the d and st’s creates points.

Their rookie is Harvey and he's really fast. Have to contain him because the Broncos may kick him out to the outside. Patriots rush D is strong up the middle and a little bit leaky on the edges.

Real fan 02 · Jan 20, 2026

yukon cornelius said:
i'd argue right now, with a healthy davis, the patriots D is better overall than the Bronocs D

patriot offense, line aside, is much better than the bronco offense

Agreed..Broncos have smaller LBs who get exposed in the running game as Buffalo showed.. they rely on speed and coverage. Cooper opposite bonito has slowed down past month or so of the season.. sticking with the run and utilizing the middle as well as attacking Riley moss in coverage is the formula.

Nix under Payton had the offense tailored to what Nix does well.. under Stidham they will likely have a more conservative game plan.

Josh is a very important piece here as he coached Stidham.

Rob0729 · Jan 20, 2026

RobertWeathers said:
Yes, Wolf deserves credit but so does Cowden, Vrabel, Josh, Marrone, Houghtaling and Kugler all deserve credit for getting the most out of the player.

Finding talent and scheme fit are important but so is coaching.

I get that. I am not giving Wolf all the credit.

But people here think he is the worst player evaluator in the world. Reports are that Vrabel loves him. And basically all the free agents and all the draft picks have worked out this year. A lot of that has to do with Wolf, but no one person takes all the credit for it.

Real fan 02 · Jan 20, 2026

PATSYLICIOUS said:
Agreed and this is one of my key reasons for optimism. Since spillane and milton returned we’ve gone back to dominating on run d. Dobbins if back and their rookie rb (name escapes me) have both looked good when ive watched denver but we’ve shut down james cook and bijan robinson with the d at full strength. Their whole offense is likely to ride on stidham unless the d and st’s creates points.

Hard to see us giving up 20 points.. unless Drake Turns it over.. and gives the ball back in the red zone.

I expect a safe and conservative game plan for Stidham.. as I've said back ups in the NFL are back ups for a reason...

Now think of this.. would you say anyone thought of Nix as a top 10 QB.. maybe top 15ish.?

Now we are facing his backup! I feel like the patiots defense smells blood.

PATSYLICIOUS · Jan 20, 2026

upstater1 said:
Their rookie is Harvey and he's really fast. Have to contain him because the Broncos may kick him out to the outside. Patriots rush D is strong up the middle and a little bit leaky on the edges.

Harvey, correct! He was on one of my fantasy teams so I should have known this yes he has speed and seems very slippery, but i am confident in our guys. Our corners have been good in run support on the outside as well so thats part of why theyve still been great against the run despite the edge issue.

The only times we’ve had trouble stopping the run is when both milton and spillane are out

dannydyn · Jan 20, 2026

Real fan 02 said:
I actually think we have the biggest advantage he was drafted by us and was here with Josh we know all about him. I believe he also played for Josh in LV...

advantage patriots.

Agreed. He played under McDaniels in LV. McDaniels at worst, knows his weaknesses and will transfer that knowledge to our defense.

Rob0729 · Jan 20, 2026

I think a big thing to monitor this week is what WRs for Denver are practicing. If Troy Franklin (hamstring) and Pat Bryant (concussion) aren't practicing, I think Stidham is toast. How can you lose your starting QB and your #2 and #3 WR and be effective in the AFCCG.

I know Broncos fans are excited about the prospect of JK Dobbins coming back, but how good is he going to be coming off a Liscfranc tear?

PatsFan2 · Jan 20, 2026

Drake Maye missed Kyle Williams on a beautiful release that would have went for 7 last game. We can't miss those on Sunday.

PatsFan2 · Jan 20, 2026

Rob0729 said:
I think a big thing to monitor this week is what WRs for Denver are practicing. If Troy Franklin (hamstring) and Pat Bryant (concussion) aren't practicing, I think Stidham is toast. How can you lose your starting QB and your #2 and #3 WR and be effective in the AFCCG.

I know Broncos fans are excited about the prospect of JK Dobbins coming back, but how good is he going to be coming off a Liscfranc tear?

Good thing we are Strong against the Run.

PatsFan2 · Jan 20, 2026

KCSVEN said:
Went and rewatched the Carlton Davis concussion play. Think he's 50-50. Looks like shoulder took much of the hit but shook his head right away, slow to get up, did not seem wobbly but camera cut away before you could see him walking off. Not as benign looking as Gonzo's was but not like Boutte was. Somewhere in between.

Hopefully he can play. Woods and Austin are a step down. The fact we have Gonzo, Davis and Jones is a big advantage. If Lil Jordan Humphrey has to play 3rd WR due to injury no big deal but if they get Bryant and/or Franklin back Woods might need help limiting some of the scheme.

That ^ we better have C Davis for this one: IF we Don't and Maye have have two or three turnovers we lose. We cannot turnover the Football that much on Offense and expect to win this Big Game.

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