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

Are the Denver Broncos NOT everyone's most hated team in New England?

Been watching since the mid-70s, and they are by far the team I hate the most.

Broncos > Dolphins > Colts > Ravens > Jets > Bills > Steelers > Chargers > Raiders

upstater1 said:

Are the Denver Broncos NOT everyone's most hated team in New England?

Been watching since the mid-70s, and they are by far the team I hate the most.

Broncos > Dolphins > Colts > Ravens > Jets > Bills > Steelers > Chargers > Raiders

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Jets > Ravens > Bills > Dolphins > Steelers > Broncos

SlowGettingUp said:

Patriots mailbag: Can Pats help rookie offensive starter?

The Patriots’ offense has overcome pass protection and turnover issues through two playoff games. What can be done to fix them against the Broncos? We answer that and more in this week’s mailbag.

www.bostonherald.com

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It'll be nice if we can get the run game going more. That bodes very well for our offense. Any opportunity for 3rd & 5 or lower is an opportunity we didn't have very much of last week and little of the week before.

Their recent defensive efforts haven't seemed to be their normal vaunted nature. 34 to the Jags, 26 to the Packers, 26 to the Commanders, 30 to the Bills.

They seem more vulnerable as of late. Their offense has actually been winning them games more than the past two teams. I think both our defense and offense are better than any given team they've faced recently. It'll be a good matchup.

upstater1 said:

Are the Denver Broncos NOT everyone's most hated team in New England?

Been watching since the mid-70s, and they are by far the team I hate the most.

Broncos > Dolphins > Colts > Ravens > Jets > Bills > Steelers > Chargers > Raiders

Click to expand...

Not even close for me. I respect their success and love their orange uniforms. And their fans seem less trashy than many other fanbases.

I go Jets >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Ravens >>>>>> Colts >>> Steelers > Everyone else

Can we all just appreciate what a beautiful, likeable, catchable ball Maye throws? Not to hard not too soft, just right. Gotta be a factor in why our receivers are making these spectacular catches.

UGAPatsfan said:

Jets > Ravens > Bills > Dolphins > Steelers > Broncos

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Close to my top 5. I don't care how far removed we get from the 2006 AFCCG ripoff, Colts will always be in my top 3. I wish nothing but the worst for them.

Jets>Ravens>Colts>Broncos>Dolphins

I hardly even think about the Bills

upstater1 said:

Are the Denver Broncos NOT everyone's most hated team in New England?

Been watching since the mid-70s, and they are by far the team I hate the most.

Broncos > Dolphins > Colts > Ravens > Jets > Bills > Steelers > Chargers > Raiders

Click to expand...

I get the frustration since Elway was (painfully) undefeated against us and we had things like Hugh Millen brain farting with the game on the line. Then you add in the "Call the National Guard" and later Peyton Manning.

But they just aren't in the same category as the Jets for me. From Parcells and the subsequent acrimony to Martin's poison pill to a former Jet FO guy being the driving force behind successfully rat****ing us due to the IGL....it's just not the same as a team that has historically had our number in a lot of painful games.

Patjew said:

Not even close for me. I respect their success and love their orange uniforms. And their fans seem less trashy than many other fanbases.

I go Jets >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Ravens >>>>>> Colts >>> Steelers > Everyone else

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In-com-plete!!

Obnoxious.

The Gr8est said:

In-com-plete!!

Obnoxious.

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We're all obnoxious

Patjew said:

Not even close for me. I respect their success and love their orange uniforms. And their fans seem less trashy than many other fanbases.

I go Jets >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Ravens >>>>>> Colts >>> Steelers > Everyone else

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You guys don't hate Shannon Sharpe enough!

During the late 90's the Jets were my most hated team. I couldn't stand seeing Martin and Parcells, BB and others with the Jets. Those ugly green uniforms they reintroduced in 1998 were annoying to look at as well. Dolphins and Bills were right up there as well. Broncos and Steelers were the top 2 outside of the division.

2000's were the Giants, Colts, Steelers, Broncos.

2010's were the Giants, Ravens, Steelers, Rex Ryan Jets/Bills, Broncos, Chiefs, Bengals.

2020's Chiefs, Bills and Ravens.

I was at the Texas game on Sunday. It was a great performance by the Patriots defense. They have come on since Williams, Spillane and Landry have all returned to the starting lineup. The defense that the ability to shut downs Denvers running game and force them to pass with a backup QB in Stidham. The doesn’t guarantee them a victory but it goes give them a strong chance to win on Sunday.

