The Bigger Threat

[MainePatsFan26]

Biggest threat? Goodell and the league. Just like it has been ever since 2007.

You're right. I really should have added that.

 

[fair catch fryar]

The pressure of repeating on a rookie QB and the injury bug will weaken Denver as the season grinds on. As much as I don't like him, Pittsburgh still has Big Ben and he has some pretty potent weapons. Unless our D can turn it around and be the D we all thought they were then they will be our biggest threat in the AFC.

 

[mosslost]

He's the same QB in Denver. The problem is that his team that shows up in Denver hasn't been remotely close to the same team fielded in week 1. So many injuries in the last 3 of 4 years.

Last year's regular season loss actually should have been won handily, not a blowout, but at least a 2 possession win. It just got ****ed up.

We got pushed around in AFFCG and still should have won, if BB had kicked a FG with 6 minutes left we would have pulled it off. (Yeah I know, the FG would have changed the space time continuum and the final drive would never have happened.. but still )

 

[mosslost]

The pressure of repeating on a rookie QB and the injury bug will weaken Denver as the season grinds on. As much as I don't like him, Pittsburgh still has Big Ben and he has some pretty potent weapons. Unless our D can turn it around and be the D we all thought they were then they will be our biggest threat in the AFC.

I agree, but still we have the #2 scoring D in NFL and number 1 in AFC. Right now I think it is just an anomaly due to the competition. But I do think that with Brady our superior offense getting leads will help the defense tremendously. If after week 8 or so we are in the same "points against" region I think things will be pretty good. (have to play Pitt in that stretch)

 

[letekro]

On another note, isn't it strange that every team that could possibly beat us, we have to play them at their house, except the Seahawks?

Arizona, Denver, Pitt.

Hmm....................

Conspiracy! Kind of like how we got 3 out 4 Brady suspension games at home?

 

[Actual Pats Fan]

The Pat's have won numerous games including AFC Championsips in Pittsburgh. Denver has been a house of horrors for the Pat's for twenty years.

I can only remember one win, and that was the intentional safety game.

Beat Tebow there, too.

But there is a striking history of poor coaching and poor playing there. The Pats just looked discombobulated, especially at the start of the AFCCG. I am surprised and disappointed that Belichick specifically, hasn't analyzed and made adjustments to the team's preparation, outlook and game plan for that specific venue.

 

[PatsBoy12]

I agree, but still we have the #2 scoring D in NFL and number 1 in AFC. Right now I think it is just an anomaly due to the competition. But I do think that with Brady our superior offense getting leads will help the defense tremendously. If after week 8 or so we are in the same "points against" region I think things will be pretty good. (have to play Pitt in that stretch)

I know this will get tons of hits, but we may be the #2 scoring D by way of a really bad Dolphins team and a really bad Texans team. Both have QB's that may not be starters in the league for very long. Buffalo is no juggernaut either. We do have some good tests coming up with the Bengals and Steelers, two teams with a lot of firepower on O, though Cinci doesn't always play to their potential obviously. I'd like to see what that looks like. I don't think the D is nearly as bad as some are trying to make it seem, but I also do think they've underwhelmed in many different areas of the game. Provided health, they should only continue to get better, though.

 

[PF_SU]

Playing at Denver is tough. The home crowd there is very noisy and the thin air is a factor too, both for the players and the type of game that's played there (think about those long 50+ FGs that become routine there). But one also has to consider the circumstances under which the Patriots have played there in recent years. The teams that arrived at Mile High in the three games since 2013 were always banged with a lot of important players missing.

 

[mgteich]

The biggest obstacle is patriot injuries.

The team is the best in the AFC.

And yes, PITT and DEN are both excellent teams this year.

And yes, we are likely to have to win on the road at DEN.

 

[Wheelman]

Threat? Threat?

 

[Observer]

Denver because they get preferential treatment by the referees, and doubly so at home.

 

[luuked]

1. broncos
2. ravens
3. bills
4. steelers

i always worry about broncos at mile high. ravens are always tough out. i also think bills can make noise. i was very impressed with their D without their best player dareus. and shady mccoy is playing like it's 2011. i know rex is a goof ball and we own bills, but i honestly think he is a very good defensive coach.

steelers? meh. we beat them all day every day.

