Well, the league has what it wants:
Brady v. Manning for a trip to the bowl.
3 PM EST Sunday.
Discuss/gameplan here.
Brady v. Manning for a trip to the bowl.
3 PM EST Sunday.
Discuss/gameplan here.
Dalton Jones said:Pats are + 7. If they win this game it puts a permanent stake in Manning's pretense to being the best quarterback of his era. This is like the Red Sox-Yankees in 2004. The Super Bowl will almost be an afterthought if Brady beats Manning in the AFC championship game next week.
No. One example I found is Eli and Romo, who have played eachother 15 times.Zomp said:Is Brady vs Peyton Manning the most played quaterback match up ever?
Apparently Kelly met Marino 21 times. Brady vs. Manning is about to hit 15. Being in different divisions is a big deal here.Zomp said:Is Brady vs Peyton Manning the most played quaterback match up ever?
Show your work.The Social Chair said:
Except SF and Seattle are arguably better than both AFC teams.
I care about a fourth Super Bowl about 10,000 times more than the tired Manning vs Brady debate.Dalton Jones said:Pats are + 7. If they win this game it puts a permanent stake in Manning's pretense to being the best quarterback of his era. This is like the Red Sox-Yankees in 2004. The Super Bowl will almost be an afterthought if Brady beats Manning in the AFC championship game next week.
quint said:Show your work.
PseuFighter said:Tickets on sale tomorrow at 10 Mountain time, but restricted to Colorado and surrounding states. Anyone have a billing address in one of those states and willing to let me buy? Will happily PayPal / Venmo / whatever the cost back immediately. (already have flights / hotel booked). Either their idea of keeping Pats fans out, or trying to curtail resale.
Sales to this event will be restricted to residents of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Montana, and South Dakota. Residency will be based on credit card billing address. Orders by residents outside Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Montana, and South Dakota will be canceled without notice and refunds given.
soxhop411 said:
Ben Volin @BenVolin22s
#Broncos open as 6-point favorites over the #Patriots on @Sportsbook_com. Wow
RedOctober3829 said:--Jamie Collins needs to play as good or better this week.
In terms of covering the TE, it's a harder job than on Fleener. It might be insane, but he needs to be the Collins we saw last night again. I don't see anybody else who can cover him. Secondary has it's hands full with the WRs.mt8thsw9th said:He needs to have better than an absolutely incredible game? If that's the case, the Patriots are fucked. It would be nice, but that's an absolutely insane thing to expect, even matching the performance.
quint said:Show your work.
I would expect an extra chip from someone else when possible. Of course if Collins were to be on him I would fully expect Manning to change his route to some kind of outside isolation route.RedOctober3829 said:In terms of covering the TE, it's a harder job than on Fleener. It might be insane, but he needs to be the Collins we saw last night again. I don't see anybody else who can cover him. Secondary has it's hands full with the WRs.
soxhop411 said:
Ben Volin @BenVolin22s
#Broncos open as 6-point favorites over the #Patriots on @Sportsbook_com. Wow
Isn't it commonly accepted that Slot Arrington is more than competent while outside/downfield Arrington is Darius Butler 1.2?Dogman2 said:Does Arrington get Welker in the slot or do we see Ryan take those duties with Arrington getting Caldwell?
Arrington on Welker scares the shit out of me.
bball831 said:Doesn't really matter much but teams that played (and obviously won) on Saturday of the divisional week are 8-2 in the last 5 years in conference championship games.
koufax32 said:I would expect an extra chip from someone else when possible. Of course if Collins were to be on him I would fully expect Manning to change his route to some kind of outside isolation route.
The usual prescription for an offense like this is bump coverage. We have the personnel for it with Talib and Dennard...but isn't that madness to do against D. Thomas and Decker?
Who will get targeted as the "take one thing away" person? Was it D. Thomas in Foxboro?
Great season. I'd love to see it continue but have my doubts. I would love someone to talk me into having confidence going into Sunday. This is going to be a painfully long week.
koufax32 said:Isn't it commonly accepted that Slot Arrington is more than competent while outside/downfield Arrington is Darius Butler 1.2?
