The Game Goat Thread: AFCCG @ Broncos
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Brady's had a good share of those horrendous picks at bad times in the last couple years. Terrible decision, no excuse to throw it. Super bowl first pick last year, Baltimore game last year. It's like he just brain farts.
The Miller INT was actually a little more understandable than the INT into double coverage later in the game.
Von Miller just pulled an excellent move and faked like he was going in to coverage on Bolden(?) and doubled back right in time to play under coverage on Gronk. It really was a great move. Maybe after film study Brady should have predicted it, but on the replay it looked like a star player making a game changing play to me.
I didn't have an issue with the refs this game, but don't point to that. The guy ran out of bonds for about 20 yards after he was pushed. That's a legit call.
The failure to have a meaningful run game really hurt. If you can't bring the linebackers up to respect the run the passes in the short middle are not there. Losing Lewis and Blount didn't help. But the run keeps the DL from T-ing off. A few successful draw plays or screens would have helped slow down the rush. This team used to be balanced in run-pass and they went away from that this year. That eventually caught up to them when they played a good defensive team. Heck they struggled with the pass happy philosophy with the Dolphins. They should have been better prepared for Denver's defense and pressure and they made almost no meaningful adjustments. It's all on the coaching staff IMO.
Vollmer had been playing on the left for multiple games. This wasn't the first
That would make sense. If not I'm calling the Denver PD filing a missing persons report.
Solder coming back will be huge. I'm fucking done with Cannon, after the contract he got I kept lying to myself, in hope that if he got all that money, Bill must've seen something in him. No, he flat out sucks.
You'd think after Ware ran straight past him for the 10th time he'd adjust his game.
My only complaint with the officiating would be the number of head shots that were uncalled on Denver. I counted four blatant / unnecessary roughness type hits which would have definitely been called on the visiting team, before Edelman finally got a call late in the game.
You're humblebrags are by far the most interesting on this website. You;re like the Dos Equis guy
Cannon get obliterated, but due to injuries and improper team construction I can't blame him personally that much. He ended up having to block Von Miller one on one so often it is a miracle he didn't give up 10 sacks. Cannon is not a NFL quality starter, and he should never be relied upon to block one of the best pass rushers in the league on an island like that. A bunch of people take the blame for that.
As much as I am frustrated with this game, Edleman wasn't the issue. It just seemed that both the offensive and defensive teams both seemed to fail at the wrong spot. The two sides played well but just barely not enough. The missed Extra point was huge but I still struggle to understand why don't they kick with 8 to play down 8. Seems to be the difference to me.
I am actually happy to say the refs had nothing to do with today. Hoch did a nice job, sans maybe the missed PI on Gronk early.
I feel the same way about this game as I did about the first Super Bowl loss to the Giants: the team that deserved to win the game, won the game. Tip your hat and move on. And I say that as someone who just had to trek a mile and a half back to my apartment from the stadium in full Patriots gear and endure ball busting after ball busting by the line of traffic the stretched the entire way.
The goats are the mods who refused to take "Peyton Manning Retirement Party" out of the game thread. I begged all week to no avail. Karma doesn't like cocky fans.
I feel the same way about this game as I did about the first Super Bowl loss to the Giants: the team that deserved to win the game, won the game. Tip your hat and move on. And I say that as someone who just had to trek a mile and a half back to my apartment from the stadium in full Patriots gear and endure ball busting after ball busting by the line of traffic the stretched the entire way.
The goats are the mods who refused to take "Peyton Manning Retirement Party" out of the game thread. I begged all week to no avail. Karma doesn't like cocky fans.
That one's up there with the personal foul TE David Thomas got, albeit in a regular season game.
Well, that's why he isn't a starter. Not much to do when you lose your starting LT but clench your cheeks and hope the backup doesn't suck.
Glad someone mentioned this, because it's letting everyone else off the hook by blaming Harper. The Pats are known for being mentally tough, prepared for everything, well coached, etc. Yet one muffed punt when up by 14 seemed to put this team into a tailspin that ultimately led to them having to play tonight in Denver rather than Fox. If the situation were reversed, we'd be all over Denver for letting one play derail them, and rightfully so.
The injuries did this team in, no doubt, but there's no way that one play should loom so large. It seems "next man up" could not overcome injuries this year, especially on the OL.
What is with the overcome injuries talk? They were pretty healthy in Week 19 on the o line except for Soldier. The offensive line just wasn't any good and had poor depth
Fleming was horrible as well. He was an extra blocker and couldn't even make contact with a defender
The difference with Dion Lewis and not having him was huge. That said, I agree, this team was as healthy as possible. They couldn't capitalize when they had a chance and that cost them.
I blame the fourth down decision as much as anything, but I wouldn't call it the biggest issue. They had a chance with a minute to play, they scored and couldn't convert which is a toss up play, but the three they gave up to me was the difference.
Denver was missing a much better LT and didn't seem to have nearly as much trouble with edge pressure as NE did.
If one injured tackle is the difference your depth and or coaching sucks.
Solder was average at best this year when he was playing.
Honestly Denver had the edge in just about every aspect this game, just enough offense, outstanding defense, flawless special teams and even coaching.
