New England's Porous Pass Defense

[footstepsfrom#27]

With all the talk I keep hearing from Pats fans about "stoping Denver's running game and forcing Jake to pass" being the key to victory...based on the questionable "bad Jake" theory...I have a question:

Do you REALY want to do that?

If so...WHY?

Here are the relevant numbers on the Pats pass defense in terms of where they rank with the rest of the NFL. Let's not hear any more about our overrated secondary with this record...!Booya!

Attempts per game: 20th
Yards per game: 31st
Yards per completion: 32nd
Pass Completion percentage: 4th
TD passes: 28th
Interceptions: 28th
Sacks: 23rd
1st downs by pass: 22nd
Completions over 20 yards: 31st
Completions over 40 yards: 31st

I know I'll hear all about Duane Starks and Ellis Hobbs now...but lets be honest. You don't post these kind of numbers if Starks was your only problem. Hobbs has played well for sure...but I think Rod Smith has seen quite a few rookies in his day...and burned all of them.

So maybe Jake just needs to come out firing and Marino these guys.:giggle:

[Jetmeck]

I believe they will STRETCH the field early.

[Bronx33]

You would think the pats would try to control our running attack, this might be exploited fairly soon in the game.

[broncogary]

I believe they will STRETCH the field early.

I believe you've hit the nail on the head, Holmes. :thumbsup:

Hopefully, Belichick isn't monitoring this board. :~ohyah!:

[Kaylore]

WAIT! Tedy Bruschi will be back on the field. We can't throw when he's out there. I don't mean deep, I mean at all.:smashpats

[Rulon Velvet Jones]

Nothing but smart people in the Arlington area.

Glad I got my degree from UTA.

Word.

[footstepsfrom#27]

Nothing but smart people in the Arlington area.

Glad I got my degree from UTA.

Word.
Back at cha...

[broncogary]

Nothing but smart people in the Arlington area.

Glad I got my degree from UTA.

Word.

Is that you in full football uniform in your avatar? ROFL!

[BigPlayShay]

Stopping the run, well, the Pats have faced 6 of the top 10 rushing teams in the NFL. To those teams they have given up and average of 125 yards and an average of 4.3 per rush. In 5 of there other game they faced teams that were ranked below 20th in rushing (OAK, NY Jets twice, Buffalo twice).

[RMT]

By saying that the Patriots are better off forcing Plummer to beat them is asinine. It's as though the Patriots' secondary is the "lesser of the two evils." I'd love to see the Broncos come out throwing the ball out of 4 WR and even empty backfield sets. Then what are the Patriots going to do, force the Broncos to beat them with the run?

There's no doubt in my mind that:
1. The fans will provide the Broncos with the best home game atmosphere Invesco has ever seen
2. Shanahan will gameplan for this game unlike any other, knowing a win could help him and the Broncos escape from the "can't win without Elway" talk
3. The Patriots and their fans have NO CLUE what they are in for ... they may be 10-0 in their last 10 playoff games, but how many of those have been at Invesco? ... NONE ...

[Bronx33]

By saying that the Patriots are better off forcing Plummer to beat them is assinine. It's as though the Patriots' secondary is the "lesser of the two evils." I'd love to see the Broncos come out throwing the ball out of 4 and even empty backfield sets. Then what are the Patriots going to do, force the Broncos to beat them with the run?

There's no doubt in my mind that:
1. The fans will provide the Broncos with the best home game atmostphere Invesco has ever seen
2. Shanahan will gameplan for this game unlike any other, knowing a win could help him and the Broncos escape from the "can't win without Elway" talk
3. The Patriots and their fans have NO CLUE what they are in for ... they may be 10-0 in their last 10 playoff games, but how many of those have been at Invesco? ... NONE ...


The streak is going up in flames....

[Bronco Bob]

With all the talk I keep hearing from Pats fans about "stoping Denver's running game and forcing Jake to pass" being the key to victory...based on the questionable "bad Jake" theory...I have a question:

Do you REALY want to do that?

If so...WHY?


So maybe Jake just needs to come out firing and Marino these guys.:giggle:


I guess they are forgetting about that 72 yarder Jake threw to Rod
and the back to back 19 and 55 yarder he threw to Ashley in the
game against the Pats in October. Has the Pats secondary gotten
that much better since then?

