Fair assessment of the game

[40yrpatsfan]

The post below is from a Broncos fan on another board, and sums up the game pretty well:

"I rarely ever talk crap to opposing teams, unless it's Raiders or Chiefs fans. So my only reason for coming into this thread is to say good game, just as the title says (which obviously is easier for me since we won).

But it really was a good game. I think you could have easily beaten us had it not been for all your stupid turnovers. I'm not talking $hit, but I think we got pretty lucky with the TO's that you gave us, especially on special teams. I don't think either offense played especially well, and I feel fortunate to have my team pull out a 2 TD win.

I'm sure you all feel like crap after this game, so I won't go too much further. But I guess all that's left to say is, you gotta capitalize on what mistakes the other team gives you. And tonight, the Broncos did.

P.S. That pass interference call was B.S. And I said that as it happened, too, during the game. Not just right now after the game is well over. I still feel bad about that. It should have been a no-call."

[Liebs]

The post below is from a Broncos fan on another board, and sums up the game pretty well:

"I rarely ever talk crap to opposing teams, unless it's Raiders or Chiefs fans. So my only reason for coming into this thread is to say good game, just as the title says (which obviously is easier for me since we won).

But it really was a good game. I think you could have easily beaten us had it not been for all your stupid turnovers. I'm not talking $hit, but I think we got pretty lucky with the TO's that you gave us, especially on special teams. I don't think either offense played especially well, and I feel fortunate to have my team pull out a 2 TD win.

I'm sure you all feel like crap after this game, so I won't go too much further. But I guess all that's left to say is, you gotta capitalize on what mistakes the other team gives you. And tonight, the Broncos did.

P.S. That pass interference call was B.S. And I said that as it happened, too, during the game. Not just right now after the game is well over. I still feel bad about that. It should have been a no-call."
I felt like although PI call looked soft in slow motion replay, in real time, it looked as though the Samuel was impeding Lelie from getting to the ball. BUt then again he was playing the ball. Could have gone either way. It's about time we got a call this year anyway.

[Northman]

The PI was BS but, we forced the turnovers so it isnt like you GAVE us the victory. The reason i know this is cause the Pats dont play like that unless their is havoc being created on the other side of the ball. Sure, the Pats could have won but the better team did win. We have proved it all year even the loss to the Dolphins looks better than it was because the Dolphins surpassed all the expectations that they were supposed to have. Great game by the Pats as they didnt lay down but you guys were beaten by a better squad. Sooner or later this day was going to come either by us or some other team so congrats on a great run and good luck next year.

[40yrpatsfan]

The PI was BS but, we forced the turnovers so it isnt like you GAVE us the victory. The reason i know this is cause the Pats dont play like that unless their is havoc being created on the other side of the ball. Sure, the Pats could have won but the better team did win. We have proved it all year even the loss to the Dolphins looks better than it was because the Dolphins surpassed all the expectations that they were supposed to have. Great game by the Pats as they didnt lay down but you guys were beaten by a better squad. Sooner or later this day was going to come either by us or some other team so congrats on a great run and good luck next year.

Well said. It was a great game to watch, though frustrating from a NE standpoint. Patriots went down swinging but beat themselves. The Broncos played pretty much error free and made some plays when they had to. Congrats.

[Northman]

Well said. It was a great game to watch, though frustrating from a NE standpoint. Patriots went down swinging but beat themselves. The Broncos played pretty much error free and made some plays when they had to. Congrats.

Thanks man. quite honestly i think it is a testament to your team how they regrouped and made that run. I didnt think they were even going to make it back to the playoffs after that start but kudos to them. I really think the losses of your coaches and the injuries early on just was too much to overcome this year.

[Ray Finkle]

Well said. It was a great game to watch, though frustrating from a NE standpoint. Patriots went down swinging but beat themselves. The Broncos played pretty much error free and made some plays when they had to. Congrats.


that is partial....The went down swinging but saying they beat themselves takes all the credit from the Broncos....

[40yrpatsfan]

that is partial....The went down swinging but saying they beat themselves takes all the credit from the Broncos....

I don't think it does. Playing error free ball is a hard thing to do, and the Broncos did it. They DIDN'T beat themselves.

But if you take back some of those Patriots giveaways, it's a different game, I don't think there's any question about that.

