AFC Championship Game Sunday 1/22/2017

[BigKen]

Many of you are still sleeping off the painful victory over the Houston Texans last night. Under normal circumstances a 34-16 win would seem to be pretty solid. Why does everyone feel like the Patriots got by a hair? The Patriots' defense was solid and played a very good game. The Offense played like an engine that someone changed all of the wiring. It would run smooth then not at all, then it would sputter then it would race. More than anything, I think having two weeks off just got the offense totally out of sync and they faced the real Houston Texans defense that was pumped up. That and three turnovers which were totally out of the ordinary, made the game seem much closer.

Hopefully the cobwebs were shaken and next week puts the Patriots back into football mode.

We know their opponent will be either the Chiefs or the Steelers. Since the debacle in Kansas City three years ago, the Patriots haven't played the Chiefs. They have played the Steelers three times. Both of these guys will teat the Patriots in all three aspects of the game. I think the Steelers offense is a much bigger challenge for the Patriots defense, but the Chiefs defense and special teams are a bigger challenge for the Patriots offense and ST.

The game is scheduled to start at 6:20 PM next Sunday evening. The weather is supposed to warm up through mid week and then change dramatically. There is a front of cold and sleet that is on it's way and should be here Tuesday or Wednesday and that's bringing moisture and a cold front. Right there's a 50% chance of severe weather Saturday or Sunday.

Wonder if Roger will make it Monday Night Football?? For fan safety .......of course.

 

[Carnzo]

Many of you are still sleeping off the painful victory over the Houston Texans last night. Under normal circumstances a 34-16 win would seem to be pretty solid. Why does everyone feel like the Patriots got by a hair? The Patriots' defense was solid and played a very good game. The Offense played like an engine that someone changed all of the wiring. It would run smooth then not at all, then it would sputter then it would race. More than anything, I think having two weeks off just got the offense totally out of sync and they faced the real Houston Texans defense that was pumped up. That and three turnovers which were totally out of the ordinary, made the game seem much closer.

Hopefully the cobwebs were shaken and next week puts the Patriots back into football mode.

We know their opponent will be either the Chiefs or the Steelers. Since the debacle in Kansas City three years ago, the Patriots haven't played the Chiefs. They have played the Steelers three times. Both of these guys will teat the Patriots in all three aspects of the game. I think the Steelers offense is a much bigger challenge for the Patriots defense, but the Chiefs defense and special teams are a bigger challenge for the Patriots offense and ST.

The game is scheduled to start at 6:20 PM next Sunday evening. The weather is supposed to warm up through mid week and then change dramatically. There is a front of cold and sleet that is on it's way and should be here Tuesday or Wednesday and that's bringing moisture and a cold front. Right there's a 50% chance of severe weather Saturday or Sunday.

Wonder if Roger will make it Monday Night Football?? For fan safety .......of course.

The only time we will see Roger in New England will be on a milk carton.
Good that the Pat's shook of the rust against the Texans, they might have lost to a better team last night.

 

[Voltaire26]

Face it ... you guys played shitty and still won 34-16 ... I would hate to play you if you were having a good day. Fortunately, I am a Detroit Lions fans so I have nothing to worry about. Good luck and win the Super Bowl ... stick it to the NFL!!!

 

[redseat]

Face it ... you guys played shitty and still won 34-16 ... I would hate to play you if you were having a good day. Fortunately, I am a Detroit Lions fans so I have nothing to worry about. Good luck and win the Super Bowl ... stick it to the NFL!!!

Do you honestly think that any other offense in the play-offs currently besides the Texans that wouldn't have taken those turn-overs into TDs and not let New England off the hook?

 

[Voltaire26]

Do you honestly think that any other offense in the play-offs currently besides the Texans that wouldn't have taken those turn-overs into TDs and not let New England off the hook?

I think that New England is a very dangerous team that was seriously wronged by the NFL. I have become a New England fan because of Tom Brady (Michigan connection) and because of the NFL's treatment of the Patriots and Tom Brady (also as a Lion's fan you have to have back up).

 

[NWPATSFAN]

NE seems to be rusty coming off bye's. Look at the Seattle game.

Defense played well, but let's keep it real it was against Brock and company. NE still hasn't faced a quality QB in quite a while. The run D remains stout.

Offensively, they were off. How much of that was the Blount illness, no Mitchell, weather, bye, Hogan going down. Ammendola was almost non-exsitant. What was the deal with the limited reps for White? None of these are excuses they still won. Maybe it was all part of a bigger BB plan? KC has an opportunistic D but they won't pressure TB as much as Houston did. Not worried about tge Steeler D. Guess what I'm saying is I fully expect a cleaner offensive performance next week.

But they can't lose the turn over battle and expect to win. It will be a point of emphasis this week. Lewis even mentioned it in his post game presser.

We're onto the AFCCG. Go Pats

 

[TP76]

11 AFC championships in 16 years - that's insane! I just feel very fortunate to see it.

 

[NEhomer]

I feel like I watched a different game than you guys. Pats weren't sharp but at no point did Houston have any chance in that game. This is the playoffs. Were you all expecting a thorough beat down right from the opening bell?

 

[BigKen]

The Pitt/KC game got off to a quick start. Steelers were stopped and kicked a FG. Chiefs came right back and scored a TD 7-3 Chiefs after 5 minutes. I went to bed figuring last team to score wins. I woke up at 5:30 this morning, turned on the TV and saw an 18-16 score and I thought it was the end of the first quarter. Then it flashed "Final". Huh??