[RMT]

I guess they are forgetting about that 72 yarder Jake threw to Rod
and the back to back 19 and 55 yarder he threw to Ashley in the
game against the Pats in October. Has the Pats secondary gotten
that much better since then?

Yeah, I doubt they give up back-to-back passes to Ashley. And maybe Rod "only catches a 60-yarder" ... that's okay ... the Broncos will win and it'll all be moot :)

[Bronco Bob]

Yeah, I doubt they give up back-to-back passes to Ashley. And maybe Rod "only catches a 60-yarder" ... that's okay ... the Broncos will win and it'll all be moot :)


Those passes to Lelie were a thing of beauty, the Broncos started on their
own 9 yard line. Two plays later they are on the Pats 17 yard line.
Two nice running plays and a pass to Rod and they are in the endzone
and the score is 14-3.

[RMT]

Those passes to Lelie were a thing of beauty, the Broncos started on their
own 9 yard line. Two plays later they are on the Pats 17 yard line.
Two nice running plays and a pass to Rod and they are in the endzones
and the score is 14-3.

What a lot of people have forgotten is that the score, 28-20, was closer than the game was. Champ sat out the 2nd half, too, which is when the Patriots made their comeback.

[TommyD4207]

I guess they are forgetting about that 72 yarder Jake threw to Rod
and the back to back 19 and 55 yarder he threw to Ashley in the
game against the Pats in October. Has the Pats secondary gotten
that much better since then?


Short answer yes. Their run defense is markedly better as well.

[Paladin]

I tell you, when those plays came off, the stadium rocked. The guys behind me were Pat's fans, and they even said that the Broncos had them beat bad. Dam(n), that was neat to see.

[Paladin]

Short answer yes. Their run defense is markedly better as well.

I don't think so. I think the quality of their opponents got worse.

;D

[RMT]

Short answer yes. Their run defense is markedly better as well.

Which teams did they play during that stretch that were ranked in the top 5 in rushing?

[Bronco Bob]

Short answer yes. Their run defense is markedly better as well.

And when did that happen, after they played Indy, or after they played the
Chiefs, because both of them also burned the Pats on long pass plays.
Heck, even Vinnie got a TD on them, and the Broncos shut the Jets out 27-0.

[footstepsfrom#27]

This is to good to bury on page 3 this quick...:~ohyah!:

Attempts per game: 20th
Yards per game: 31st
Yards per completion: 32nd
Pass Completion percentage: 4th
TD passes: 28th
Interceptions: 28th
Sacks: 23rd
1st downs by pass: 22nd
Completions over 20 yards: 31st
Completions over 40 yards: 31st

[orange 4 life]

i hope theyre stupid enough to come in and stack the box.

if they do, plummer will carve up that secondary like a thanksgiving turkey.

our only problem last game was letting off the gas too soon.

my guess is shanny comes out passing early and often.
stick it to em and run the ball in the 4th when we just want to kill clock.

[Hulamau]

I wouldnt be surprised to see David Terrell active for this game and lining up with Ash, Rod, Jeb and Wesley Duke on some "cover this if you can" plays.

Each of those guys is a big body that can catch and could overwhelm the Pats secondary and make for a hell of a group of downfield blockers when tossing the rock to Tatum in the second half.

[shaftedelic]

3. The Patriots and their fans have NO CLUE what they are in for ... they may be 10-0 in their last 10 playoff games, but how many of those have been at Invesco? ... NONE ...


That's because the Broncos couldn't make it past the Colts.

[Hulamau]

I imagine Shanny will make a point to remind all the refs before the game of the "Mugging rule" that was installed to counter NE's propensity for downfield holding and pass interference in years past.

Lelie is bound to draw two or three long PIs in addition to some big catches for us. No one in their secondary can cover him so they'll HAVE to grab him.

6'-3" David Terrell was the main weapon for a few years at Chicago with revolving QBs and he can catch and have a good number of NFL TDs and is well worked into our system by now. When he didnt play early I thought Shanny was going to save him for a playoff surprise.

[Bronx33]

That's because the Broncos couldn't make it past the Colts.

Nice stupid response to legitament question.

[shaftedelic]

I wouldnt be surprised to see David Terrell active for this game and lining up with Ash, Rod, Jeb and Wesley Duke on some "cover this if you can" plays.

Each of those guys is a big body that can catch and could overwhelm the Pats secondary and make for a hell of a group of downfield blockers when tossing the rock to Tatum in the second half.

