Patriots and the Wildcards

[BigKen]

Idle thoughts looking over the Wildcard games.................
Kansas City at Indianapolis.......The Chiefs started the season 9-0 and looked like they were going to tear up the NFL. Only problem was they were playing lower tier teams. They finished the season 2-5 and lost a no show to the Chargers in the finale. The Colts beat all of the tough teams this year, Denver, Seattle, 49ers......yet coughed up chicken bones against Jacksonville and Tennessee. Both of these teams are Jeckel and Hyde. I have to give the edge to Indy, playing home.

San Diego at Cincinnati. .........The Chargers are an inigma. They've won their last 5 and they've beaten some tough teams. They looked really good handing a thumping to the Broncos a few weeks ago. Cincinnati on the other hand has been unbeatable at Paul Brown Stadium. They've lost all of their games on the road against mediocre teams. Have to give the Bengals the edge at home.

The Patriots will most likely host the Bengals for their first post season game. The Bengals have sucked on the road and the Patriots will not have another no-show game like they did during their first meeting with Bengals, The Bengals will have to face a Patriots team that has not on their home turf this season. I really like this match up. Revenge is best served cold at Gillette.

That puts Indy at Denver. This is a nightmare for the Broncos. They got their butts kicked by the Colts in the perfect atmosphere of Lucas Oil Stadium. Winter is coming to Denver and Peyton Manning is not a foul weather QB. Andrew Luck has been playing arena ball too. If the weather is bad, this could be one of the worst played games in playoff history. If the weather is mild and clear........it could be a tough day for the Colts.

I predict that the Patriots will be travelling to Denver for the AFC Championship........in a brutally cold and snowy day................

 

[TKO]

Idle thoughts looking over the Wildcard games.................
Kansas City at Indianapolis.......The Chiefs started the season 9-0 and looked like they were going to tear up the NFL. Only problem was they were playing lower tier teams. They finished the season 2-5 and lost a no show to the Chargers in the finale. The Colts beat all of the tough teams this year, Denver, Seattle, 49ers......yet coughed up chicken bones against Jacksonville and Tennessee. Both of these teams are Jeckel and Hyde. I have to give the edge to Indy, playing home.

San Diego at Cincinnati. .........The Chargers are an inigma. They've won their last 5 and they've beaten some tough teams. They looked really good handing a thumping to the Broncos a few weeks ago. Cincinnati on the other hand has been unbeatable at Paul Brown Stadium. They've lost all of their games on the road against mediocre teams. Have to give the Bengals the edge at home.

The Patriots will most likely host the Bengals for their first post season game. The Bengals have sucked on the road and the Patriots will not have another no-show game like they did during their first meeting with Bengals, The Bengals will have to face a Patriots team that has not on their home turf this season. I really like this match up. Revenge is best served cold at Gillette.

That puts Indy at Denver. This is a nightmare for the Broncos. They got their butts kicked by the Colts in the perfect atmosphere of Lucas Oil Stadium. Winter is coming to Denver and Peyton Manning is not a foul weather QB. Andrew Luck has been playing arena ball too. If the weather is bad, this could be one of the worst played games in playoff history. If the weather is mild and clear........it could be a tough day for the Colts.

I predict that the Patriots will be travelling to Denver for the AFC Championship........in a brutally cold and snowy day................

...and I'd love to see the Pats travel to New Jersey on another brutally cold and snowy day in February.

 

[briz almighty]

good analysis. i kinda want kc to beat indy cuz i think they would have the best shot at beating denver, they lost twice to them and it will be hard to beat them three times. if the weather is bad that favors kc run game. i dont think theres any way peyton would let his team lose to his replacement Luck but that would be funny. if it does come down to us vs denver in the afccg ill be kinda pissed. peyton gets an injury killed pats team at his field to go to the sb. couldnt set up any better for him. healthy we would whip his ass. not saying we would lose cuz we are still good injured but there wont be any mention of the pats injuries in the history book if he goes to the sb. it'll be peyton beat his nemesis brady and the pats on his way to ....blahblahblah... you know what i mean. season is setting up pefect for him, easy scrub schedule and injured pats.

 

[520GGATO]

Pats vs Eagles SB, I'm calling it. hehe

 

[NEhomer]

season is setting up pefect for him, easy scrub schedule and injured pats.

Agreed. Still, they did toss away the game to the Ravens last year after they had won it so you never know.

 

[BigKen]

Briz..................Going to Denver could be a blessing in disguise. First, Denver (Colorado) is coming into it's winter. Theirs starts later than ours in the east. They had a really cold game and the Broncos finally gave Manning his first sub 40 degree win in his career. It wasn't a thumping, it was a thin win against Tennessee who never plays in cold weather either. The last time they did, it was at Foxboro in the snow and they got crushed by Brady 44-7.

