Broncos week is here

[patsinthesnow]

. @jeffphowe: It sounds like Brandon Spikes' situation might be a little uncertain this weekend with the knee injury. Could even be a game-day decision.

We'll be in nickel/dime all game anyway.

 

[dales804]

NFL Week 12 schedule features Manning-Brady, Cowboys-Giants, more | The MMQB with Peter King

That excerpt makes it sound like it's been confirmed neither Dennard or Gregory are playing. I feel that way about the former but not the latter.

 

[TruthSeeker]

The way I see it is that the only real chance that we have with the 2013 team is to somehow get the 2nd seed and first round bye.

So basically you're saying that you don't see the Patriots getting through the wild card round or that home field advantage against the #2 seed is critical.

I just don't buy that logic.

 

[Rob0729]

We'll be in nickel/dime all game anyway.

Yeah, this is a game where Spikes is somewhat expendable. I'd trade him for a chance of a miraculous Dennard return (which seems to be more possible than originally thought).

 

[Rob0729]

That excerpt makes it sound like it's been confirmed neither Dennard or Gregory are playing. I feel that way about the former but not the latter.

From all accounts, the local guys feel that Gregory is playing. Many of the local guys are starting to feel there is a chance that Dennard is playing.

I wouldn't take Peter King's write up as any type of scoop. He is probably just making assumptions based on last week.

 

[Kontradiction]

Yeah, this is a game where Spikes is somewhat expendable. I'd trade him for a chance of a miraculous Dennard return (which seems to be more possible than originally thought).

I don't think he's coming back. He just had a maintainance procedure on his knee so he may not be cleared for contact just yet. It is a good sign that he's practicing, at least.

 

[FourierSeries]

Hahaha the Denver fans are saying their CBs are better than ours. When healthy, that isn't even remotely true. They have nobody on the same level as Talib. I'd even take Dennard over anyone they have.

 

[JMC00]

NFL Week 12 schedule features Manning-Brady, Cowboys-Giants, more | The MMQB with Peter King

Broncos (9-1) at Patriots (7-3), 8:30 p.m., NBC

What is Bill Belichick to do? He prefers to play 2-man coverage concepts, meaning man-to-man across the board with either both safeties up top or with one roving underneath. However, Belichick just watched Peyton Manning hang 27 points on the Chiefs’ man-based defense that he knows is better than his own. Belichick doesn’t have a speed-sacker like Tamba Hali or Justin Houston (though Chandler Jones is developing into a nice agile pass rusher), and he’s currently without No. 2 corner Alfonzo Dennard, as well as strong safety Steve Gregory. Gregory’s absence really hurts this week because he is New England’s best underneath route identifier. Presumably, he could recognize Denver’s staple intermediate route designs much better than third-round rookie replacement Duron Harmon.

So when were Gregory and Dennard officially ruled out by the Patriots and not unnamed sources? They've been at practice all week and signs point to Gregory even playing.

 

[Rob0729]

I don't think he's coming back. He just had a maintainance procedure on his knee so he may not be cleared for contact just yet. It is a good sign that he's practicing, at least.

I never saw that he wasn't cleared for contact. I don't think he was wearing a red jersey. Other than the the reports that he isn't expected to play for a few weeks that came out the beginning of the week and that he is limited on the injury report, the only thing I can find about him is that he was running without limitation at the media portion of the practice yesterday and today.

It is doubtful he will play, but several reporters are slightly more optimistic after seeing him run yesterday and today.

 

[Rob0729]

Hahaha the Denver fans are saying their CBs are better than ours. When healthy, that isn't even remotely true. They have nobody on the same level as Talib. I'd even take Dennard over anyone they have.

Their secondary sucks. Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie is wildly inconsistent. He is a stud at times and horrible others. And he is the only guy in their secondary I would even consider.

Watching last Sunday's night game, a half way decent passing offense would have torn apart their secondary. There were receivers wide open without a defender within two yards of them. Smith either missed the wide open guy or the receiver dropped the pass in most of these cases.

 

[PP2]

Yeah, this is a game where Spikes is somewhat expendable. I'd trade him for a chance of a miraculous Dennard return (which seems to be more possible than originally thought).

While Spikes is a liability in coverage, I still consider him one of the last players I would "trade." He is a very solid run stopper and brings a level of intimidation to the backer corp that otherwise would not be there. He also has a good feel for the game and a nose for the ball, as well as making a big play every now and then. I like to say that Mayo is the brains but Spikes is the heart of this defense.

 

[Kontradiction]

I never saw that he wasn't cleared for contact. I don't think he was wearing a red jersey. Other than the the reports that he isn't expected to play for a few weeks that came out the beginning of the week and that he is limited on the injury report, the only thing I can find about him is that he was running without limitation at the media portion of the practice yesterday and today.

It is doubtful he will play, but several reporters are slightly more optimistic after seeing him run yesterday and today.

I was just guessing that, considering there weren't any full pads practices this week and he hasn't been cleared to talk to the media. It wouldn't exactly be a shocker that a guy that just had a maintainance procedure on his knee isn't cleared for contact.