I remember hearing that same thing on the Jaguars MB. Their big 6-1 and above WR going against the tiny 5-10 corners.. Leftwich found it hard to throw the ball from his back though.

[shaftedelic]

Nice stupid response to legitament question.


Okay.. how bout this.. ZERO because the Broncos were not good enough to force that matchup to happen. That's the answer, if thats not legitamate, then the question isn't either.

[Bronx33]

Okay.. how bout this.. ZERO because they Broncos were not good enough to force that matchup to happen. That's the answer, if thats not legitamate, then the question isn't either.

The best part is you will be gone come sunday.;)

[terry251973]

I sure hope shanny dont let off the gas and slow down after building a lead.We need to beat the living fck out of them to show all the nay sayers that this year we have the better team.They cant be the best team every year and i think everybody and the media needs to deal with it.Everything comes to an end.You think anybody thought the mighty steelers or 49ers or cowboys would ever be beat?If a team stayed the best forever then the nfl wouldnt be nothing because it would be boring as hell.

[davdog]

Nice stupid response to legitament question.


It isn't a stupid response. The pats have been there to be played it just seems like the broncos never make it to that game, this century anyway.

[Bronx33]

It isn't a stupid response. The pats have been there to be played it just seems like the broncos never make it to that game, this century anyway.

Great you and your girlfriend agree, what's new.

[shaftedelic]

I sure hope shanny dont let off the gas and slow down after building a lead.We need to beat the living fck out of them to show all the nay sayers that this year we have the better team.They cant be the best team every year and i think everybody and the media needs to deal with it.Everything comes to an end.You think anybody thought the mighty steelers or 49ers or cowboys would ever be beat?If a team stayed the best forever then the nfl wouldnt be nothing because it would be boring as hell.


Don't worry, the NFL will try to make some rule to hurt the Patriots, just like they did when the Steelers had their run.

[BigPlayShay]

I remember hearing that same thing on the Jaguars MB. Their big 6-1 and above WR going against the tiny 5-10 corners.. Leftwich found it hard to throw the ball from his back though.

The Jags should have expolited that mismatch, in the second half. Instead they came out passing right away (8 rushes, to 15 pass attempts). The play-action would have been there had the Jags established the run early.

[Mediator12]

The key is to stop the pressure off the edges of the 3-4. Colvin and McGinest destroyed the weak ass JAX OT's and the JAX TE's and RB's were worthless in even chipping those guys on their routes. DEN will do a much better job of this.

Another thing JAX lacks is misdirection plays. Denver has a ton of them. The Pats are disciplined but not very fast to recover from missteps. They will hold their cutback lanes but they may overpursue the stretch plays and allow DEN some gadget plays with Rod Smith or Lelie. Anyone ever see Ashley throw the ball? I did in TC and it was a total shock to the defense.

This game should see some creative stuff from Shanahan. There is no holding back anymore. However, its all about execution and NE was horrible in the first half versus JAX. If Denver gets out ahead like they have done to almost everybody, then NE goes home with a healthy DEN Secondary.

For all of the NE Injury cards, DEN lost more during the game by Losing Both Starting CB's in the Second half. Darrent Williams left with Cramps and played two series in the second half and Bailey DNP in the second. BTW, NE went 3 and out before both left in the second half too.

[bendog]

I'd nominate dav for weakest comebacks, but he won't be hear (-p next week.

Billichick won't just stack 8 in the box. He's a great defensive coach. Not having Harrison will hurt him, though, cause they essentially have 3 downlineman, and McGinist, and 5 saftey linebacker types that are interchangable. Their only real chance to stop the run is ... well I dunno. Billichick will be creative. I'm looking forward to it, and will enjoy being sober for the first half.

[trench]

Short answer yes. Their run defense is markedly better as well.Bruschi aside, it's a matter of the starting defense finally playing together as a single unit since the KC game. It was a revolving door before that. The front 7 is very good right now. Both against the run and on the pass rush. And the latter makes the secondary better.

[davdog]

Great you and your girlfriend agree, what's new.

Listen pal, the pats have been in the afc championship 3 out of the last 4 years and the ponies were welcome to join them there, they just didn't. So don't feed us that crap about the pats not having to play the ponies to get their previous SB wins. I would have to say in '96 the only reason the pats were in the SB was because the jags took the ponies out but that was on the ponies turf and they just couldn't get it done.

