Get Ready for Pats vs Denver

[SoonerPatriot]

(I'll get this in before we face Vince Young)

How frequently does Belichick lose to rookie QBs?

And Cutler is frightening how?

Don't believe the hype.

Cutler isn't really the issue. Their defense vs. our offense causes the most concern.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Negative. NBC was out of the NFL business at the time of the Tuck Rule game. We haven't played well on NBC this year against the Colts and Broncos. But it is what it is. Being the supersticious type, it's uncomfortable.

Me, I'm not superstitious.
I DEFY the football gods to strike us down on Saturday night.
Defy!

 

[RayClay]

Denver always plays us tough. I think running the ball hard and often is the key.

 

[cstjohn17]

Me, I'm not superstitious.
I DEFY the football gods to strike us down on Saturday night.
Defy!

I agree, I will be waving my 9 iron at the sky during a lightening storm. Bring it on.

Personally I think we match up well against Denver or the Jets I am nervous about the Bengals (I know we killed them earlier but they can be very explosive). As long as we don't have Jeff Triplett's crew we should be ok!

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

The Pats couldn't run the ball against them the first time. Maybe cause the passing game wasn't going.

The fast linebackers always give them problems.

I would keep the spread formation with a tightend to stay in to block on a blitzing lynch.

I would also utilize the shotgun with 2 backs in the backfield.

They need to solve the blitzes and have quick reads(hot routes).

 

[denverpatsfan]

More thoughts on this game. There is no way Shannahan risks losing to the 49ers. They might end up the 6th seed and play Indy. Not gonna happen.

 

[Patriotic Fervor]

Cutler isn't really the issue. Their defense vs. our offense causes the most concern.

That defense is not what it was during that run of the first 6 games of the season. They have serious issues.

I really like their fast linebackers, but they have a mediocre pass rush at best, and other than Bailey, their defensive backs look increasingly mortal with each passing week.

Lynch can still deliver the big hit, of course, but you'll note that that usually happens after the receiver has caught the ball!

Don't worry - we'll score points on them.

 

[richpats]

Don't worry - we'll score points on them.

That is my #1 concern going into a rematch. The D has come around in containing Denver's offense but we have yet to prove we can put points on the board against their D. I don't care how bad other teams make them look.

We have not scored a meaningful TD against the Broncos since Brady hit Givens on 11/3/03. We have put up point totals of 6, 6 and 0 through 3 quarters in our last 3 meetings and faced deficits of 22, 18 and 17 points in the 4th quarter.

We've not been aided by good field position b/c the Broncos have committed just 1 turnover in 3 meetings and that was deep in Pats territory. In order to put up points, we have to manage long drives against Denver's defense and until it happens we'll be kicking FG's and watching them build a double-digit lead before we get serious in the 4th and score TDs while they are in prevent.

IMO the key is converting ONE big play against their D early on, preferably for 6. Just ONE. We need to rattle them somehow, someway - they are simply not intimidated by our offense and have said so. When's the last time we hit them for a big play early on? Yep, the last time we beat them.

If our offense can't get it going it just creates too much pressure on the D to hold its own and create turnovers. We have contained their offense but eventually they will come up with a big play that puts the game out of reach (since we are no threat to score anyways).

Who knows? Perhaps Cutler will collapse in the playoffs and our D will get us the W but I wouldn't count on it- this is the team that went 3-0 against us with Jake Plummer at QB.

Our offense will be the key to victory, if they don't show up then it's another chapter in our painful history with Denver.