Hello to all you Bronco fans. I wanted to share a few thoughts over here on your board. It's funny because I read the posts on the PatsFan forum boards and think, 'wow, the Pats have a shot!'. Then I come over here and get depressed. Because the reality is, the Broncos are 5.5 point favorites at home.
The odds say that Denver wins this game close to 70 percent of the time. And as a loyal Pats fan, I have to agree with that. If they play this game ten times, the Broncos win 7 of them. That sounds about right to me.
And the reasons are because of matchups. All of us can talk about stats and what happened in xyz game in week 10 or 12 or whatever. What matters is who is on the field THIS game, and how do those players match up given the different schemes the coaching staffs will employ. And then lastly, and importantly, which of those players, given the match ups, rises to the occasion and makes the key plays at the key times (What I guess we all call Execution).
The matchups say that the Pats are in trouble. The Broncos defensive weakness, particularly given Harris's injury, is in the passing game. Pats offensive weakness, passing game.
Broncos offensive weakness ... umm
Pats D weakness, run D. They can stack box and solve that, but of course can't against Peyton et al.
So ... What gives a Pats fan like me any hope that this game could be one of the 3 the odds makers say we will win ...
This team has a unique ability to rise to the occasion in difficult situations. The Cleveland game down 12 w less than 3 minutes left. The New Orleans game with a TD as time runs out. Even some of their losses. The Carolina game when they march down the field against a very good defense and have a chance to win at the end (same with Dolphin loss).
And I know Bronco fans don't want to say so, but Belichick is one of the greatest game planners of all time. I believe Peyton said as much this week.
They key for the Pats will be red zone defense. Can they turn several of Denver's scoring drives into field goals instead of touchdowns.
At the end of the day, paper says Broncos win 34-27.
I say it's one of those 3 and somehow, some way, Pats scratch it out 31-27.
It hopefully will be a game for the ages and I wish all you guys a safe and enjoyable Sunday. I mean, really, what more can we ask for as fans? It doesn't get any better than this.
The odds say that Denver wins this game close to 70 percent of the time. And as a loyal Pats fan, I have to agree with that. If they play this game ten times, the Broncos win 7 of them. That sounds about right to me.
And the reasons are because of matchups. All of us can talk about stats and what happened in xyz game in week 10 or 12 or whatever. What matters is who is on the field THIS game, and how do those players match up given the different schemes the coaching staffs will employ. And then lastly, and importantly, which of those players, given the match ups, rises to the occasion and makes the key plays at the key times (What I guess we all call Execution).
The matchups say that the Pats are in trouble. The Broncos defensive weakness, particularly given Harris's injury, is in the passing game. Pats offensive weakness, passing game.
Broncos offensive weakness ... umm
Pats D weakness, run D. They can stack box and solve that, but of course can't against Peyton et al.
So ... What gives a Pats fan like me any hope that this game could be one of the 3 the odds makers say we will win ...
This team has a unique ability to rise to the occasion in difficult situations. The Cleveland game down 12 w less than 3 minutes left. The New Orleans game with a TD as time runs out. Even some of their losses. The Carolina game when they march down the field against a very good defense and have a chance to win at the end (same with Dolphin loss).
And I know Bronco fans don't want to say so, but Belichick is one of the greatest game planners of all time. I believe Peyton said as much this week.
They key for the Pats will be red zone defense. Can they turn several of Denver's scoring drives into field goals instead of touchdowns.
At the end of the day, paper says Broncos win 34-27.
I say it's one of those 3 and somehow, some way, Pats scratch it out 31-27.
It hopefully will be a game for the ages and I wish all you guys a safe and enjoyable Sunday. I mean, really, what more can we ask for as fans? It doesn't get any better than this.
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