[shaftedelic]

The Jags should have expolited that mismatch, in the second half. Instead they came out passing right away (8 rushes, to 15 pass attempts). The play-action would have been there had the Jags established the run early.


8 rushes to 15 passes sure sounds like they were trying to exploit the secondary..

[davdog]

I'd nominate dav for weakest comebacks, but he won't be hear (-p next week.

Billichick won't just stack 8 in the box. He's a great defensive coach. Not having Harrison will hurt him, though, cause they essentially have 3 downlineman, and McGinist, and 5 saftey linebacker types that are interchangable. Their only real chance to stop the run is ... well I dunno. Billichick will be creative. I'm looking forward to it, and will enjoy being sober for the first half.


No I won't be here, I'll be over on the colts board prior to the pats/colts afc championship game.

[Bronx33]

Listen pal, the pats have been in the afc championship 3 out of the last 4 years and the ponies were welcome to join them there, they just didn't. So don't feed us that crap about the pats not having to play the ponies to get their previous SB wins. I would have to say in '96 the only reason the pats were in the SB was because the jags took the ponies out but that was on the ponies turf and they just couldn't get it done.



Ummm sir i never mentioned anything like that so maybe you can go back in the thread and find that person and cry to him or her.

[shaftedelic]

For all of the NE Injury cards, DEN lost more during the game by Losing Both Starting CB's in the Second half. Darrent Williams left with Cramps and played two series in the second half and Bailey DNP in the second. BTW, NE went 3 and out before both left in the second half too.

The 6+ DB's on IR couldn't have hurt as much as losing two starting DB's..

[VileTom]

6'-3" David Terrell was the main weapon for a few years at Chicago with revolving QBs and he can catch and have a good number of NFL TDs and is well worked into our system by now. When he didnt play early I thought Shanny was going to save him for a playoff surprise.


Terrell was cut by the Patriots during training camp this year.

[BigPlayShay]

8 rushes to 15 passes sure sounds like they were trying to exploit the secondary..

try re-reading the post. In the second half. Establish the run early, attack through the air later.

[Mediator12]

Plus, Plummer moves out of the pocket and avoids sacks better than Leftwich. That being said, NE's OLB's will have to contain backside on PA and not be able to Blitz as much. This is Denver's scheme in a nutshell. You can play one, but not the other.

If NE stays home like they normally do, there will be some plays where DEN wins the one on one's. If they do not, bootleg until they do and repeat. The JAX team was one dimensional with a rusty QB. Denver is the most versatile offense outside of INDY, SEA and KC. NE is good enough to keep the score low, but they are also more vulnerable against a team that has the ability to get Big Plays or drive the field for 80+ yards. Just ask Belicheck, that was the basis of his Press Conference yesterday.

[shaftedelic]

Ummm sir i never mentioned anything like that so maybe you can go back in the thread and find that person and cry to him or her.

Check out your first post at the top of this page when you thought that bringing up the fact that the Broncos were not able to beat the Colts had any bearing on the Patriots not beating the Broncos in Denver in the post season.

[terry251973]

Listen pal, the pats have been in the afc championship 3 out of the last 4 years and the ponies were welcome to join them there, they just didn't. So don't feed us that crap about the pats not having to play the ponies to get their previous SB wins. I would have to say in '96 the only reason the pats were in the SB was because the jags took the ponies out but that was on the ponies turf and they just couldn't get it done.
So basically what you are saying is that the broncos deserve half that lombardi trophy?I promise you if it wasnt for a hot qb for jacksonville that year then your pats wouldnt have made no superbowl.Besides every patriot and patriot fan should thank god and kiss elways ass for retiring because if he doesnt retire then terrell davis doesnt get hurt the following year and denver 3peats for first time in nfl history and more than likely keeps the pats out of the superbowl.

[shaftedelic]

Plus, Plummer moves out of the pocket and avoids sacks better than Leftwich. That being said, NE's OLB's will have to contain backside on PA and not be able to Blitz as much. This is Denver's scheme in a nutshell. You can play one, but not the other.

