I'm sure many of you will take my headline as another sign of disrespect, but it's more of a jab at myself if anything. I felt the Pats should have won both games easily. They didn't & therefore the Pats clearly have room for improvement on both sides of the ball. This was the game targeted by many fans as the start of the real regular season. The Broncos have probably been the Pats toughest opponent in the last 2 decades. Of course they ended the Pats playoff winning streak under Brady & Bellichick last season. However Denver has been off to a rocky start to this season as well. The new offense has not run smoothly. They've gone away from the bootleg which was always so successful for them in the past. I know Brady has had this game circled on his calendar all offseason. Hopefully he learned not to lose his composure like he did in that last game at Denver. He has some new young weapons on offense in Maroney & Jackson both who scored in a win over the Jets last week. The defense has Bruschi & Harrison back which is huge. Colvin is taking over the role left by McGinest. In the 2nd half of the Jets game there was some poor tackling particularily by Eugene Wilson. That is something they will surely focus on this week. On special teams the Pats have a rookie kicker who had been perfect until his last attempt got blocked in NY. This will certainly be his biggest test in a pressure situation with the lights on. Both teams are not playing at the level they expected right now, so I expect a tight game. The home field advantage will be huge for New England especially at night with the sweet scent of revenge on every fans mind. Pats 23 Broncos 20
Your right. It is really disrespectful when you consider that both, the Bills and the Jets, gave the Patriots a lot of trouble. I'm just wondering, if you really believe that, are you going to change your sig to say 0-1 if the Broncos beat the Patriots.
What was I thinking when I made that last post. The Broncos can't possibly beat the Patriots. The Pats will only lose if they beat themselves.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DolfanDale)</div><div class='quotemain'>What was I thinking when I made that last post. The Broncos can't possibly beat the Patriots. The Pats will only lose if they beat themselves. </div> perhaps you could turn of your broken record & give us your thoughts on the game.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bakes781)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DolfanDale)</div><div class='quotemain'>What was I thinking when I made that last post. The Broncos can't possibly beat the Patriots. The Pats will only lose if they beat themselves. </div> perhaps you could turn of your broken record & give us your thoughts on the game.</div> I'll stop making fun of your excuses as soon as you stop using them. Actually, I think the Pats should win this game. The Broncos defense is playing okay, but the offense is really slumping. Throw in the homefield advantage and the Patriots should win a close defensive battle.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DolfanDale)</div><div class='quotemain'>Your right. It is really disrespectful when you consider that both, the Bills and the Jets, gave the Patriots a lot of trouble. I'm just wondering, if you really believe that, are you going to change your sig to say 0-1 if the Broncos beat the Patriots.</div> Talk about picking bits and pieces out of something and commenting on them. If you'll take the time to notice or even care, you'll see that he has 2-0 in the AFC EAST in his sig. If the Broncos beat the Patriots it will have no effect on his sig because the Patriots will still be 2-0 in the AFC East.