 

[supafly]

So basically you're saying that you don't see the Patriots getting through the wild card round or that home field advantage against the #2 seed is critical.

I just don't buy that logic.

Well, everyone is entitled to their own opinion so you can "buy" whatever you choose to. I'm just stating my thoughts on the 2013 team.

First of all, ALL 5 of Belichick/Brady's SB berths with N.England were coming off the first round bye. It greatly improves your chances to have a week off, host one game game on your way to the AFCCG, and avoid having to play an extra game; particularly with a young team who is banged up to hell and back.

If you think our odds of going on the road where we've now won 2/5 games this year are good, and that we don't need an extra week to prepare or rest all of our injured players---then more power to you. I just disagree myself. I suppose we have a difference of opinions on how tough/capable this 2013 Patriots team is with all of their current injuries this year.

 

[JMC00]

We'll be in nickel/dime all game anyway.

Well Spikes is listed as probable. So much for Jeff Howe's theory.

 

[Kontradiction]

Well, everyone is entitled to their own opinion so you can "buy" whatever you choose to. I'm just stating my thoughts on the 2013 team.

First of all, ALL 5 of Belichick/Brady's SB berths with N.England were coming off the first round bye. It greatly improves your chances to have a week off, host one game game on your way to the AFCCG, and avoid having to play an extra game; particularly with a young team who is banged up to hell and back.

If you think our odds of going on the road where we've now won 2/5 games this year are good, and that we don't need an extra week to prepare or rest all of our injured players---then more power to you. I just disagree myself. I suppose we have a difference of opinions on how tough/capable this 2013 Patriots team is with all of their current injuries this year.

The Pats were also one Rodney Harrison injury on a cheap shot and one blown "faceguarding" call away from advancing to the Super Bowl in 2006 even though they played Wild Card weekend.

 

[supafly]

The Pats were also one Rodney Harrison injury on a cheap shot and one blown "faceguarding" call away from advancing to the Super Bowl in 2006 even though they played Wild Card weekend.

By that logic, they were also one SD once in a lifetime mistake by the defender who picked Brady off for the 3rd time away from going home in their very first road game, as he decided to try and showboat by running with the INT instead of just falling to the ground to end the game. They never should have escaped from going out to SD.

The luck went our way out in SD, but didn't go our way out in IND.

I'm not saying that we couldn't ever go on the road as a WC slot, but my opinion is that this current 2013 team wouldn't have that kind of luck and success. I suppose you feel differently, and I respect that.

The 3 WC teams who have won it all (PIT, BAL, NYG) all had some pretty capable defenses and a lot of luck, toughness, and desire. I'm just not as sure as you are that this current 2013 team has those traits--especially on defense.

 

[Kontradiction]

By that logic, they were also one SD once in a lifetime mistake by the defender who picked Brady off for the 3rd time away from going home in their very first road game, as he decided to try and showboat by running with the INT instead of just falling to the ground to end the game. They never should have escaped from going out to SD.

The luck went our way out in SD, but didn't go our way out in IND.

I'm not saying that we couldn't ever go on the road as a WC slot, but my opinion is that this current 2013 team wouldn't have that kind of luck and success. I suppose you feel differently, and I respect that.

The 3 WC teams who have won it all (PIT, BAL, NYG) all had some pretty capable defenses and a lot of luck, toughness, and desire. I'm just not as sure as you are that this current 2013 team has those traits--especially on defense.

A fumble in-game doesn't really match up with losing your best safety to a cheap shot in Week 17 and a blown call for a penalty that didn't even exist. But, that said, I would prefer to not have to go through the Wild Card round. With the amount of nicks and injuries we have, the Pats could use the extra week of rest.

 

[supafly]

A fumble in-game doesn't really match up with losing your best safety to a cheap shot in Week 17 and a blown call for a penalty that didn't even exist. But, that said, I would not prefer to go through the Wild Card round. With the amount of nicks and injuries we have, the Pats could use the extra week of rest.

Yes, I'm hardly meaning to come off as argumentative.

Our current 2/5 wins on the road + injury situation just doesn't give me (personally) much hope that we would be able to pull it off this year, that's all.

I see a night and day difference between our odds as being the #2 seed, and our odds of being the #3 or even potentially #4.

 

[clam chowdah]

Their secondary sucks. Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie is wildly inconsistent. He is a stud at times and horrible others. And he is the only guy in their secondary I would even consider.

Watching last Sunday's night game, a half way decent passing offense would have torn apart their secondary. There were receivers wide open without a defender within two yards of them. Smith either missed the wide open guy or the receiver dropped the pass in most of these cases.

Chris Harris is their best cb but he usually plays the slot. Ammondola and Edelman will probably eat him alive but he is usually talked about as the best slot cb in the league. I'd still think talib and dennard are better but they have a good group, not on the same level as is or the chiefs though.

 

[Wheelman]

Chris Harris is their best cb but he usually plays the slot. Ammondola and Edelman will probably eat him alive but he is usually talked about as the best slot cb in the league. I'd still think talib and dennard are better but they have a good group, not on the same level as is or the chiefs though.

I remember Welker had him looking real silly in that receiving TD he had in the game.