The Official Patriots/Broncos Post Game Thread

[sb1]

Not one of those 2011 performances on D was worse than today yardage wise.

Yardage wise no... but that 2011 D would probably let this year's Peyton Manning throw for 600 and 5 TD.

 

[goheels22002]

Chandler Jones has been double and triple teamed all year and he still put up 11+ sacks. Many without the help of DTs to draw double teams.

Many people seem to not understand that Jones was only a Sophmore this year and that he's still getting better. And that with guys lone Collins stepping up and, hopefully a healthy Wilfork back on the D-line, things will get better.

There is a major lack of perspective in most of the posts tonite. The defense will be well above average with Mayo and Wilfork back.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Yardage wise no... but that 2011 D would probably let this year's Peyton Manning throw for 600 and 5 TD.

The defense was fine today. If you'd told me going into the game that the Broncos would score 26, I would be fine with that. Especially with Talib getting hurt. Realistically, I think we all knew the offense was going to have to score, and they just didn't.

The Pats were shut down by a below average defense. That was the problem.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

I dunno if it's an age thing, considering that it's been a problem ever since Moss was traded. I think it's just a skill that he doesn't really have

Agreed. He's never been that good at it, before or after 2007. Sure, we can all think of some specific bombs (the 2003 OT TD to Troy Brown, or that one to Bethel Johnson against Seattle, etc.), but he's not very consistent at it (certainly no better than the average NFL quarterback -- and to be fair, long bombs are not a high-percentage throw for anyone).

And even when he does connect, the throw usually hangs up there and gives the defenders the chance to recover somewhat and immediately tackle the receiver or run him down. There aren't too many in-stride bombs.

2007 was an aberration. Brady knew he could just throw it up there and Moss would generally get to it, even if he had to be multiple-man coverage.

No QB's perfect at everything.

 

[Mack Herron]

There is a major lack of perspective in most of the posts tonite. The defense will be well above average with Mayo and Wilfork back.

They would not have been much help today. Our LBs and run defense were not the problem. No pass rush and no coverage was the problem. On offense, our line gets physically dominated and no running game. We see this every year it seems.

 

[sb1]

The defense was fine today. If you'd told me going into the game that the Broncos would score 26, I would be fine with that. Especially with Talib getting hurt. Realistically, I think we all knew the offense was going to have to score, and they just didn't.

The Pats were shut down by a below average defense. That was the problem.

Well... allowing 71 plays and 7.1 yards per play, having 0 turnovers, 0 sacks, 0 hits, 1 hurry and 0 knockdowns on Manning, allowing 70% conversion on 3rd down at one point...and almost 36 minutes time of possession allowed is a few notches below "fine" IMO.

The Broncos were having a field day exposing mismatch after mismatch after mismatch. Realistically that defense was never going to keep this game close no matter what the offense did, the way things were going.

 

[SoCal Pmen]

Stating the obvious but not having Gronk today hurt. Pats were hoping to pound the rock and once Denver locked that down they were left with few options. Can't run an offense with a bunch of slot WR's. Dobson still needs another year of seasoning.

 

[tatepatsfan]

I haven't read all of the posts in this thread, nor do I think I need to. I'm crushed, but also proud of this overachieving team. I'm calling out "coolguy," who plainly hasn't the slightest idea what he's talking about. Kraft allows the team to spend whatever it needs to, as dictated by BB. This year, we spent good money on amendola, lost a lot of money on a murderer, and then lost gronk, another substantial earner. Moss at his peak doesn't come around everyday.

 

[juny]

What a disappointing loss but considering they overachieved to get to this point, i'm proud of the team effort this year.

they had to play a perfect game today but too many things were off today:

felt like groundhog day when talib went down and the opponent picked apart our pass defense (this year d. Thomas went nuts, last year boldin went nuts)

Pass rush was nonexistent today . it needs to be more consistent as some games they had constant pressure. manning was way too comfortable back there, I believe 0 hits today.

I never want to see Slater go deep again. Also Brady was very inaccurate on the deep throw today (Edelman and collie incompletions).

when the rushing game didn't get on track today, that was an early sign that things were not going to end well.

The team just needs a couple true playmakers to get over the hump. They are well stocked with young talent and either they need to make that jump or the team needs to hit the free agent market to find those playmakers.