[Needa Pass Rush]

Well said. It was a great game to watch, though frustrating from a NE standpoint. Patriots went down swinging but beat themselves. The Broncos played pretty much error free and made some plays when they had to. Congrats.

See 40, this is where I lose you. You want everyone to slobber on the Pats knob and rub some salve on your booboo. You can't give any credit to a broncos team that knocked the snot out of the Pats tonight.

Patriots went down swinging but beat themselves.

They didn't beat themselves, dummy, there was another team on the field doing the things that were required to make the Pats look like F-ups. Now go back to the Pats board and be a homer there. Your act (and tears) are past being annoying.

[Needa Pass Rush]

I don't think it does. Playing error free ball is a hard thing to do, and the Broncos did it. They DIDN'T beat themselves.

But if you take back some of those Patriots giveaways, it's a different game, I don't think there's any question about that.

We played error free ball? ??? ??? You've watched football for 40 years and haven't learned a thing. You have lost all credibility.

[elsid13]

It was very good game. The PI call was home field call, that why it advantage to be at home for the playoffs. Credit needs to be given to the Broncos defense and the crowd for causing the Pats to be out of sync most of the game. We might not of sacked Brady, but he felt the pressure all night. When you force a pocket QB and coach to roll the pocket you know your team being effective. I will also say that I was surprised that Pats were able to stop the running game,(major Kudos to the Pats) lucky Plummer stepped up and was able to deliver the ball from the Pocket.

Good game, hopefully steelers win but I kinda want the colts.

[Dr. Broncenstein]

If the Pats didn't beat themselves..

If the refs don't hand the Broncs the game..

If, if, if blah blah f-ing blah

If the Pats played in a real division, they wouldn't have made the playoffs.

The Broncos are the better team... and have been so all year.

[40yrpatsfan]

We played error free ball? ??? ??? You've watched football for 40 years and haven't learned a thing. You have lost all credibility.

I'm talking TO's. You had 1, we had 5. That determined the winner. Why is this controversial?

[NaptownChief]

The PI was BS but, we forced the turnovers so it isnt like you GAVE us the victory.


I would largely say a combination of the Pats and the officials gave the Broncos the game. The PI call should have at least been a no call but the correct call that never gets called would have been offensive PI as Lelie instigated the contact and was definitely pushing to get leverage. So either way the TD probably wouldn't have happen thus no kickoff for the returner to fumble right back....But even assuming the fumble happens, the missed false start call on Foster saved 5 yards on the FG kick when Elam was right near his max. That game goes into the half 0-3 with decent officiating. That doesn't mean Denver couldn't have come out and won the game anyway but those two bad calls/noncalls dramatically changed the momentum and picture of the game.

But a win, is a win, is a win. No shame in a playoff win regardless of how it comes. I've watched a lot of Donk games this year and overall that was one of their lesser performances, they were fortunate that the Pats were pissing themselves.

[Northman]

It was very good game. The PI call was home field call, that why it advantage to be at home for the playoffs. Credit needs to be given to the Broncos defense and the crowd for causing the Pats to be out of sync most of the game. We might not of sacked Brady, but he felt the pressure all night. When you force a pocket QB and coach to roll the pocket you know your team being effective. I will also say that I was surprised that Pats were able to stop the running game,(major Kudos to the Pats) lucky Plummer stepped up and was able to deliver the ball from the Pocket.

Good game, hopefully steelers win but I kinda want the colts.

He did well in that pocket last night but that rocket he threw to Rod on the run was awesome!

[Northman]

I would largely say a combination of the Pats and the officials gave the Broncos the game. The PI call should have at least been a no call but the correct call that never gets called would have been offensive PI as Lelie instigated the contact and was definitely pushing to get leverage. So either way the TD probably wouldn't have happen thus no kickoff for the returner to fumble right back....But even assuming the fumble happens, the missed false start call on Foster saved 5 yards on the FG kick when Elam was right near his max. That game goes into the half 0-3 with decent officiating. That doesn't mean Denver couldn't have come out and won the game anyway but those two bad calls/noncalls dramatically changed the momentum and picture of the game.

But a win, is a win, is a win. No shame in a playoff win regardless of how it comes. I've watched a lot of Donk games this year and overall that was one of their lesser performances, they were fortunate that the Pats were pissing themselves.


