Pats at Jets - Who Will You Be Rooting For?

[Broncosr0k]

My main thing is we handle our business and it does not matter what the other teams do. We are still in a our driver seat. No sense in worrying about what the jets or chiefs or steelers do.

 

[SpringStein]

My main thing is we handle our business and it does not matter what the other teams do. We are still in a our driver seat. No sense in worrying about what the jets or chiefs or steelers do.

But if we lose on Monday, we no longer control our destiny.

Will it be the worst thing in the world if we get to postseason and lose the first game played? Is it better to get Oz and other young players the experience of playoff intensity - or not make it at all? I'd say the first.

 

[randymon]

I do think many times it is the teams that back their way in that have nothing to lose so they can play loose and just see what happens. Players also talk about how much a loss can really mean in the idea of a team is more willing to look at their mistakes after a loss than after a win. Such as for the Broncos my guess is they are working very hard to fix this whole 2nd half collapse they have experienced the last 2 weeks. My guess is Kubiak is working on trying to have a completely different set of plays to come out in the 2nd half with different formations making teams have to adjust to them instead of our offense staying the same and adjusting to the adjustments that the other team made.

Yeah not only does it make sense but the good teams make the proper adjustments. So far I haven't seen that with Denver and can't imagine these last two games will be any different in that aspect. Should of been doing that a long time ago. Hopefully they just out play them physically for 4 qtrs. Mano a Mano or something.

 

[cdumler7]

Yeah not only does it make sense but the good teams make the proper adjustments. So far I haven't seen that with Denver and can't imagine these last two games will be any different in that aspect. Should of been doing that a long time ago. Hopefully they just out play them physically for 4 qtrs. Mano a Mano or something.

Here is my thought on this. The issue of finishing teams off in the 2nd half hasn't been an issue most of the season. Our offense for the most part has played almost as bad as we have these past few games yet we still won the game. So what has happened...Well what has happened is the depth of our defense has been greatly depleted. We have had what you could consider 5 different starters on the defense out for varying lengths of time. Before the injuries we could substitute in the 2nd half a lot more and with everybody fresh it didn't matter that our offense was struggling as the defense could play at the intense level they did in the 1st half clear through the 2nd half. We haven't had that as much.

So a couple of losses pop up late in the year and we begin to take a closer look at the offense and why it is stalling so much in the 2nd half of games. The losses have magnified the issue compared to say we kept winning those games like we did earlier in the year when our defense was deep. That is why I do think these late season losses can be huge for a team and why so many teams that have gone on to win the Super Bowl have struggled at the end of the year but all of a sudden play great in the playoffs.

Now maybe we don't see a change and we are booted from the playoffs. It is very possible that happens. That to me will be a huge black spot on our coaching staff if that is the case. We saw that same issue with Fox and company that they couldn't adjust. Either things went really well or things just completely fell apart. This will be a huge next few weeks for this coaching staff and how many of us view them in my opinion.

 

[TDs3nOut]

Here is my thought on this. The issue of finishing teams off in the 2nd half hasn't been an issue most of the season. Our offense for the most part has played almost as bad as we have these past few games yet we still won the game. So what has happened...Well what has happened is the depth of our defense has been greatly depleted. We have had what you could consider 5 different starters on the defense out for varying lengths of time. Before the injuries we could substitute in the 2nd half a lot more and with everybody fresh it didn't matter that our offense was struggling as the defense could play at the intense level they did in the 1st half clear through the 2nd half. We haven't had that as much.

So a couple of losses pop up late in the year and we begin to take a closer look at the offense and why it is stalling so much in the 2nd half of games. The losses have magnified the issue compared to say we kept winning those games like we did earlier in the year when our defense was deep. That is why I do think these late season losses can be huge for a team and why so many teams that have gone on to win the Super Bowl have struggled at the end of the year but all of a sudden play great in the playoffs.

Now maybe we don't see a change and we are booted from the playoffs. It is very possible that happens. That to me will be a huge black spot on our coaching staff if that is the case. We saw that same issue with Fox and company that they couldn't adjust. Either things went really well or things just completely fell apart. This will be a huge next few weeks for this coaching staff and how many of us view them in my opinion.

I think you make a good point about how injuries to defensive players has hurt our depth on that side of the ball. Hopefully we start getting some guys back from injury.

 

[Broncosr0k]

But if we lose on Monday, we no longer control our destiny.

Will it be the worst thing in the world if we get to postseason and lose the first game played? Is it better to get Oz and other young players the experience of playoff intensity - or not make it at all? I'd say the first.

To your first point, we don't lose. Like I said, handle our business and we do not have to worry.

To you second point, ask Gase, Del Rio, and Fox about 1 and done. It would not be a horrible thing if we went 1 and done because this team is too much in flux to expect a dominant run and like you said the experience would be great. I am just not ready to play the game of "who needs to lose so we get in" just yet.

My story may change late Monday night. A loss to the bengals on my birthday will likely make me post a lot of stuff.