KC couldn't score a 2 Pt conversion with Ware or Hill. They deserved to lose.

But the Steelers winning with 6 FG? Did the Chiefs borrow the Texans defense last night?? No, but Andy Reid did hand the Patriots the formula for keeping the Steelers out of the end zone. Bill and Matt have most likely spent all of last night and this morning pouring over single play and putting a Patriot defender in every one of them. The defensive coaches will break the film down by position today and the defense will will each have their assignments. Tomorrow will be full pads and every Steelers play will be run on the field.

McDaniels will break down the KC offense to see what the Steelers did to shut them down for 3-1/2 quarters and what if anything worked. Once he's got that, he'll check to see if the Steelers defense has any new wrinkles and Tuesday the offense will work strictly against that defense.

Several things we know. In the first game of this season, the Steelers lost to the Patriots without Big Ben and Bell. The patriots beat the Steelers back up QB without Brady. They did it with their back up. The Steelers are running hot and their offense has been clicking, even though it didn't click last night. The Patriots offense did not run smooth at all against the Texans for several reasons. Blount had a severe case of the flu and missed half of Tuesday and all of Wednesday and Thursday practices. He reportedly lost more than 15 lbs. He was not himself Saturday. Malcolm Mitchell was kept out of Saturday's game to allow his knee and extra week of rest. He really wasn't needed.

Steelers.........They know that the Patriots have the most experienced playoff quarterback in the history of the NFL. He's not going to have the nervousness or jitters that Alex Smith had last night. The Steelers know they will have to play their A Game or it will be a very long day in Foxboro.

Patriots......... know that this Steelers offense has the capability to score from any distance on the field and that it's paramount that they disturb Antonio Brown as much as possible. Keep Ben in the pocket as long as possible and not give him the TE 7 yards over the middle.

From my cheap seat, I think the Patriots defense can keep the Steelers to under 24 points. I don't think the Steelers defense can keep the Patriots under 30.

 

[NWPATSFAN]

I feel like I watched a different game than you guys. Pats weren't sharp but at no point did Houston have any chance in that game. This is the playoffs. Were you all expecting a thorough beat down right from the opening bell?

No but their execution wasn't sharp. They will need to be much sharper to get past Pitt.

 

[SDGuy73]

NE seems to be rusty coming off bye's. Look at the Seattle game.

Defense played well, but let's keep it real it was against Brock and company. NE still hasn't faced a quality QB in quite a while. The run D remains stout.

Offensively, they were off. How much of that was the Blount illness, no Mitchell, weather, bye, Hogan going down. Ammendola was almost non-exsitant. What was the deal with the limited reps for White? None of these are excuses they still won. Maybe it was all part of a bigger BB plan? KC has an opportunistic D but they won't pressure TB as much as Houston did. Not worried about tge Steeler D. Guess what I'm saying is I fully expect a cleaner offensive performance next week.

But they can't lose the turn over battle and expect to win. It will be a point of emphasis this week. Lewis even mentioned it in his post game presser.

We're onto the AFCCG. Go Pats

You mention Blounts illness. I wonder if Brady had it too. He just didn't look like the fired up guy we see all the time. He looked tired in his post game interview.

 

[Southieinnc]

You mention Blounts illness. I wonder if Brady had it too. He just didn't look like the fired up guy we see all the time. He looked tired in his post game interview.

You know how much work it is to keep getting up off the ground?

 

[Southieinnc]

Against Texas:
The running game struggled - as expected
The passing game struggled - too predictable
Special teams had great plays and bad plays

All in all, I fault the game plan. After beating a team 27 - 0, it is very hard to produce a game plan.
Halftime adjustments helped a Pats team that was outplayed to beat an out-classed Houston team.

 

[Yankee Traveler]

11 AFC championships in 16 years - that's insane! I just feel very fortunate to see it.

1992.

2-14.

Never forget. Thank you Robert Kraft. Thank you.

 

[TP76]

1992.

2-14.

Never forget. Thank you Robert Kraft. Thank you.

No Kidding - Orthwein was threatening a St Louis relocation back then.

 

[NWPATSFAN]

You mention Blounts illness. I wonder if Brady had it too. He just didn't look like the fired up guy we see all the time. He looked tired in his post game interview.

Could be? He did seem to get pissed over that one tackle. Which didn't seem that bad. Then again it may have been a combination of hits prior?

 

[sharkymcwrath]

I don't know about the rest of you but I really feel like the 4 final teams are clearly the 4 best teams. Anybody could win it and I wouldn't be surprised. That said, since the coach in Pittsburgh decided to run his mouth I hope the Pats crush them next week. Not likely gonna be a butt whooping but it has happened before so I can hope.

 

[NWPATSFAN]

I don't know about the rest of you but I really feel like the 4 final teams are clearly the 4 best teams. Anybody could win it and I wouldn't be surprised. That said, since the coach in Pittsburgh decided to run his mouth I hope the Pats crush them next week. Not likely gonna be a butt whooping but it has happened before so I can hope.

Tomlinson has proven more than once he's no MENSA candidate.

 

[NWPATSFAN]

Tomlinson has proven more than once he's no MENSA candidate.

*Tomlin I just withdrew my MENSA application.

 

[BigKen]

Kick-Off 6:30 PM CBS