On offense they need to take care of the football better. I think the last 2 weeks Maye has been trying to do too much with the ball when there is no a play to be made. Drake needs to the throw the ball away when there is not a play there that can be successful . He need to take a sack and live to fight for another play. Maye also, make some great throws to beat the Texans. We can’t forget that or minimize that all. He did throw 3 touchdown passes and make plays when they were needed that helped them win the game.

I think they can and will win on Sunday. This team has shown that they can win in different ways.

I am old enough to remember the AFCCG in 1986 when the Pats went to their own house of horrors in Miami where they hadn't won since 1966 (18 if a row I think) and came away with the victory, exorcised the demons and got a date with the 85 Bears,,,
Here's hoping that this version of the Patriots can settle all scores and win in Denver to rid those demons....

Vindicate said:

It'll be nice if we can get the run game going more. That bodes very well for our offense. Any opportunity for 3rd & 5 or lower is an opportunity we didn't have very much of last week and little of the week before.

Their recent defensive efforts haven't seemed to be their normal vaunted nature. 34 to the Jags, 26 to the Packers, 26 to the Commanders, 30 to the Bills.

They seem more vulnerable as of late. Their offense has actually been winning them games more than the past two teams. I think both our defense and offense are better than any given team they've faced recently. It'll be a good matchup.

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Would love to see Stevenson channel his inner Terrell Davis and carry the team to #7!

Patsfanin Philly said:

I am old enough to remember the AFCCG in 1986 when the Pats went to their own house of horrors in Miami where they hadn't won since 1966 (18 if a row I think) and came away with the victory, exorcised the demons and got a date with the 85 Bears,,,
Here's hoping that this version of the Patriots can settle all scores and win in Denver to rid those demons....

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Those 3 playoff games (@NYJ @LA Raiders @Fish ) that year were sheer joy.

bradydaman29 said:

Would love to see Stevenson channel his inner Terrell Davis and carry the team to #7!

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Hes been averaging 7 yards a carry since the middle of December. Hes doing a great job of it thus far!

bradydaman29 said:

Would love to see Stevenson channel his inner Terrell Davis and carry the team to #7!

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His name will be called upon a lot Sunday.

Guts said:

It would be hilarious if we go to Mile High and win then play the Rams with their MVP QB and win with a 2nd year Drake Maye having a GW field goal drive to end the game...

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Only two things could make that day better for me. Winning $Billion+ lottery and I'll hold back the other as some might find it ugly.

From the sound of it, the Broncos will be without their #2 and #3 WR and Dobbins won't be activated this week.

So there are/were teams with higher top end talent on offense, but is there a team in the league that had as many big-play opportunity players as the Patriots?

None of them jump off the page at you stats-wise, but when you watch them it's a case of:

Williams is faster than most, and even a broken clock can be right twice, potentially for two TD's

Henry is a big vet, can be a chain mover, can be a RZ target, WILL catch a crucial 1st down.

Diggs is Diggs, just in an offense with less volume. Incredible technique and hands.

Boutte will find his spot 15-20 yards deeps, seemingly always running left to right at the top of his route, camps very well in the zone. Can suddenly jump for a one handed reel-in.

Henderson can be quiet for weeks then rip off a 50 yard run/TD if you forget how agile he is. When he's quiet, Stevenson is running harder than he has all year, earning tough yards. Both also picking up blitz, both receiving threats, with Stevenson running some wild routes for an RB it feels like.

Hollins, when in, is a big boy, tall and can pull down a high throw from Maye, can randomly have a game of 100+ yards.

Maye can be Big Play Maye on any given day. Whether a masterful deep pass (Boutte one handed, Diggs lazer) or a scramble for 10-15.

Josh does a great job at operating a surplus of viable weapons across all positions. I feel like he rarely had an offense that wasn't simply receiver heavy with a GOAT TE, except the 2015 offense which uniquely had not just viable, but scary weapons at RB (Lewis, Blount, White is stupid LMAO), WR, and TE. And that was one of the cleanest operating offenses I've seen when healthy. I'm glad we snagged Josh for this crew.

If you're the Broncos, what's your game plan here? Attacking Maye's left, stop the run, don't let Maye run, but then also always be aware of the big play. It's a lot to cover there.