If NE stays home like they normally do, there will be some plays where DEN wins the one on one's. If they do not, bootleg until they do and repeat. The JAX team was one dimensional with a rusty QB. Denver is the most versatile offense outside of INDY, SEA and KC. NE is good enough to keep the score low, but they are also more vulnerable against a team that has the ability to get Big Plays or drive the field for 80+ yards. Just ask Belicheck, that was the basis of his Press Conference yesterday.

Every team is more vulnerable to a balanced offense. Teams that can both run and pass the ball are always going to be the toughest teams in the NFL. If you look at how both of these teams were playing at the end of the year, this could be the best matchup of this post season. Both teams have a good offense and a good defense. They are both coached well and have talent in every area of the game. I'm really looking forward to it.

[davdog]

So basically what you are saying is that the broncos deserve half that lombardi trophy?I promise you if it wasnt for a hot qb for jacksonville that year then your pats wouldnt have made no superbowl.Besides every patriot and patriot fan should thank god and kiss elways ass for retiring because if he doesnt retire then terrell davis doesnt get hurt the following year and denver 3peats for first time in nfl history and more than likely keeps the pats out of the superbowl.


I was saying that the pats wouldn't have made the SB in '96 if the ponies hadn't been taken out by the jags. The pats didn't win the SB that year so they're is no trophy to share, although maybe the ponies would have beaten the pack that year too. Also the year after the ponies second SB win the titans represented the AFC in a loss to the rams then the ravens then the pats so the ponies issues didn't have anything to do with the pats first SB title.

[Bronx33]

Check out your first post at the top of this page when you thought that bringing up the fact that the Broncos were not able to beat the Colts had any bearing on the Patriots not beating the Broncos in Denver in the post season.


I don't know what your thinking but your wrong, i said that in response to a trollish comment by you if you don't like it iam very sorry maybe you shouldn't be an azz.

[VileTom]

The 6+ DB's on IR couldn't have hurt as much as losing two starting DB's..


With a couple of those guys it was addition by subtraction.

[Mediator12]

The 6+ DB's on IR couldn't have hurt as much as losing two starting DB's..

If that's the only thing you got out of that post, then more power to your Bias. Denver replaced half their secondary during the game and played soft the whole second half in order to exchange time for points and not expose their young guys to big plays.

You would think a genius like Belicheck would stop going cover zero down 11 points and leaving that poor secondary exposed. Oh well...

[ozomulsion]

The key is to stop the pressure off the edges of the 3-4. Colvin and McGinest destroyed the weak ass JAX OT's and the JAX TE's and RB's were worthless in even chipping those guys on their routes. DEN will do a much better job of this.

Another thing JAX lacks is misdirection plays. Denver has a ton of them. The Pats are disciplined but not very fast to recover from missteps. They will hold their cutback lanes but they may overpursue the stretch plays and allow DEN some gadget plays with Rod Smith or Lelie. Anyone ever see Ashley throw the ball? I did in TC and it was a total shock to the defense.

This game should see some creative stuff from Shanahan. There is no holding back anymore. However, its all about execution and NE was horrible in the first half versus JAX. If Denver gets out ahead like they have done to almost everybody, then NE goes home with a healthy DEN Secondary.

For all of the NE Injury cards, DEN lost more during the game by Losing Both Starting CB's in the Second half. Darrent Williams left with Cramps and played two series in the second half and Bailey DNP in the second. BTW, NE went 3 and out before both left in the second half too.

Very good, unbiased posts, won't be answered by these pat fans. Looks like Patswin decided to step out due to the ignorance of HIS fan base. These fair weather fans weren't around the last meeting to understand that you are far from a homer. Let them act as fools. Seems to me folks are feeding them. So be it, sad to watch.

[shaftedelic]

I don't know what your thinking but your wrong, i said that in response to a trollish comment by you if you don't like it iam very sorry maybe you shouldn't be an azz.


Oh no.. he said my comment was trollish.. boo hoo.. Trollish or not, it's the only answer to the original comment.. If the Broncos could have beat the Colts, then they would have played the Pats.. Or course it would have been in Foxboro not Denver...

[sirhcyennek81]

Going to be interesting to see the patriots in 4 cbs with Jeb and Wesley and Stephen running down the seams...no patriot linebacker can keep up with Putz or Duke, and none of the cb's have the strength to cover one on one. and thats JUST our tightends...

:Broncos:

[shaftedelic]

With a couple of those guys it was addition by subtraction.


Unfortunate but true.. The sadest one was starks.. He normally wasn't out of position, he was just too slow to keep up.