They're 2-0 despite themselves. Yes the Bills & Jets gave a good effort, but let's not kid ourselves here the Pats are better than this. They may not be in the elite any more, but they're working in some new offensive skill players. There's going to be an adjustment period. I'm hopeful that they've passed that period & are ready to make a serious challenge for a 4th title.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DolfanDale)</div><div class='quotemain'>What was I thinking when I made that last post. The Broncos can't possibly beat the Patriots. The Pats will only lose if they beat themselves. </div> You're right, the Pats will lose only by beating themselves. Why do I say that? Its simple. Everyone should know by now that the Patriots organization has made vast improvements since 2000 and has built a dynasty out of their team. The overall talent level for the Patriots is as high as any other team in the NFL, including the Steelers. No, I don't have any articles or written opinions to back it up, the 3 rings speak for themselves. If you'll remember, the Patriots suffered a few injuries last year and many people in the NFL world thought that the Patriots wouldn't make the playoffs in '05, including me. Needless to say, good health came toward the end of the season and the coaching staff and team came together once again for a good push toward another Super Bowl. They won a playoff game and lost in the divisional round. No, they didn't get to the Super Bowl and yes, they did lose to the Broncos but they play like a team every year. In other words, they lose and gain players and personnel each year and they still remain a top tier team. That is how the Patriots are built under Kraft and Belichick. Losing Adam Vinatieri, Willie McGinnest, David Givens, and Deion Branch was tough, but nobody looks any further than that before making a decision about the Patriots' '06 season. If they would look closer they would realize that good replacements were brought in for all of those players. Gostkowski is new but he will be an awesome kicker for us. Colvin can fill Willie's shoes. Chad Jackson, Doug Gabriel, Daniel Graham, Ben Watson, David Thomas, and Garrett Mills can fill the void left by Givens and Branch. They may even be able to stay healthy for a whole season. So, yes, if the Broncos come in to Gillette Stadium and beat the Patriots, it is because the Patriots didn't do what they are capable of. Denver has not built a dynasty like the Patriots have and they do not have the owners, coaches, or team players like the Patriots have. You REALLY hate me now.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DolfanDale)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bakes781)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DolfanDale)</div><div class='quotemain'>What was I thinking when I made that last post. The Broncos can't possibly beat the Patriots. The Pats will only lose if they beat themselves. </div> perhaps you could turn of your broken record & give us your thoughts on the game.</div> I'll stop making fun of your excuses as soon as you stop using them. Actually, I think the Pats should win this game. The Broncos defense is playing okay, but the offense is really slumping. Throw in the homefield advantage and the Patriots should win a close defensive battle.</div> You didn't just say this. It can't be true. The ground is still warm and hell hasn't frozen over.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pats_Fan420)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DolfanDale)</div><div class='quotemain'>Your right. It is really disrespectful when you consider that both, the Bills and the Jets, gave the Patriots a lot of trouble. I'm just wondering, if you really believe that, are you going to change your sig to say 0-1 if the Broncos beat the Patriots.</div> Talk about picking bits and pieces out of something and commenting on them. If you'll take the time to notice or even care, you'll see that he has 2-0 in the AFC EAST in his sig. If the Broncos beat the Patriots it will have no effect on his sig because the Patriots will still be 2-0 in the AFC East.</div> No, he has an AFC East flag in his post followed by 2-0. Nowhere does it say that 2-0 is refering to their record in the division specifically. 2-0 is the overall record as well and that's what I that's why he had that in his sig.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pats_Fan420)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DolfanDale)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bakes781)</div><div class='quotemain'> perhaps you could turn of your broken record & give us your thoughts on the game.</div> I'll stop making fun of your excuses as soon as you stop using them. Actually, I think the Pats should win this game. The Broncos defense is playing okay, but the offense is really slumping. Throw in the homefield advantage and the Patriots should win a close defensive battle.</div> You didn't just say this. It can't be true. The ground is still warm and hell hasn't frozen over.</div> Thats the difference between non-pats fans and pats fans. We still think patriots will win a lot of games, we just dont think they will walk across water to get to miami.
Oh, and there was poor officiating in that game. http://www.fantasyfootballcafe.com/forums/...ic.php?t=222428 http://www.nfl.com/fans/rules/faircatch 2. No opponent may interfere with the fair catcher, the ball, or his path to the ball. Penalty: 15 yards from spot of foul and fair catch is awarded. 3. A player who signals for a fair catch is not required to catch the ball. However, if a player signals for a fair catch, he may not block or initiate contact with any player on the kicking team until the ball touches a player. Penalty: snap 15 yards. I consider it a very valid excuse when the officials do not know the rules.
But the crews in Denver last night and in Indianapolis today ? if Asante Samuel?s pass interference was a crime, Troy Polalamu?s overturned interception was a sin ? just might represent all-time lows. The next time those two sets of officials oversee a playoff game, it should be in Hell. http://homepage.mac.com/chadhermann/iblog/...20060115230228/ So Troy Polamalu did intercept that pass, the NFL says? Well whaddya know? It only took the league a day to admit what everybody watching the game knew almost instantly. Get ready for another round of "How-can-we-fix-the-officiating?'' hand-wringing in the NFL this offseason, because the divisional round was not exactly a showcase for the league's men in black (and white). And while I'm on the topic, here's another thing about the Asante Samuel pass interference call Saturday night in Denver that made no sense: That was an uncatchable ball that Jake Plummer fired way over the head of receiver Ashley Lelie. Watch the replay again. Even if he was untouched, there's no way Lelie makes that catch and stays in bounds. And the more I see replays of Denver cornerback Champ Bailey and where he lost control of the ball -- about the 2-foot line -- on his 100-yard interception return against New England, the more I'm certain he couldn't possibly have fumbled it forward as he did without the ball breaking the plane of the goal line over the pylon for a touchback. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writ...ad.teams/2.html The only thing I'll agree with Dale and other Pats haters on is that Denver did force fumbles. Thats it. Everything else was bogus and "given" to the Broncos by the wonderful officials.