Are you actually serious ? The Ravens have been total crap so far and the Bills are somewhere between Tier 2 and Tier 3. I can't believe you'd put the Steelers and their high octane offense behind those two teams.

 

[luuked]

Denver is the more consistent team but the Steelers are the team that can lay an egg or beat any other team decisively in any given game.

As someone else said the biggest threat are injuries. If we can go into Mile High with a healthy roster we will win decisively by 10+ points. In contrast, against the Steelers we'd most probably see a high scoring shootout that can go either way if our D doesn't tighten up until January.

 

[50-yard-line]

Denver's schedule is cupcake this year, so they'll be in the running for top seed.

So, Denver, because playing at Mile High is a big low.

 

[jah]

I've got a number of small, disjoint thoughts on this:

• @PIT and @DEN are our remaining 2 regular-season losses, in my opinion. Although that may be too obvious to actually happen. I think we're more likely to beat PIT just based on bs gut feelings.
• I know people have been saying mixed things here, but I have to assume anyone who thinks the Broncos are worse this season is delusional. The defense didn't get worse. The offense looks like an offense under Siemian.
• In a similar line of thought: I didn't watch ATL@DEN, but I wonder if the game would have been different with Siemian. It's not like the Falcons scored 40 on them; the box score indicates Denver's offense lost the game. Considering that it was both their only game without Siemian and their worst offensive outing this season, I'm going to choose to believe those two things are related.
• In summary, I think we should pump the brakes on the "Broncos overrated" talk just because ATL beat them in their own stadium. Did the Broncos lose, or did the Falcons win?
• While many people (although as explained above, not me) believe DEN's stock has fallen over the first 5 weeks, the same would likely say PIT's stock has risen. I would have to agree. They're scary now. I don't know about their defense, but with that offense, they can win any game. Plus, NE@PIT around Halloween always (2 out of 2 ) ends in misery.

 

[Joey007]

Denver, but there's one other team I want no part of in the playoffs, due to past experiences in playing them.

Baltimore.

If they sneak in at 9-7 this year and match up with us in the divisional like they did in 14.. not saying that they'd beat us, but it just seems like that game is a heart attack and a half every time we play them in January. No matter who they have going out there.

I just definitely would prefer that we don't play them again.

 

[StockingAnarchyNumber12]

I don't like the idea of downplaying Denver's recent success because for years people have tried to downplay our success. I said it last year - I think we beat Denver if we didn't hit the injury bug and I also think we destroy Carolina in the Superbowl. Though, two superbowls in three years and one win is pretty impressive. If they somehow win again, Denver is almost a dynasty.

 

[mosslost]

I know this will get tons of hits, but we may be the #2 scoring D by way of a really bad Dolphins team and a really bad Texans team. Both have QB's that may not be starters in the league for very long. Buffalo is no juggernaut either. We do have some good tests coming up with the Bengals and Steelers, two teams with a lot of firepower on O, though Cinci doesn't always play to their potential obviously. I'd like to see what that looks like. I don't think the D is nearly as bad as some are trying to make it seem, but I also do think they've underwhelmed in many different areas of the game. Provided health, they should only continue to get better, though.

Yes, and Browns too suck.

 

[mosslost]

Playing at Denver is tough. The home crowd there is very noisy and the thin air is a factor too, both for the players and the type of game that's played there (think about those long 50+ FGs that become routine there). But one also has to consider the circumstances under which the Patriots have played there in recent years. The teams that arrived at Mile High in the three games since 2013 were always banged with a lot of important players missing.

I feel that the story for this years Pats team is the the number 1 seed. Sort of reminds me of the 14-2 2003 team. They were the best team wire to wire. Some media folks thought McNair and the Titans were going to beat us, and some thought Manning and the Colts were. This year there will be an excellent Steeler offense and potentially a strong Denver team out there and maybe a surprise like Oakland. I think being number 1 wire to wire and getting the number 1 seed is very important this year.

 

[Halifax_Pats_Fan]

Health is our biggest threat....