Well, i think i mentioned this at the planet. i didnt see the false start that people claim so i cant comment on that. From what i hear it was barely noticeable so maybe that is why it didnt get called. None the less the PI call should have been a non call but those kinds of things happen. i think after you break down some of the more questionable calls and what not the Broncos still would have come out on top 17-13 if it finished out the same. Im just glad we got the win even if we had some things bounce our way.

[BroncoBuff]

I felt like although PI call looked soft in slow motion replay, in real time, it looked as though the Samuel was impeding Lelie from getting to the ball. BUt then again he was playing the ball. Could have gone either way. It's about time we got a call this year anyway.
I agree - in real time it seemed like that left arm pushed Lelie ... but slo-mo proved it was a bad call.

They couldda overcome that, though ... it was Champ's INT and that fumble/touchback review that made the difference, though. 10 to 14 point swing in 10 to 14 seconds.

Is it just me, or was the Denver D the very definition of "bend but don't break." They rolled up TONS of yardage in sencond half ... but just 10 measley points?

[Northman]

Is it just me, or was the Denver D the very definition of "bend but don't break."

Nope, that is the way the Broncos have been playing all year and it is killing the media cause they want to see defenses make teams go 3 and out all the time. Denver gives up some yardage but either creates turnovers or doesnt allow many TD's.

[Dr. Broncenstein]

I would largely say a combination of the Pats and the officials gave the Broncos the game. The PI call should have at least been a no call but the correct call that never gets called would have been offensive PI as Lelie instigated the contact and was definitely pushing to get leverage. So either way the TD probably wouldn't have happen thus no kickoff for the returner to fumble right back....But even assuming the fumble happens, the missed false start call on Foster saved 5 yards on the FG kick when Elam was right near his max. That game goes into the half 0-3 with decent officiating. That doesn't mean Denver couldn't have come out and won the game anyway but those two bad calls/noncalls dramatically changed the momentum and picture of the game.

But a win, is a win, is a win. No shame in a playoff win regardless of how it comes. I've watched a lot of Donk games this year and overall that was one of their lesser performances, they were fortunate that the Pats were pissing themselves.

How delightful. A Chief fan bitchin' about officiating. Nice scenario you laid out. I can recall a certain drive sustaining BS penalty in December.

Samuel cut off Lelie's route while not playing the ball. Pass interference.

[NaptownChief]

Samuel cut off Lelie's route while not playing the ball. Pass interference.



If you are a bad NFL official or a dishonest and biased donk fan you could believe that...

[40yrpatsfan]

How delightful. A Chief fan b****in' about officiating. Nice scenario you laid out. I can recall a certain drive sustaining BS penalty in December.

Samuel cut off Lelie's route while not playing the ball. Pass interference.

He WAS playing the ball, had the inside track on the ball, and probably would've caught the ball if Lelie didn't interfere.

[BroncoSoja]

Im not buying the "We beat ourselves crap". The Broncos are the ones that caused the turnovers, they are the ones that put the pressure on the other team and caused them to cough the ball up. Its not like the Pats were out there practicing and there was no opposing team putting a helment on them. We were the ones making good plays on the ball (Lynch and Bailey) it wasnt some old Jake Plummer silly interceptions where he through to the wrong guy. It was a athletic guy in the secondary making a great play on the ball.

Also im sick of New England whinning and crying about a so called bad call. Atleast this "Bad call" didnt win the game for us. Can they say the same? There whole freaking Dynasty was built on a bad call (2002 Raiders game) and that call did win the game for them. Hell not only did it change the game that play chaged THE GAME (New rule in the NFL). Pats fans are the last people in the world that should be crying about being robbed on a playcall. Take that Pass Interference call away and we still beat that ass, can they say the same about that play in 2002??? No they cant the Raiders would have had the ball with 1:40 to play and the NE season would have been DEAD.

New Englands offense in the second half was chewing up the yards, expecially when Denvers Defense began to get tired. Yet where were the points? Yards dont win games points do, where were they? Did the refs mysteriously take those away as well?

Its often said that the true measure of a man is not win he wins its win he looses. That being said we get to see the true measure of this team. We get to hear the excuses, the crying, the blame game, we get to see them implode on the field and start pushing and shoving each other on the sideline.
We have gotten blown out the past two season and used to get beat in the SB all the time. You never once saw a Bronco making excuses or fighting with each other. I lost all respect for this bunch of whinny Brats, go back to NE and beat each up some more.



