Patriots @ Broncos - who wins?
 

Tex, Pasta, others... don't worry, this isn't a divisional preview. :)

Since the outcome of this game weighs heavy on some of your plans for KC running the table and supplanting Denver as the divisional winner, I figured I would start this thread to be the place for all the game chatter this week.

In another thread, Amnorix and I both have stated that neither of us expects our team to win this one... he gives NE a 50/50 chance thanks in large part to the OL and injuries. And, I get it. I had this pegged as a "very winnable" game with a healthy Peyton Manning, but that was well before 9 TD / 17 INT Manning reared his ugly head.

Brock gets the start and that's never a good thing for a young guy against this coach and that QB. Location and the Denver defense gives me reason for hope, but the Patriots have a sweet defense as well and as long as they have Tom Brady and the Gronk - they can win.

The Broncos should have Sanders back and offensively, they have a lot of options with DT, Sanders, Daniels, Davis, Hillman, Anderson (among others) - they're deep. Question is, how will the Patriots game plan to stop Kubiak's offense. It won't be a mystery really, but they don't have much to go on with Brock... however, they'll be ready and they'll give him fits.

And, they're still undefeated... they're a pretty good team. :# Overall, Brady is 5-5 vs Denver and has a losing record in Denver (I believe)... again, nothing more than just historical reference there.

I've gone back and forth on scores and while you can call it reverse mojo, it's not ... but I think the Patriots win this one 23-17.

I do think that Brock enters this game with less pressure than last week @ Chicago, only because it's my belief that the team 'hoped' they could win this game with a healthy Manning and that's not possible... so Brock, has lower expectations (hopefully).

So, since this is critical to KC's drive to reach 10/11 wins and knock Denver from the lead... what are the thoughts from the KC faithful?

Enjoy...

If the Donks actually had a running game, this would be a bad matchup for the Pats. It still kinda is.

The Donk D should smoother those receivers. The Pats will need to get that running game going.

Pats blow them out. They have a great front 7 and will stop an average donk running game. Denver is going to struggle to score points. Billy always destroys Wade and Kubiak scheming and despite a shit OL they will have success moving the ball on Denver. I am hoping a bunch of money comes in on Denver once media hypes Patriot injuries and the line drops. I am putting the farm and all the cows on Patriots.

26-10 Pats.

Denver. Why didn't you make this a poll?

Pats

They did have 37 rush attempts for a 4.7 average last week. It's the Bears, I get it... but they ran an offense that is more in line to what Kubiak loves to do and they have 2 healthy guys carrying the rock.

That was Hillman's third 100+ yard game and Anderson has one as well, so it's nothing to write home about. But, it's not putrid.

Denver ran the ball 37 times compared to 27 passing and the TEs caught 11 of 12 passes for another 130 yards - with 170 yards rushing, that's a nice offense that effectively moves the ball.

They should have scored a TD when they went for it on 4th, but Brock's 27 size shoe tripped Hillman up at the 2. Oh well.

It will be an interesting one, I hope and one that Denver's defense keeps close as Denver's offense works through week #2 with Brock.

"It's a pity that both can't lose."

The Pats will expose Assweilder for what he is, a marginal game manager. You'd have to be a Donk homer to have come away from that Chicago game thinking anything else.

I'd imagine they'll play Assweilder the same way they played Taylor. Lots of zone.

Patriots

ROFL Yeah, we're missing something by not seeing those results.

It was one game... he looked good, nothing more and nothing less at this point.

I did notice their running game was effective. But i stand by what i said yesterday: That Bears passing D was atrocious on Sunday. They didn't show up. They were leaving receivers wide the **** open and allowing a lot of YAC.

They're like top 5 in yards given up and something like 23rd in TDs given up. They're not elite.

The Patriot DL and LB are going to destroy that awful OL that Denver has. Denver has guys starting on the OL that have no business getting a check from the NFL. Pats have a good collection of high draft picks that will eat the Schofield/Harris/Polumbus/paradis of the world alive.

The OL has been an issue all year... again, no arguments from me on the state of Denver's OL. My hope is that Denver can do the same things to the Patriots.

I can't ever bet against the Pats/BB/Brady. I'll go with Patriots 20, Donx 16.

But I do think it will be close, I think both offenses will look pretty ugly, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Patriots lost. If they win, though, they get a bye locked up, with a probable #1 seed, so it's critical that we win.