 

[cdumler7]

I think you make a good point about how injuries to defensive players has hurt our depth on that side of the ball. Hopefully we start getting some guys back from injury.

Well from what I have heard very good chance we get some of the guys back either this week or next. TJ Ward has started practicing again. He is still going to be Questionable most likely of whether he plays Monday or not. Darian Stewart did not practice but the coaches are very hopeful that he will play this Monday. Anderson was limited and not sure on the chances of him playing. Everybody else that plays a lot was full at practice today. This is the first time in a long time that the OL had all 5 guys practicing on the first full practice of the week. Very good sign that this could be the healthiest they have been all season.

AS for the Bengals Dalton, Burfict, Eifert, and Iloka did not practice today. I have heard differing opinions on whether Eifert will play or not.

The very good news for the Broncos is that both Stewart and Ward will for sure be a full go for the playoffs. Also good news is the team does expect Ware to be a full go for the playoffs as well. Most likely they will bump him up to 45-60 plays this week.

 

[Mingo]

The Pats to lose. The best Revenge against the Steelers is to play them again and beat them - that's what champions do.

Springy - "pull over and puke?" Are you posting and driving again?

 

[SpringStein]

The Pats to lose. The best Revenge against the Steelers is to play them again and beat them - that's what champions do.

Springy - "pull over and puke?" Are you posting and driving again?

I'm hoping, maybe even expecting, that the Steelers as the 6th seed will play NE in Foxborough in the semis - which means if we play them it would have to be in the AFCC game in Denver.

 

[cdumler7]

I'm hoping, maybe even expecting, that the Steelers as the 6th seed will play NE in Foxborough in the semis - which means if we play them it would have to be in the AFCC game in Denver.

Good point. Very good chance NE has the #1 seed locked up. I'm starting to think though the #2 seed could be the better choice for the Divisional Round. AT least for me I would rather play KC or Cincinnati in the Divisional than that of the Steelers. I also do think the Steelers could be a very tough match up for the Pats. One of the few offenses that can keep up with them and a defense that has been playing a bit better lately.

 

[randymon]

I`am kind of confused Cd. My point was on the offensive side of ball when addressing "adjustments" after half time. The D side....except for the 2nd half last wk they've pretty much stuck with Phillips game plan for 4 qtrs and have been mostly successful. In 2nd half...they ran out of gas. It was evident in mid 3rd to the end after that offense threw all those 3 and outs at them,that they were tiring.He ( phillips ) knows his talent and knows he can trust his guys to play to their abilities and aside from mixing up blitz pkgs, he pretty much let them use their skill sets to out play their individual matchups. It`s a whole different story on the offensive side because Denver doesn't have the skill players to win their individual matchups so "creativity" and "schemes" need to be adjusted going into 2nd half. Schofield getting burned by Mack. What do you do? Give him help either with rb or Te or audible play to away from Mack/ Scofield matchup or whoever Mack is lined up with. Denver offensive coaches don`t seem to look at weaknesses at half time and try and rectify the situations. If Denver ( like Pitt) has a lead at half regardless if one guy is struggling, they don`t seem to implement a strategy to compensate for it. Lets just do what was working and hope the opposing team just keeps getting burned and doen`t adjust. It`s unbelievable!. You have to figure that the D will make an attempt to minimize those plays that hurt them in first half. Look, what I`ve seen and what happened with Pitt in 2nd half shows that, at least on offense, they were content with their lead and regardless of the mishaps on O, they figured the game plan before the half would suffice and everything would just be peachy and no need to try and play a chess game with Tomlin. Give me more than one game where Denver was leading at half and continued to dominate or they held the opposing team stymied in 2nd half. Its been the D that has saved Denvers butt after halftime the whole yr and when they ran out of gas.....the offense didn`t pk up the slack. Just give me two halves where Denvers offense played 4 qtrs this yr. Denver dominated Pitt in first half. Pitt coaching dominated Denver in 2nd half and that scenario has been happening all year and that D would be ranked #1 in prob every category right now if that offense and the coaches did their jobs. Lets get real, on the O side, the effort from the coaching, is just,if not more,responsible for Denver`s poor play after the half. IMFHO!!!

 

[BigKen]

As Bill Belichick always says.................."We can't worry about what other teams do, or watch the scoreboard. We just need to take care of ourselves and the rest will fall in place."

 

[SpringStein]

As Bill Belichick always says.................."We can't worry about what other teams do, or watch the scoreboard. We just need to take care of ourselves and the rest will fall in place."

Well since we, as fans, have no control over performance - we're allowed to scoreboard watch all we want.

 

[Mingo]

You hit a winner there George.

And some of us do it obsessively (I'm looking at you forum regulars ).

 

[BigKen]

Well since we, as fans, have no control over performance - we're allowed to scoreboard watch all we want.

Truer words were never spoken (written?). We're travelling this weekend and the thing I'm most worried about is finding a place where I can catch the Pats/Jets and hopefully the hotel room TV is decent so I can watch the Broncos and Bengals Monday Night.