P.S Have fun watchin us on TV where you losers belong.

[Dr. Broncenstein]

wah wah whawwwww

[broncogary]

wah wah whawwwww

Hey, it said "fair" in the thread title, so it must be fair. Hilarious!

[Dr. Broncenstein]

If the Pats don't fumble, there is no pass interference. Quityerb****in

[Old Dude]

...
Is it just me, or was the Denver D the very definition of "bend but don't break." They rolled up TONS of yardage in sencond half ... but just 10 measley points?

Denver's D looked very tired at times.

But that was a direct result of two things. When the D or special teams got their takeaways, the offense was left with a very short field.

Also, the Pats played some excellent D themselves, especially against the run, and the offense was having a hard time sustaining drives.

Put those things together, and our D was just simply on the field a long, long time.

I'd be interested to see the stats on average field position for the drives. Probably outrageous, especially when you factor in the Pats' early goal-line stand and the Bailey INT that resulted in the Broncos starting at the Pats 1-yard line.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Well said. It was a great game to watch, though frustrating from a NE standpoint. Patriots went down swinging but beat themselves. The Broncos played pretty much error free and made some plays when they had to. Congrats.
COMPLETE BS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brady had his ass handed to him by our blitzing D or didn't you notice all the off-target and hurried throws?

All you whining, excuse filled Pat's fans take your sorry losing arses back to NE and waller in your sorrow.

[55CrushEm]

I don't think it does. Playing error free ball is a hard thing to do, and the Broncos did it. They DIDN'T beat themselves.

But if you take back some of those Patriots giveaways, it's a different game, I don't think there's any question about that.

That's the point.....Pats fans call them "Patriot GIVEAWAYS".......I call them "Denver TAKEAWAYS"......

See how one gives a team credit, and the other doesn't ?????

[BroncoBuff]

That's the point.....Pats fans call them "Patriot GIVEAWAYS".......I call them "Denver TAKEAWAYS"......

See how one gives a team credit, and the other doesn't ?????
When our freaking 35-year old PUNTER sticks his head into their guy's midsection - forcing a fumble - that is NOT a turnover .... that's a ...

TAKEAWAY!

[BroncoBuff]

COMPLETE BS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brady had his ass handed to him by our blitzing D or didn't you notice all the off-target and hurried throws?

All you whining, excuse filled Pat's fans take your sorry losing arses back to NE and waller in your sorrow.
He's right, 40 ... Brady might've made mistakes, but they were FORCED mistakes ...

The CLASSIC - Did you hear about how Champ Bailey and Dominique Foxworth swapped coverages at the last second before the snap to beat the Pats' 2-WR pick play? ... well, that put Champ in position for the 101 yarder! That's a FORCED error ... that's being out-THOUGHT.

CHAMP TRICKED YOUR GOLDEN BOY ... and THAT'S ALL SHE WROTE!

[elwayrulzs]

He WAS playing the ball, had the inside track on the ball, and probably would've caught the ball if Lelie didn't interfere.


If Lelie pushed off howcome Samuel keep riding him to the left. How can someone who is pushed from the left keep going to the left?

[Spider]

real fair assement of the game .......
Pats did better on Defense , then i expected , that Defense kept the Pats in the game , but too much plummer + 96 yards running = over match for the Pats D...
Broncos D , played as they have all year , brady was on his back more then Paris Hilton , brady was rattled , missing Recievers ......
Turn overs happen for a reason , that reason is Denver was the more physical team ......
Bad/Good calls happen in every game , dont turn the ball over call never happens .......
Denver won the battle of Field position damn near the entire game , made plays and Scored ...........
Denver won all 3 phases of the game ............

[halfcreek]

The post below is from a Broncos fan on another board, and sums up the game pretty well:

"I rarely ever talk crap to opposing teams, unless it's Raiders or Chiefs fans. So my only reason for coming into this thread is to say good game, just as the title says (which obviously is easier for me since we won).

But it really was a good game. I think you could have easily beaten us had it not been for all your stupid turnovers. I'm not talking $hit, but I think we got pretty lucky with the TO's that you gave us, especially on special teams. I don't think either offense played especially well, and I feel fortunate to have my team pull out a 2 TD win.