 

[Keyser Söze]

The defense was fine today. If you'd told me going into the game that the Broncos would score 26, I would be fine with that. Especially with Talib getting hurt. Realistically, I think we all knew the offense was going to have to score, and they just didn't.

The Pats were shut down by a below average defense. That was the problem.

what the **** are you smoking?

 

[Keyser Söze]

Safety - The Pats safeties are actually a good group. Definitely the 2nd to last place I'd spend money or a draft pick for the Pats Defense with LB being the last.

DE - A group of Chandler Jones, Michael Buchanon, Rob Ninkovich, and Andre Carter is actually a good group.

DT/NT - This is where the Pats need to focus, imho. They desperately need someone who can start to take over for Vince Wilfork at NT. I think that Chris Jones makes a great 3-Tech guy next to the NT on the left side. Siliga, imho, makes a great reserve NT, but I don't see him as 3-Tech guy or a starting NT. Vellano is probably best as a reserve 3-Tech guy.

CB - The Pats need someone to replace Talib in terms of depth. I honesly believe that Ryan and Dennard have the ability to be staring corners in the league. People forget that Ryan is a rookie and that Dennard missed a bunch of time with injuries. The next CB has to be someone who can play OUTSIDE, not at the Star. The Pats need to keep Arrington in the slot because he's so horrible outside.

Gregory is absolute trash, an upgrade is needed there too.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

One thing I didn't understand at the time and still don't.

Down 17, still in the 3rd quarter, with a 4th down in FG range, why not kick the FG rather than going for it? Makes it a 2-score game.

 

[NYinFL]

Pats-Fact's

Since Spy Gate, the Patriots haven't won a Super Bowl. The equation reads - No Spy Gate = No Championship. I've been reading, already, what the Patriots should do in this upcoming draft. My answer is simple; get another camera and film the opponents team on the sideline. Although they can't take away their Super Bowl rings, similar to MLB not being able to erase Barry Bonds HR record(s), their achievements also have an asterisk among them. No wonder why a 6th round draft pick had so much success. Couple this with the tuck rule, the dumbest rule to have ever been called and thankfully eliminated, and you have the NFL's version of MLB's steroid era. Cheaters never win people.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

I never want to see Slater go deep again. Also Brady was very inaccurate on the deep throw today (Edelman and collie incompletions).

The Edelman one, sure. But the one to Collie? He was right against the sideline and was covered. Would have had no chance to catch it.

 

[SoCal Pmen]

Where was Ridley today? No trust for a change of pace back.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

i love how the other jealous fans out there for the jets ect say the same thing after the pats season ends. "haven't won since they cheated" Well we won last week..didn't we? :bricks:

Only thing the jets fans have to look forward too these days i guess

 

[sevengables_2207]

Watching these two physical smash mouth NFC teams makes me wonder why the Patriots totally minimized the run game.

I know the Broncos are better vs the run n all but jeez, one would expect SOME carryover from last week with Blount and Ridley used more in an effort to establish an aggressive identity along the line of scrimmage in a hostile environment.

Just my random two cents while watching NFC matchup.

 

[Fencer]

The Edelman one, sure. But the one to Collie? He was right against the sideline and was covered. Would have had no chance to catch it.

There was a small window to make that throw.

It was small enough that you'd expect Collie to tumble out of bounds rather than take it to the house -- but it the play was makable.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

what the **** are you smoking?

If you told me they were going to hold the broncos to 26 points today..i would have said it would definalty been a win. D held them to FGs when it could have been TDs.

O is more to blame in this one then the D even though the D was bad...but what did you expect with no talib?

 

[heavyde050]

I dunno if it's an age thing, considering that it's been a problem ever since Moss was traded. I think it's just a skill that he doesn't really have, and unfortunately that robs the offense of a dimension that you really kinda need in the playoffs. He'll occasionally make a gorgeous deep pass (like the one to Vereen vs. Houston last season), but he's just way too inconsistent on throws of 20+ yards. He rarely hits his receiver in stride.

I think it's more likely that he was never a very good deep passer (that's what the eye test says), but Moss made him look good. Makes sense, Moss made a career out of looking guys like Gus Frerotte look good throwing the deep ball.

Manning didn't really throw deep either and he orchestrated the most prolific offense in history.