My point here is that the Broncos will have to play the Pats in the cold and possibly snow . If there's one snowflake every 10 seconds, Manning's in trouble. Here's the real rub. The Bronco's offense is cooking but they've been playing the Texans, the Raiders and KC recently. When they've had to play a tougher team, they've had real problems stopping the other offense. The Bronco defense has gone to hell in a handbasket since Von Miller got hurt and they haven't been able to replace him.

The Patriot's defense has been rounding into playoff form over the last few weeks. They've been one of the best run stopping teams over the past month and the secondary has been very good.
If they get to Denver, they can't let Hightower play coverage against Welker, they have to put Fletcher in to knock the crap out of him and keep him from quick cuts 3-4 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. Talib stays with D. Thomas and Ryan stays with Decker. That leaves J. Thomas and that's McCourty's man. Play a man zone and Manning has to take two extra seconds to to check down......that's enough to start to collapse the pocket. Manning is at his worst when the pocket starts to get crushed right in front of him. His feet start to tippy toe and he will release early. If the weather is cold and windy, he will move out of the pocket to try to allow his receivers to separate and in the cold that's fatal because the receivers can't move as freely.

I've always believed that Manning was an Arena QB. If conditions are perfect as they were in Indianapolis and as they are during pretty much the football season in Denver, he's always been outstanding. Put him in the rain or wind or snow and drop the temps into low 30's or lower and he's toast. Always has been, always will be................it's his achille's ...........

 

[Yankee Traveler]

season is setting up pefect for him, easy scrub schedule and injured pats.

Agreed. Still, they did toss away the game to the Ravens last year after they had won it so you never know.

And Welker is one hard hit from see you next season.

 

[Yankee Traveler]

......... Tennessee who never plays in cold weather either. The last time they did, it was at Foxboro in the snow and they got crushed by Brady 44-7.
QUOTE]

I don't remember that one. I do remember 59-0 though.

Same bat time, same bat channel...

 

[TKO]

Briz..................Going to Denver could be a blessing in disguise. First, Denver (Colorado) is coming into it's winter. Theirs starts later than ours in the east. They had a really cold game and the Broncos finally gave Manning his first sub 40 degree win in his career. It wasn't a thumping, it was a thin win against Tennessee who never plays in cold weather either. The last time they did, it was at Foxboro in the snow and they got crushed by Brady 44-7.

My point here is that the Broncos will have to play the Pats in the cold and possibly snow . If there's one snowflake every 10 seconds, Manning's in trouble. Here's the real rub. The Bronco's offense is cooking but they've been playing the Texans, the Raiders and KC recently. When they've had to play a tougher team, they've had real problems stopping the other offense. The Bronco defense has gone to hell in a handbasket since Von Miller got hurt and they haven't been able to replace him.

The Patriot's defense has been rounding into playoff form over the last few weeks. They've been one of the best run stopping teams over the past month and the secondary has been very good.
If they get to Denver, they can't let Hightower play coverage against Welker, they have to put Fletcher in to knock the crap out of him and keep him from quick cuts 3-4 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. Talib stays with D. Thomas and Ryan stays with Decker. That leaves J. Thomas and that's McCourty's man. Play a man zone and Manning has to take two extra seconds to to check down......that's enough to start to collapse the pocket. Manning is at his worst when the pocket starts to get crushed right in front of him. His feet start to tippy toe and he will release early. If the weather is cold and windy, he will move out of the pocket to try to allow his receivers to separate and in the cold that's fatal because the receivers can't move as freely.

I've always believed that Manning was an Arena QB. If conditions are perfect as they were in Indianapolis and as they are during pretty much the football season in Denver, he's always been outstanding. Put him in the rain or wind or snow and drop the temps into low 30's or lower and he's toast. Always has been, always will be................it's his achille's ...........

The Broncos played the Titans in 18 degree temps with a wind chill of 11 and beat them 51-28 so it was frigid and a "thumping"...Manning had 4 TD passes without any picks.

I think they put Arrington on Welker again. The Pats D just gave up 165 yards rushing to Spiller and Jackson so I wouldn't call them one of the best run stopping teams over the last month.

 

[Drawmeomg]

Cross that bridge when we come to it. Denver isn't a lock for the AFCCG. They've lost their share of games this year and they could lose again. New England isn't a lock either, though obviously it's pretty pointless to spend much time talking about that since then our season is over, there's no contingency worth discussing.

If we play them, we want two things to happen: we want to run the ball on them a ton, and we want them to run the ball on us. I don't think it's an accident that we beat them with Moreno rushing for a couple hundred yards. Make them do it again.