[Darkdoc]

Haven't you heard???

There're going to win. Huge. Send us packing, a shell of our former team.

Why would we bother with RUNNING or PASSING?? On any play? Just take a knee and punt. 3 and out, every series.

EVERY incredibly brilliant mainstream media guy says so...doing anything else isn't facing reality. Brady will be 11-0 in playoffs. It's written in the stars.

Avoid frustration... quit early and often.

[bendog]

well, davdog, what forum are you a member of, so I can show up next week and give props if any are due. Actually, you deserve none for being a bandwagon asshole, but ....

[bendog]

Terrell was cut by the Patriots during training camp this year.
We know. That's why shanny might activate him to get him a catch. I don't see it, myself, though.

[terry251973]

I want to ask each and every broncos fan on here to think real hard deep down inside yourself and tell me why you think denver will win this game and not even be worried about the pats.I for one know the pats are good but i can honestly say i am not worried about them winning this game.My reason for not worrying about the pats is because we are playing at home in front of the best fans and homefield advantage in the history of the nfl.Even if we wasnt as good as the pats we would still win this game at home.Elway may be gone and that has alot to do with why we havent won on the road in the payoffs but at home the 12th man is our elway now.

[sonsofkraftybob]

I agree. denver should try to stretch the field and get away from what has brought them this far. Who needs their bread and butter when they have Jake the Snake back there to toss the ball.hmmm...

[Rulon Velvet Jones]

Reasons?

The records and accomplishments from the 2005 season speak for themselves.

And get off the - we were missing half our team BS. You had Troy Brown in the secondary last Super Bowl and he managed to pull it off.

Pats fans are just afraid to admit their team is tired. They're simply living off of the high the media is supplying them.

[bendog]

It's homefield mostly, though I think Den's defensive secondary is better. Den can't generate pass rush from their front 4, but I don't think NE's front line can push Den's off the LOS, and Dillon hasn't played well. But, similarly, I don't think NE can just man up on the dline and beat Den's pass blocking. True, they're average at this, but Jake's making two-three reads and running/falling.

So, basically, NE's only chance to win this is to so confuse their blitz packages AND stop the run. Billichick's good, but I don't think he's that good, esp because no coach, maybe ever, has been as good as shanny at ferreting (-: out the reads on blitzs and adjusting DURING the first half.

But, there's always injuries and turnovers.

[davdog]

well, davdog, what forum are you a member of, so I can show up next week and give props if any are due. Actually, you deserve none for being a bandwagon a-hole, but ....


You can find me on the planet. As far as bandwagon goes, I think not. I've been a pats fan when they sucked as well as when they've been good. Believe me I KNOW the ponies have had the pats number since the beginning of time, and I know Elway torched us like no other player. I also know the ponies are a VERY solid team this year and could easily win this game on their own turf. I felt the same tension when we went to pburg last year but the pats won even though that stats weren't in there favor then either.

[Bronx33]

Reasons?

The records and accomplishments from the 2005 season speak for themselves.

And get off the - we were missing half our team BS. You had Troy Brown in the secondary last Super Bowl and he managed to pull it off.

Pats fans are just afraid to admit their team is tired. They're simply living off of the high the media is supplying them.

And people think crack is a bad drug the media has turned them into loud mouthed morons with blinders on, be never fear rehab is here and it starts saturday night.

[terry251973]

You can find me on the planet. As far as bandwagon goes, I think not. I've been a pats fan when they sucked as well as when they've been good. Believe me I KNOW the ponies have had the pats number since the beginning of time, and I know Elway torched us like no other player. I also know the ponies are a VERY solid team this year and could easily win this game on their own turf. I felt the same tension when we went to pburg last year but the pats won even though that stats weren't in there favor then either.
Your pats arnt going to pittsburgh this year.I think you will see that home games in denver are far more difficult than in pittsburgh against a rookie quarterback but in your defense if the roles were reversed and denver was going to new england i would be saying we got a chance too.When 2 good teams clash.The home field advantage generally determines the outcome.I hate the cocky running up the score colts but i really think they beat you last year if that game is in the rca dome.

[bendog]

davdog, I apolgize for bandwagon; you're simply a semi-literate arrogant homer, and proud of it.

