If we can't get the bye....

[bronco militia]

Originally Posted by Doggcow

Actually the game was that close.

But I guess all the garbage time wins have people confused.

the broncos lost by 10 after falling behind 31-7....it wasn't close at all

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=321007017

[55CrushEm]

Originally Posted by LetsGoBroncos

I agree with you that NE will win out and Houston will lose 1...but then if we lose a game (balt) we would still be in line to face NE in the second round.

Again, I think we can beat anyone. I'm just annoyed that we can go 13-3 and be top 3 in offense and defense and have good special teams and not even get a bye much less home field throughout

No we wouldn't.....not if Baltimore loses another game....which I think they will. Even if we lose to Baltimore, we will still finish ahead of them if they drop another game.....to either the Giants or Cincy.

Therefore, we'd get the 3-seed, and couldn't possibly play NE in the second round.....since they'd be the 1-seed.

[Crushaholic]

Originally Posted by bronco militia

the broncos lost by 10 after falling behind 31-7....it wasn't close at all

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=321007017

Statistically, it WAS close. What made the difference was the 3 turnovers...

[LetsGoBroncos]

Originally Posted by 55CrushEm

No we wouldn't.....not if Baltimore loses another game....which I think they will. Even if we lose to Baltimore, we will still finish ahead of them if they drop another game.....to either the Giants or Cincy.

Therefore, we'd get the 3-seed, and couldn't possibly play NE in the second round.....since they'd be the 1-seed.

You're right. So the worst scenario we need to avoid is:

Lose to baltimore and finish 12-4

Baltimore loses another game and finishes 11-5

NE wins out and gets a bye

Houston goes 3-0 and gets the # 1 seed

[BroncoBeavis]

Originally Posted by NFLBRONCO

Actually I'd rather go to Foxboro in Div round vs AFCCG. Seems like most of the top seed upsets happen after bye week.

This.

[Broncomutt]

3rd and 8 at DEN 17 (Shotgun) T.Brady pass short middle to B.Lloyd to DEN 8 for 9 yards (C.Bailey).

3rd and 10 at NE 20 (Shotgun) T.Brady pass short right to W.Welker to NE 34 for 14 yards (R.Moore; C.Harris).

3rd and 14 at NE 11 (No Huddle, Shotgun) T.Brady pass short right to D.Woodhead to NE 36 for 25 yards (M.Adams; J.Mays).

3rd and 17 at NE 43 D.Woodhead left end to DEN 38 for 19 yards (C.Harris).

It was more than just turnovers, our defense refused to leave the field while they built that 31-7 lead. Saying we are as good as them because we made it close is the same as saying Tampa is as good as us because they made it close.

We didn't start shutting them down until the 4th quarter. Apparently we need a full half to overcome a 24 point deficit.

[LetsGoBroncos]

Originally Posted by Broncomutt

3rd and 8 at DEN 17 (Shotgun) T.Brady pass short middle to B.Lloyd to DEN 8 for 9 yards (C.Bailey).

3rd and 10 at NE 20 (Shotgun) T.Brady pass short right to W.Welker to NE 34 for 14 yards (R.Moore; C.Harris).

3rd and 14 at NE 11 (No Huddle, Shotgun) T.Brady pass short right to D.Woodhead to NE 36 for 25 yards (M.Adams; J.Mays).

3rd and 17 at NE 43 D.Woodhead left end to DEN 38 for 19 yards (C.Harris).

It was more than just turnovers, our defense refused to leave the field while they built that 31-7 lead. Saying we are as good as them because we made it close is the same as saying Tampa is as good as us because they made it close.

We didn't start shutting them down until the 4th quarter. Apparently we need a full half to overcome a 24 point deficit.

That was also when Joe Mays was starting. Lots has changed since then for the better

[Agamemnon]

I don't care honestly. If we deserve to win it all we'll get it done however we have to.

[baja]

I agree with Let's Go Broncos. The defense we had for that first game in no way resembles what we have now. We knew the team needed time to gel and we have done that in spades. We also will be ready for that super fast no huddle this time around. JDR has got this.

[maher_tyler]

Originally Posted by LetsGoBroncos

I've accepted we aren't getting the bye. NE isn't losing and Houston won't lose 2/3.

Time to start getting ready for Pittsburgh in the wild card round. Not much of a reward for going 13-3. Irritating

Which is why we will use week 17 as out bye or at least rest our starters in the 2nd half.

[maher_tyler]

Originally Posted by bronco militia

the broncos lost by 10 after falling behind 31-7....it wasn't close at all

http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=321007017

3 turnovers to their one and we lose by 10. There isn't a reason we can't beat them if we take care of the ball.

[broncosteven]

Originally Posted by sgbfan

Yeah, but 2 healthy TE's and home field advantage will be tough.

Joe Mays is riding the pine and we have DJ back. Not as worried as I would have been with Mays playing.

We need to be the ones to beat down NE and that punk mCd. I like our chances where ever we play.

[Broncomutt]

Originally Posted by LetsGoBroncos

That was also when Joe Mays was starting. Lots has changed since then for the better

I agree.