 

[SpringStein]

Truer words were never spoken (written?). We're travelling this weekend and the thing I'm most worried about is finding a place where I can catch the Pats/Jets and hopefully the hotel room TV is decent so I can watch the Broncos and Bengals Monday Night.

Safe travels, Ken!

 

[cdumler7]

I`am kind of confused Cd. My point was on the offensive side of ball when addressing "adjustments" after half time. The D side....except for the 2nd half last wk they've pretty much stuck with Phillips game plan for 4 qtrs and have been mostly successful. In 2nd half...they ran out of gas. It was evident in mid 3rd to the end after that offense threw all those 3 and outs at them,that they were tiring.He ( phillips ) knows his talent and knows he can trust his guys to play to their abilities and aside from mixing up blitz pkgs, he pretty much let them use their skill sets to out play their individual matchups. It`s a whole different story on the offensive side because Denver doesn't have the skill players to win their individual matchups so "creativity" and "schemes" need to be adjusted going into 2nd half. Schofield getting burned by Mack. What do you do? Give him help either with rb or Te or audible play to away from Mack/ Scofield matchup or whoever Mack is lined up with. Denver offensive coaches don`t seem to look at weaknesses at half time and try and rectify the situations. If Denver ( like Pitt) has a lead at half regardless if one guy is struggling, they don`t seem to implement a strategy to compensate for it. Lets just do what was working and hope the opposing team just keeps getting burned and doen`t adjust. It`s unbelievable!. You have to figure that the D will make an attempt to minimize those plays that hurt them in first half. Look, what I`ve seen and what happened with Pitt in 2nd half shows that, at least on offense, they were content with their lead and regardless of the mishaps on O, they figured the game plan before the half would suffice and everything would just be peachy and no need to try and play a chess game with Tomlin. Give me more than one game where Denver was leading at half and continued to dominate or they held the opposing team stymied in 2nd half. Its been the D that has saved Denvers butt after halftime the whole yr and when they ran out of gas.....the offense didn`t pk up the slack. Just give me two halves where Denvers offense played 4 qtrs this yr. Denver dominated Pitt in first half. Pitt coaching dominated Denver in 2nd half and that scenario has been happening all year and that D would be ranked #1 in prob every category right now if that offense and the coaches did their jobs. Lets get real, on the O side, the effort from the coaching, is just,if not more,responsible for Denver`s poor play after the half. IMFHO!!!

What I am saying is that because our defense has done so well this year and because we have won so many of these games even with the offense struggling sometimes that causes players and coaches to maybe not look as hard as they should at the issues. Let's say we win these last couple of close games instead of losing. Well the team probably thinks things are good enough going into the playoffs especially if say the defense held on to beat Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh. These losses though cause the team to have to look much deeper.

I think Terrell Davis was the one that said the late season losses actually were a huge deal in them winning the Super bowl because they were cruising through the season and even though not everything was perfect they were still winning so the players began to relax a little. The late season losses reminded them that they can lose and they better sharpen things up if they want to win the Super Bowl. Well of course we know what happened with that.

Listening to Kubiak talk this week he has said that these 2nd half collapses have been the focus of practice, meetings, and pretty much everything for the past 2 weeks. My guess is we see something a little different this Monday. Now with the coaching I agree there is a lot more they should be doing but I do think some of it is just they are limited with the talent they have. Our OL is starting 2 3rd String Tackles. Hard to have predicted that to have happened and to think they would be able to hold up. As we saw in 2013 even though our back up LT played decently throughout the year he was still a huge weakness that was hard to cover up against the great teams or at least great players. I do hope they give Schofield more help moving forward. He looks like a man who has completely lost his confidence. I do know though that Kubiak's offense is based a lot around the TE's attacking the middle of the field so keeping them in to block really limits his playbook. I think that is why he has been stubborn in not keeping them in to block.

 

[SpringStein]

It was really hard rooting for the Pats. Once Steelers lost, was thrilled to root for the Jets!!

 

[cdumler7]

It was really hard rooting for the Pats. Once Steelers lost, was thrilled to root for the Jets!!

Was really hoping to see the Pats, Steelers, and Chiefs all lose. Two out of three is not too bad.

 

[iknowftbll]

It was really hard rooting for the Pats. Once Steelers lost, was thrilled to root for the Jets!!

Precisely. This gives the Broncos some serious breathing room and a 1-1 finish won't keep them out of the playoffs anymore now that the Steelers lost. All the Broncos needed was one loss by one of the Jets, Steelers or Chiefs. They got it from the Steelers, which was my hope all along. This combination is most advantageous to the Broncos because if the Broncos lose one of their remaining games they still make the playoffs at 11-5. And if they win both remaining they are still contending for HFA through the playoffs. They need the Dolphins to beat the Pats next week. Unlikely, but I'd rather go into that final week with something to gain than the Pats already locking it up.