 

[TKO]

Cross that bridge when we come to it. Denver isn't a lock for the AFCCG. They've lost their share of games this year and they could lose again. New England isn't a lock either, though obviously it's pretty pointless to spend much time talking about that since then our season is over, there's no contingency worth discussing.

If we play them, we want two things to happen: we want to run the ball on them a ton, and we want them to run the ball on us. I don't think it's an accident that we beat them with Moreno rushing for a couple hundred yards. Make them do it again.

Welker's brain fart had a lot to do with that win too.

 

[Drawmeomg]

Welker's brain fart had a lot to do with that win too.

Players make mistakes. It's just part of the game.

 

[Yankee Traveler]

I don't blame Welker for that muffed punt, that was all Tony Carter.

Welker was just being a good teamate by accepting responsibility.

 

[JDM]

No, it was Welker. The blockers don't know where the ball is. It's the returners job to wave them off.

 

[Yankee Traveler]

No, it was Welker. The blockers don't know where the ball is. It's the returners job to wave them off.

I was thinking he did wave them off, but waited until the last moment and took blame as he could have done more to ensure they obliged the wave off...

My memory is not what it used to be though, and I have slept since then.

 

[JDM]

By the time he waved him off the blocker had no shot of avoiding anything.

 

[SDGuy73]

......... Tennessee who never plays in cold weather either. The last time they did, it was at Foxboro in the snow and they got crushed by Brady 44-7.
QUOTE]

I don't remember that one. I do remember 59-0 though.

Same bat time, same bat channel...

I remember that game. Brady threw 5TDs in the second quarter. Crazy ass game

 

[briz almighty]

Briz..................Going to Denver could be a blessing in disguise. First, Denver (Colorado) is coming into it's winter. Theirs starts later than ours in the east. They had a really cold game and the Broncos finally gave Manning his first sub 40 degree win in his career. It wasn't a thumping, it was a thin win against Tennessee who never plays in cold weather either. The last time they did, it was at Foxboro in the snow and they got crushed by Brady 44-7.

My point here is that the Broncos will have to play the Pats in the cold and possibly snow . If there's one snowflake every 10 seconds, Manning's in trouble. Here's the real rub. The Bronco's offense is cooking but they've been playing the Texans, the Raiders and KC recently. When they've had to play a tougher team, they've had real problems stopping the other offense. The Bronco defense has gone to hell in a handbasket since Von Miller got hurt and they haven't been able to replace him.

The Patriot's defense has been rounding into playoff form over the last few weeks. They've been one of the best run stopping teams over the past month and the secondary has been very good.
If they get to Denver, they can't let Hightower play coverage against Welker, they have to put Fletcher in to knock the crap out of him and keep him from quick cuts 3-4 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. Talib stays with D. Thomas and Ryan stays with Decker. That leaves J. Thomas and that's McCourty's man. Play a man zone and Manning has to take two extra seconds to to check down......that's enough to start to collapse the pocket. Manning is at his worst when the pocket starts to get crushed right in front of him. His feet start to tippy toe and he will release early. If the weather is cold and windy, he will move out of the pocket to try to allow his receivers to separate and in the cold that's fatal because the receivers can't move as freely.

I've always believed that Manning was an Arena QB. If conditions are perfect as they were in Indianapolis and as they are during pretty much the football season in Denver, he's always been outstanding. Put him in the rain or wind or snow and drop the temps into low 30's or lower and he's toast. Always has been, always will be................it's his achille's ...........

dennard should be back for the playoffs which is big we need him. i would have absolutely no worries heading to denver if the pats were healthy cuz we would curb stomp them. but with the injuries we are vulnerable and gives denver a much better chance to beat us. this is not the pats they will play, the real pats would beat manning so bad he probably want to retire. its gunna be a closer game than it should be and it could go either way imo. this pats team has played extremely well with all the guys out so you got to give them props, they might be able to get to the sb, there arent really any dominant scary teams.

 

[Southieinnc]

dennard should be back for the playoffs which is big we need him. i would have absolutely no worries heading to denver if the pats were healthy cuz we would curb stomp them. but with the injuries we are vulnerable and gives denver a much better chance to beat us. this is not the pats they will play, the real pats would beat manning so bad he probably want to retire. its gunna be a closer game than it should be and it could go either way imo. this pats team has played extremely well with all the guys out so you got to give them props, they might be able to get to the sb, there arent really any dominant scary teams.

I started a post on the main board about all playoff bound teams needing to worry and that met a lot of resistance. I agree, all playoff teams are showing signs of weakness this year. Why not the Pats in the SB?