I'm sure you all feel like crap after this game, so I won't go too much further. But I guess all that's left to say is, you gotta capitalize on what mistakes the other team gives you. And tonight, the Broncos did.

P.S. That pass interference call was B.S. And I said that as it happened, too, during the game. Not just right now after the game is well over. I still feel bad about that. It should have been a no-call."

Have you taped a highlight of the play and looked at it closely. As I said before I could plainly see Samuel tug on Lelie's arm before the ball got there in looking at the play 10 times. Forget about the call. It was a good one.

[bloodsunday]

The post below is from a Broncos fan on another board, and sums up the game pretty well:

"I rarely ever talk crap to opposing teams, unless it's Raiders or Chiefs fans. So my only reason for coming into this thread is to say good game, just as the title says (which obviously is easier for me since we won).

But it really was a good game. I think you could have easily beaten us had it not been for all your stupid turnovers. I'm not talking $hit, but I think we got pretty lucky with the TO's that you gave us, especially on special teams. I don't think either offense played especially well, and I feel fortunate to have my team pull out a 2 TD win.

I'm sure you all feel like crap after this game, so I won't go too much further. But I guess all that's left to say is, you gotta capitalize on what mistakes the other team gives you. And tonight, the Broncos did.

P.S. That pass interference call was B.S. And I said that as it happened, too, during the game. Not just right now after the game is well over. I still feel bad about that. It should have been a no-call."
This is a BS assessment of the game. Denver won the game as much as New England lost it. Denver has won games in this fashion all year long (turnovers and bend but don't break D). Denver only gave up one touchdown on more than 400 yds against -- that's good D. Don't talk about New England giving up the turnovers or the pass interference call because they are excuses. If you wanna play the "what if" game, well what if Denver punches it in when they have two opportunities inside the 10 yard line? Denver made mistakes as well, just not the critical ones.

One other thing to consider... New England never had to play in an environment like Denver during their 10 game win streak.

That's a fair assessment.

[elsid13]

Best part of the Game was Brady liked playing in Denver, said it was good stadium for him. Wonder what he thinks now???

[DrFate]

Guys, I don't think you'll see a 'fair assessment' of this game. Every media outlet that said the Pats would win is now saying the Pats 'gave it away'. You beat a team by two TDs and you still get no respect.

I don't understand it. I was hoping after a 14 point win we wouldn't be hearing about the post-Elway playoff record or how great the Pats are.

[Dr. Broncenstein]

Best part of the Game was Brady liked playing in Denver, said it was good stadium for him. Wonder what he thinks now???

Acute hypoxia from the change in altitude can be euphoric. Helps ease the pain of getting your ass handed to you for the second time in a season.

[elsid13]

Acute hypoxia from the change in altitude can be euphoric. Helps ease the pain of getting your ass handed to you for the second time in a season.

See Pats fans there really was medical reason for loss.

[Broncos4tw]

First, I've seen much more lame PI calls given away. Usually some primadonna player waves his hands in the face of some ref, and he throws the flag. There was plenty of bumping on that play, I can see where a ref might screw it up easily. Was it PI? I don't think so, it was excellent coverage. That being said, every team gets breaks. Just ask the Pats about their first SB trip powered by the "tuck rule."

And second, the only reason the Broncos looked weak was because our running game was effectively stuffed. They shut down our #2 running attack. If you do that, yea, our team is going to have problems. Before the game, some "expert" said that if the Pats shut down our running game, there was no way the Broncos would win. Guess what? Our D showed it was no fluke. Strips, ints in the endzone, hard hits forcing the ball loose, our D stepped it up and we got the job done.

We won because we played better. Our offense played just well enough, and our D played better than well enough. The Pats had the same opportunities that we did. They could have stripped the ball, hit hard, but they didn't.

As far as fumbling the ball on a kickoff, that is one thing: Homefield Advantage baby! If you are 13-3, you deserve that perk. Having a loud stadium to screw up their concentration is the reward for playing hard during the year. People conveniently forget stuff like that.

We won because we were the better team during the year, and then better team overall during the game. Screw this "got lucky" crap. The Pats are lucky our running game didn't get going, so we would win 35 to 3.

[Dr. Broncenstein]

See Pats fans there really was medical reason for loss.

They should know the feeling... jerking off to a Pic of Tom Brady while they pull the cord tightly around their necks