Broncos have had our number for whatever reason, but I'm confident that won't be the case this time around. In fact I don't see Denver getting over .500 this season. The Chargers as I predicted look to be the best of the west. Regarding my sig it is in reference to the division record. I don't plan on keeping a running tally unless we get seriously close to going undefeated on the season.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bakes781)</div><div class='quotemain'>Broncos have had our number for whatever reason, but I'm confident that won't be the case this time around. In fact I don't see Denver getting over .500 this season. The Chargers as I predicted look to be the best of the west. Regarding my sig it is in reference to the division record. I don't plan on keeping a running tally unless we get seriously close to going undefeated on the season.</div> Thanks for clearing that up. Dale was starting to get mad at me again.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pats_Fan420)</div><div class='quotemain'>Oh, and there was poor officiating in that game. http://www.fantasyfootballcafe.com/forums/...ic.php?t=222428 http://www.nfl.com/fans/rules/faircatch 2. No opponent may interfere with the fair catcher, the ball, or his path to the ball. Penalty: 15 yards from spot of foul and fair catch is awarded. 3. A player who signals for a fair catch is not required to catch the ball. However, if a player signals for a fair catch, he may not block or initiate contact with any player on the kicking team until the ball touches a player. Penalty: snap 15 yards. I consider it a very valid excuse when the officials do not know the rules.</div> New England should beat Denver Sunday but thier are no valid excuses just sour grapes as some of our members would say. Denver was the better team and they won. Dwelling in the past is pointless. Admitting Denver was the better team last year will earn you a lot of respect from a lot of members. Making excuses to why your team lost the game will give them a reason to "annoy" you.
So, a writer wrote the calls were bad. The PI, the complaint was ball was uncatchable, fair enough, asante could have avoided that call regardless by. . . NOT INTERFERING. Peter king got to watch replay oh . . .1000 times, and finally determined, that he lost control at 2 foot line. However, to make call on field he would have had to run 60 yards, so i am pretty sure he couldnt have done it. To overturn ref needs indisputable visual evidence, which also wasnt there. They made call the best they could. Best prevention for this would have been tom brady not throwing picks. 120+ plays in the game, only 12 penalties, only 8 against pats. Refs had little to do with outcome. Broncos beating down the patriots for a 2nd time did. You really wont admit that there can be a better team that beats patriots. Nice.
Players say the same thing all the time. I just heard Tiki Barber on Total Access last night say they outplayed Indy in week 1. All it means is we should've won had a few breaks gone our way. How a Broncos fan can look back at that game & say we deserved that win is beyond me.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bakes781)</div><div class='quotemain'>Players say the same thing all the time. I just heard Tiki Barber on Total Access last night say they outplayed Indy in week 1. All it means is we should've won had a few breaks gone our way. How a Broncos fan can look back at that game & say we deserved that win is beyond me.</div> Thats a fine mentality for one game. The issue arises when beaten multiple times by same team. then declaring you are clearly better.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bakes781)</div><div class='quotemain'>Players say the same thing all the time. I just heard Tiki Barber on Total Access last night say they outplayed Indy in week 1. All it means is we should've won had a few breaks gone our way. How a Broncos fan can look back at that game & say we deserved that win is beyond me.</div> I'm not sure how OR WHY a Broncos fan would look back at that game & say you deserve that win either. Can you guys look back at your playoff game with the Raiders and the Tuck fiasco and say that you deserved to win that game? Talk about getting robbed. If I were a Raiders fan, I'd still be sore about that one.