Loved seeing Mays looking like a lost puppy on the bench against SD. A loser is a loser. Weakness deserves to get benched. Don't like injuries, but I sure didn't cry when I heard he was out for season.

But, blame that loss 100% on Mays if you want. He deserves a ton of the blame. But if you think it was a single player that lost that game, prepare yourself for a new excuse.

That was a team loss.

Hope we can forge a better team effort next time and not just blame 1 guy.

Hope he gets well soon...for another team.

[baja]

Wonder if McGahee will be back?

[No1BroncoFan]

Originally Posted by LetsGoBroncos

I've accepted we aren't getting the bye. NE isn't losing and Houston won't lose 2/3.

Time to start getting ready for Pittsburgh in the wild card round. Not much of a reward for going 13-3. Irritating

It's better than '85 going 11-5 and missing the playoffs while some scrub from the pathetic AFC central hosts a home game at 9-7.

[lonestar]

Originally Posted by broncosteven

Joe Mays is riding the pine and we have DJ back. Not as worried as I would have been with Mays playing.

We need to be the ones to beat down NE and that punk mCd. I like our chances where ever we play.

Yep DJ your savior. Ahahahahaha

Someone else mentioned losing by ten after being down by 21. Do you really think NE did not go into cruise control after building that lead?

Do you really think had it been closer they would not have just kept the foot to the floorboard?

If so your a fool.

So many folks with short memories of what they did to a fox team in the playoffs last year. I know we have made changes but so have they.

[sinuous sausage]

Originally Posted by baja

I agree with Let's Go Broncos. The defense we had for that first game in no way resembles what we have now. We knew the team needed time to gel and we have done that in spades. We also will be ready for that super fast no huddle this time around. JDR has got this.

the defense played well enough to win, IMO. the blame chiefly lies with the three TOs and general insouciance of the offense for the majority of the game. there were four long scoring drives from NE that resulted in 24 points, all of which involved a 3rd-and-long conversion, some more maddening than others:

3rd and 8 on first TD drive (Brady to Lloyd for nine yards)
3rd and 10 on second TD drive (Brady to Welker for 14 yards)
3rd and 14 on drive resulting in FG (Brady to Woodhead for 25 yards)
3rd and 17 to get to 24 points (Brady to Woodhead for 19 yards)

The last TD came off a PFM fumble inside the Denver 20.

NE had no business converting those 3rd-and-10+. Both of those conversions were to Woodhead, so there's a certain LB we all have in mind who was probably the responsible party. Take those 10 points off the board, as well as the gift of a TO inside the Denver red zone, and NE could have plausibly been held to ~2TD. Denver scored 21 without really catching any kind of stride, and while committing two turnovers past the Manning fumble. The DT one to open the game was brutal.

I think you're right when you allude to personnel between then and now. Sub out one man and it's possible this was a different ballgame, despite the stalled offensive effort from the Bronx.

[ol#7]

Just keep winning and let the chips fall where they may. If in week 17 we are locked into a 3 or 4, then you take your 'bye' week then. Too many variables with what might happen with the rest of the AFC to worry about it, and each team is only 1 injury away from the landscape changing anyway.

[TonyR]

Originally Posted by bronco militia

the broncos lost by 10 after falling behind 31-7....it wasn't close at all

Yup, people like to sugarcoat that loss to make themselves feel better but we got blown out. Just not a good matchup for us.

[TonyR]

Originally Posted by TheElusiveKyleOrton

New England is going to lose to San Fran.

Hope you're right. But I just don't see the Pats losing a December game to Kaepernick in Foxboro.

[LetsGoBroncos]

Originally Posted by TonyR

Hope you're right. But I just don't see the Pats losing a December game to Kaepernick in Foxboro.

Not happening

[Crushaholic]

Originally Posted by LetsGoBroncos

Not happening

As always, the San Francisco defense HAS to step up. NE wasn't going to be afraid of Alex Smith, either. San Francisco is a rare case where the quarterback doesn't really make a difference...

[sinuous sausage]

Originally Posted by Crushaholic

As always, the San Francisco defense HAS to step up. NE wasn't going to be afraid of Alex Smith, either. San Francisco is a rare case where the quarterback doesn't really make a difference...

SF and Seattle are reflections of each other, albeit in a dirty mirror. Kinda like one you'd find if you drunkenly stumbled into a strip club's dressing room: you're immersed in darkness and bleary-eyed and blinking through the boob glitter you've accumulated on your eyelashes over the night's events. Anyway:

SF is 13th in scoring. Seattle is 15th.
SF is 2nd in rushing offense. Seattle is 4th.

Both have young, dynamic QBs and lean on their respective defenses, who are #1 overall for SF and #2 overall for Seattle.

Two of NE's losses this season have come against the NFCW.

I think SF can help a brotha out. They'd better, considering the fact they gave us Pelosi.

[pricejj]

Originally Posted by baja

Wonder if McGahee will be back?

McGahee is not allowed to play until the AFCCG, per NFL rules regarding temporary IR.

[TonyR]

Originally Posted by sinuous sausage

...I think SF can help a brotha out...

Good post. Yes, perhaps SF's D can make it a game. I just fear they won't have enough O to get it done.