[davdog]

Your pats arnt going to pittsburgh this year.I think you will see that home games in denver are far more difficult than in pittsburgh against a rookie quarterback but in your defense if the roles were reversed and denver was going to new england i would be saying we got a chance too.When 2 good teams clash.The home field advantage generally determines the outcome.I hate the corky running up the score colts but i really think they beat you last year if that game is in the rca dome.

I know games in Denver are tough, I'm a patriots fan remember. I just figure sooner or later the pats have got to get a break against them. As far as the colts go, I'm not sure, the pats did beat them in the dome a couple of years ago, but that colts D does not compare to the one they have now.

[sonsofkraftybob]

But, there's always injuries .

knock on wood

[bendog]

well, maybe I should apolgize davdog. You are posting a bit sure of yourself and all. I don't "know" who will win. However, Den should be heavily favored. NE's been farily one dimensional against decent defenses, and the run defense has been pourous. I figure anyone who can't admit that is blindly a homer.

[davdog]

davdog, I apolgize for bandwagon; you're simply a semi-literate arrogant homer, and proud of it.


Well all right then. I guess any guy who owns a spaniel is OK by me. We own a CS and the damn thing costs us an arm and a leg, next time its a mutt for me.

[bendog]

knock on wood
yeah, I hope no one gets hurt. But Tedy should be very glad that Neil is retired, cause he'd cut Tedy's game leg and say "Mankin you."

[sonsofkraftybob]

Pats fans are just afraid to admit their team is tired. They're simply living off of the high the media is supplying them.

Not quite. We are living of Titles that have been coming in waves. They will stop someday...but we are on a 3 year streak so if the thought of playing the Bronco's doesn't quite strike fear in us.....our apologies....it's just that after beating the unstoppable Colts twice, Pittsburgh twice at their house, The Eagles and the Panthers with their "vaunted" front four and stretching that streak with another win last week......well hey...if you were us...you'd be cocky and confident to.

We have had these conversations before on other boards......they all end the same way though. maybe Saturday that changes. maybe not. I have learned to lean towards the "not" part.

[davdog]

well, maybe I should apolgize davdog. You are posting a bit sure of yourself and all. I don't "know" who will win. However, Den should be heavily favored. NE's been farily one dimensional against decent defenses, and the run defense has been pourous. I figure anyone who can't admit that is blindly a homer.


Hey I'm amazed they've won 3 of 4 SBs. I still get scared that I'll wake up and it will have been a dream. When that FG went through against the rams it was the end of many years of agony. IF the ponies beat us (notice the big IF) I will root for them over the colts without question.

[55CrushEm]

Well all right then. I guess any guy who owns a spaniel is OK by me. We own a CS and the damn thing costs us an arm and a leg, next time its a mutt for me.

Cocker spaniels are the dumbest dogs on the planet (sorry Bendog, but I believe it's true)......

My buddy in college had a girlfriend who insisted getting a cocker spaniel, and the damn thing ate it's own crap so much, it was amazing.....

***kkking retarded dogs.....

[Rulon Velvet Jones]

Have the Gaytriots (yes, I'm going there) ever lost a game?

[55CrushEm]

Haha......the message board automatically changed "c0cker" to "coRker"......too funny.

[bendog]

corker spaniels are the dumbest dogs on the planet (sorry Bendog, but I believe it's true)......

My buddy in college had a girlfriend who insisted getting a corker spaniel, and the damn thing ate it's own crap so much, it was amazing.....

****kking retarded dogs.....
henry is an english springer spaniel, as was his predecssor Ben, who had a very bad attitude in general, though he loved my daughter. Henry's smart. But he will retrieve till he dies of sheer exhaustion. LOL

[VileTom]

We know. That's why shanny might activate him to get him a catch. I don't see it, myself, though.

I was surprised they cut him since he got a $200K signing bonus. He didn't do enough to make the team. The Broncos have enough real players on the team to worry about.

[bronco610]

Hey, lets lay off the corker spaniels I got 2 of em and wouldnt trade em for the world !!
How ever my first before them was a cork-a-poo.
What do you get when you cross a CS with a poodle?
The dumbest dog in the world and I can prove it !!:welcome:

[Old Dude]

I want to ask each and every broncos fan on here to think real hard deep down inside yourself and tell me why you think denver will win this game and not even be worried about the pats.I for one know the pats are good but i can honestly say i am not worried about them winning this game.My reason for not worrying about the pats is because we are playing at home in front of the best fans and homefield advantage in the history of the nfl.Even if we wasnt as good as the pats we would still win this game at home.Elway may be gone and that has alot to do with why we havent won on the road in the payoffs but at home the 12th man is our elway now.