Higher undoubtedly. Pats have not been a dog in a playoff game since 2006 AFC Championship. But if you think this game should be Pats +3 or less, you're intoxicated. Wow what indeedHarry Hooper said:
Wow what? Is that higher or lower than you expected, Ben?
brandonchristensen said:Champ Bailey was back in the slot, but I didn't feel like he was doing anything all game.
If the Pats play like they played Indy, and the Broncos play how they played the Chargers, the Pats should win.
Agreed. That line seems about right.dcmissle said:Higher undoubtedly. Pats have not been a dog in a playoff game since 2006 AFC Championship. But if you think this game should be Pats +3 or less, you're intoxicated. Wow what indeed
I agree. I think they both are. I'm petty enough to want the parochial AFC victory against Manning. It's all gravy after that for me.The Social Chair said:Except SF and Seattle are arguably better than both AFC teams.
Opened at +7 on my book, and now doing to 4.5. Lot of movement this early.MarcSullivaFan said:Agreed. That line seems about right.
brandonchristensen said:If the Pats play like they played Indy, and the Broncos play how they played the Chargers, the Pats should win.
dcmissle said:Higher undoubtedly. Pats have not been a dog in a playoff game since 2006 AFC Championship. But if you think this game should be Pats +3 or less, you're intoxicated. Wow what indeed
Champ had 4 tackles (tied for the most on the team) and held Antonio Gates to 10 yards. He had a fine game.brandonchristensen said:Champ Bailey was back in the slot, but I didn't feel like he was doing anything all game.
If the Pats play like they played Indy, and the Broncos play how they played the Chargers, the Pats should win.
RedOctober3829 said:3:00 CBS
On offense
--Hold onto the football. Can't afford an early hole again.
--Be balanced. I know the running game has been great the past few weeks but there needs to be more passing. There's a fine line because we would like to run the ball and limit possessions for Peyton, but the Broncos are vulnerable through the air.
--Screen them to death. Their D-line loves to pass rush, so take advantage of their aggressiveness.
--Find other ways to get Edelman the ball in space.
--Keep the rotations short for the RBs. They do a good job of that, but the altitude will make that more important.
On defense
--Jamie Collins needs to play as good or better this week. Julius Thomas is no Coby Fleener. If he can stay with him, it opens up the safeties to give help other places instead of playing JT and leaving the middle vulnerable.
--from my end zone view, it looked like Talib was matched up on Hilton all night and did a good job. I think you have to give him D Thomas and hope he shuts him down. You can shade DMC to his side, but I want them to be in 2 deep to take away the short shit.
--Will they use the game plan against the run as in Week 12? Aka not even worry about it? Or will Bill flood the middle with LBs and give Moreno as many yards as he wants?
In my mind, Jamie Collins is the X-factor for this game. If he can match up with JT, I think our secondary can handle their receivers. They are healthier than the last matchup as Talib was hobbled, Dennard had surgery just the week of the game, and Gregory was out.
I am so happy with this team. An AFC title game with all they've been through is pretty damn impressive. I don't doubt their mental toughness going into a tough building. I can't wait for Sunday.
Stitch01 said:I'm hoping McDaniels has some passing schemes saved up because Denver is really vulnerable in the secondary. I hope Dobson is a fast healer, he is really needed for this one. Not saying the Pats need to throw it 50 times, but I don't think the run/pass ratios from the last couple of weeks are ideal here, they're going to have to play a little more aggressively on early downs. Brady has carved up this Bronco defense for three seasons, he will have to do so Sunday.
Defense, cannot miss opportunities for big plays and third down stops. Broncos offense is terrifying. First priority is to take away the quick strike on early downs. SD did a pretty good job at that today. Whenever the offense make a mistake (ball thrown into a defenders hand, 3rd and long via penalty), have to capitalize. They'll move the ball and score points. As with the first game, lots of early down runs are advantage Patriots. Secondary getting healthy + Collins emergence means the pass coverage is in as good of shape as we can possibly hope for.
My two picks for players that need to have big games are Amendola and Chandler Jones Have to rush Manning into a couple of errors and have to make some plays downfield in the passing game. A repeat of Amendolas week one performance would help immensely.
I feel reasonably good, I'd guess Pats win about 4 in 10 here.