Belichick' decision to receive in the first half is something he never does and especially dumb here. Put the number 1 defense in the league on the field at home to start the game and give them early momentum? Put pressure on Payton and the Denver offense early by making them start the game. Plus they always make great halftime adjustments so gave up that opportunity as well. Team loss.
Belichick' decision to receive in the first half is something he never does and especially dumb here. Put the number 1 defense in the league on the field at home to start the game and give them early momentum? Put pressure on Payton and the Denver offense early by making them start the game. Plus they always make great halftime adjustments so gave up that opportunity as well. Team loss.
The cluster-fuck at home against the Eagles. That's the easiest target for one game that had today's game played in Denver rather than NE. And if today's game was played in NE, I think the outcome is different. Barely, but barely would have been enough.
And the Pats were not crippled in that game. Not at their healthiest to be sure, but in better shape than against MYJ and Mia.
This is where "just one of those games" can land you when you play only 16.
OL by far
Special teams once again was a disaster in Denver - we consistently lost field position in the punting game. Clean this shit up this offseason.
Special teams once again was a disaster in Denver - we consistently lost field position in the punting game. Clean this shit up this offseason.
Even if we had the number one seed there is no guarantee we would have beat PIT. Any given Sunday and all that.
Pittsburg went toe to toe with Denver and that was without their top playmakers
Good point about the Broncos left tackle being hurt, but I think the difference is who they were blocking. Cannon was blocking possibly the best outside pass rusher in football.
Don't get the folks that put Ghost as the #1 goat. It was bad timing, but the offensive line crapped the bed the rest of the day. The tackles are a problem that has to get addressed this offseason. Just hoping that Solder returns to health while Vollmer stays healthy is simply wishcasting.
Denver is one of the few teams that has the personnel to apply the formula to rattle Brady. Unfortunately, it's only going to get harder for this team going forward; the lack of draft picks this year is going to put a real hurt on this team for some time to come.
Denver is one of the few teams that has the personnel to apply the formula to rattle Brady. Unfortunately, it's only going to get harder for this team going forward; the lack of draft picks this year is going to put a real hurt on this team for some time to come.
Isn't it more of an issue of who is rushing the passer? Miller and Ware are significantLy above 95% of who other teams rush. Not sure solder and vollmer would have done a ton more. As much as it hurts, Miller played out of his mind and whether Cannon was there or not, I am not sure many others would have shut him down.
I would have taken my chances with no Brown and banged up Ben.
But look, the Pats outperformed this year given their injuries. I am at peace.
Though I DO believe BB could have come up with an answer to Cam and Co in 2 weeks. It is frustrating.
Did they though? They were 10-0 when healthy. They then went 2-4 against mostly bad teams. Then went 1-1 in the playoffs when they were 90% healthy.
They played well when healthy in the regular season, were bad when hurt and then were ok in the playoffs mostly healthy. What injuries couldn't they overcome? Dion Lewis who's injury prone and was out of the league?
The bottom line is that this team was what, 3-5 over the last 8 games? The NFL today is a war of attrition, and the Pats lost too many key guys to get it done. I have a really hard time calling someone a goat. Marcus Cannon was the worst player on the field, but he shouldn't have even been on the field.
As usual, they competed for 60 minutes. I love this team and am bummed I don't get to watch them again.
As usual, they competed for 60 minutes. I love this team and am bummed I don't get to watch them again.
There were two different times between the 2 and 5 minute mark of the 4th in which we were in easy FG range, had 3 TO's plus the 2 minute. Why in the hell did Belichick not kick the FG to make it 5 points. It cost us a Superbowl appearance most likely.
Why in God's name do people keep bringing up the non deferral as some sort of grave error? Even in hindsight it worked as Denver went 3 and out to start the second half and the Pats got the ball back and immediately scored.
I hated the defensive approach on the first drive, with the corners giving such a huge cushion to the receivers. That was like a nightmare flashback to the Darius Butler/Jonathan Wilhite years. I get having a healthy degree of respect for Peyton Manning, but that approach plays right into his remaining strengths at this point.
Chandler Jones should be at least 80% of Miller and on par with ware. I don't recall hearing his name once.
Though actually I think Malik Jackson was probably the bigger issue since Brady never had a chance to step up.
He would look real good in a pats uni next season.
I'm just curious why we didn't defer. Not thinking its a mistake, but wonder what BB felt was different about this game.
Heard it reported during the 4th quarter that Cannon had past the concussion protocols by the Unaffiliated Neurological Consultants.
The notion "..is that good thing..?" popped up.
Win or lose it's team and Denver has always had home field advantage going back to Gino Cappelletti.
The notion "..is that good thing..?" popped up.
Win or lose it's team and Denver has always had home field advantage going back to Gino Cappelletti.
Every time they ran it they got like two yards and then Brady got killed the next down. It seemed like they should have come out of the spread some because Fleming on Von Miller 1-on-1 or whatever was killing plays before they started, but I don't think adding more 1 yard runs into the equation was going to help much
I'm also a little mystified why we didn't see the WR screen to Edelman until the very last series. Maybe his apparent injury had something to do with it, but getting the ball out wide quickly seemed like an obvious thing to try.