Some considerations.

6. 1 and 2 seeds playing in the divisional round, with the advantage of a bye week, have an 82% success rating. That is the biggest home field edge in professional sports. Brady is a great quarterback, with a 10-0 record in the playoffs, but he's never been in this kind of situation.

5. The Patriots have serious issues in their secondary. They've been torched by every good offense they have played. Yes, Hobbs looks like an improvement over Starks, but he's only been starting since mid-November. Asante Samuel has been burned a few times. They basically have CBs playing at the safety spots these days. They are vulnerable. For whatever reason, Rod Smith has been a holy terror against the Pats for most of his career, despite the fact that he usually draws double coverage. A week of rest will be very beneficial for Rod who, amazingly, did not slow down this year.

4. Two rookies on the Pats offensive line. Jacksonville, for all its problems, got some pretty decent pressure on Brady last week, sacking him four times, forcing two fumbles and several overthrows. This could be a statement game for Trevor Pryce.

3. The Broncos and the fans should be geared up for the game. This will be their first home playoff game since Elway's retirement.

2. Shanahan and the staff have had extra time to game plan, which helps considerably against a non-divisional opponent.

1. Denver's running scheme has always given the Pats trouble. All the Bronco running backs are healthy, and Shanahan can once again go with whoever has the hot hand. The Broncos have run stronger defenses than NE into the ground this year. If the Pats can't stop them, the game is over.

[Hulamau]

Listen pal, the pats have been in the afc championship 3 out of the last 4 years and the ponies were welcome to join them there, they just didn't. So don't feed us that crap about the pats not having to play the ponies to get their previous SB wins. I would have to say in '96 the only reason the pats were in the SB was because the jags took the ponies out but that was on the ponies turf and they just couldn't get it done.

So what! In the 90s we beat you guys like a drum most everyttime we played to the point Shannon Sharpe was calling for the National Guard to come to NE's aid. Every team goes through up and down periods.

NE has had a great run which will end on Saturday, just as Denver had a great run in the later 90s. No shame in that! You guys are at the tail end of your glory years with the sun rapidly setting, and we are on the way up to the top of the mountain again .... life goes on.

Hell we've got 11 draft picks this spring including two first rounders and I look forward to playing NE often for the next 5 years or so.

Fact is, we have ALWAYS played you guys tough either domiinating the game, winning close or occasionally losing a close one.

The past is past though, this is NOW and I think you'll find Invesco a LOT less hospitable and the refs much less enarmored by the twinkle of your SB rings outside of Kraft stadium. You can throw all your stats out the window come game time baby and your guys better bring their ear plugs!:-)

[Hulamau]

I remember hearing that same thing on the Jaguars MB. Their big 6-1 and above WR going against the tiny 5-10 corners.. Leftwich found it hard to throw the ball from his back though.


Trying to mention, must less equate, the Jaqs offense and ours in the same breathe is a good laugh!

And Leftwitch was rusty as hell coming back from his long layoff and injury and couldn't hit the broad side of a barn! Plus, the few times he was on target Jimmy Smith couldnt catch it! That Jaq O-line is a seive and makes any D-line look like superman. We chased Leftwitch all over THEIR Stadium in the summer heat and humidity in route to shalacking the Jaqs back in September when Leftwitch was fully healthy and in sync, their passing game against us was also pathetic.

I'll think you'll find covering our big guys with our O-line protecting a highly mobile Jake a very different proposition.

[Tailgater]

Very good, unbiased posts, won't be answered by these pat fans. Looks like Patswin decided to step out due to the ignorance of HIS fan base. These fair weather fans weren't around the last meeting to understand that you are far from a homer. Let them act as fools. Seems to me folks are feeding them. So be it, sad to watch.

edit - Decided not to continue an argument that was resolved.

[my_name_is_earl]

Oh no.. he said my comment was trollish.. boo hoo.. Trollish or not, it's the only answer to the original comment.. If the Broncos could have beat the Colts, then they would have played the Pats.. Or course it would have been in Foxboro not Denver...

This is what I'm talking about...NE idiots. Everything is always about them.