to be honest, I was getting mad too, and it was really frustrating, especially after getting the sack on the last drive to make it 3rd and 19 and then the penalty comes in. But as soon as Gronk went down I just didnt give a shit to be honest. It was the one game I thought we’d lose, but losing it like that, being up, coming back to get the game tying FG when pressure was on, it doesnt bother me too much. I’d prefer pressure be off on the perfect season tripe and let players get rests in games from here on out. If we had to go back there in the playoffs, with a healthy team, it wouldnt be the end of the world. I still think the Broncos could drop another game or 2 themselves anyway, so its just the first seed and injured players that is important.
I was gonna make that point myself… With healthy WRs, Brady will do damage there, he had them all over the place but ran out of targets for a finish… And I agree, I think they (Broncos) will lose one or two on the road.
New England will still be the top seed in the AFC. The Bungles are only a game back, but I still don’t trust Dalton when the pressure comes on. Denver are obviously the main threat but, to win out, they’ll have to go through Foxboro. Injuries will be the Pats main threat.
The AFC wildcard race is interesting. Houston took the division lead in the South last night which leaves Indy fighting for their lives as only the winner will come out of that division. Alex Smith, having lost all his fit running backs is starting to get it done through the air and KC have some serious talent in the receiving corps. They’ll be a wildcard.
NYJ have a reasonably favourable run-in as four of their remaining five games are against teams with losing records. It could all come down to the game in Buffalo in Week 17, if the Bills haven’t been eliminated by then. Pittsburgh are the other main contender, but that Defense will ultimately cost them, I feel.
Kansas will make the play offs and will win a wild card game in my opinion. They are bang in form and building momentum.
The NFC is a bag of shit this year.
You chaps are hilarious.
Seething about a gridiron loss.
Gimps.
Kubiak’s offense is designed to wear down the opposition over the last quarter.
I’d agree on the Broncos possible losing another game given the injuries that were picked up last night. Ward is a huge loss and it really told with the miss matches down the line with linebackers getting found out. Some of the hits that himself hand Emmanuel Sanders have taken over the last two seasons have been obscene.
No point in complaining about the officiating either as you rightly say, it tends to balance itself out over time.
Happy with the win and the way that it was ground out.
Fuck up… you’re the only gimpy cunt here with your wonky hip.
Agreed. I’d have taken them to win that division at the start of the year but they’re hitting form at the right time.
As for the NFC, Seattle are stating to look ominous and I’d fancy them over the Panthers if the chips are down. Panthers D is awesome, of course, but Newton doesn’t entirely convince me that he’s not just Andy Dalton with legs. Arizona are the joker in the pack. They get little credit but are a very well-rounded team who are capable of beating anyone on their day.
Yeah Smith is getting shit done, it’s unreal how they are maintaining it considering the injuries that they’ve picked up. .
Steelers and Texans will push for the Wild Card as well though.
Thomas was fairly fucking shit for Denver too. That would worry me. Logan Ryan is not a good CB, but he had some game last night. Thomas’ effort was pretty fucking poor a lot of the time, no work rate in him. Clear that Os trusts him and wants to use him, but if he keeps being so stationary when he makes his cuts and his out runs then it wont be long before he sees less targets.
Be interesting to see if Anderson/Hillman can have the same success consistently. They had one or 2 good games this season, but follow it up with a lot of crap ones. If they can maintain form this time of year it bodes well. Pats run game on the other hand is fucking awful. Blount just bursting up the middle and falling down after 2 yards.
NFC North will have two teams in the play offs, just a matter of determining who tops the conference. The Vikings D is excellent but Bridgewater hasn’t really kicked on and his lack of arm strength will hold them back in the play offs. The Cardinals have the West sown up and the Panthers the South. I think the Panthers will be a tough proposition in the play offs, they have been there the last couple of years and are a far better side this year. Seahawks should have enough to take the 6th seed would set up a peach of a game against the NFC North winners
Yeah there was a couple of times a long play was missed by Thomas due to him not running back to the ball. I think he might have Peyton-itis when it comes to playing in the cold.
I think you’re being harsh on Logan though, he was the best Patriots player on D last night. He reminds me of Chris Harris Jr. Last night will have been a serious boost for him.
Extremely one-dimensional game from the Pats in rushing. They seemed happy to just go down the same mismatch every time. The heavy reliance on the Gronk was always going to place him in danger of an injury as well.
This weeks game in Minnesota could be dress rehearsal.
I’d also fancy the Jets and Steelers to clinch the AFC wild cards with the Chiefs missing out.
yeah Logan had a solid game, no doubting that, but many other teams have exposed him badly. Maybe he will come on a bit after that game and getting solid consistent reps.
Run game was awful. But the O line is shockingly poor too and cant pass protect or create run gaps.
Disagree about heavy reliance on Gronk. He was thrown to less than 25% of the time, and same for receptions. Considering that the top 2 WR targets were already out injured, it wasnt surprising that he got a decent amount of ball his way, even if it wasnt anything too over the top. The injury was just one of those things that happens.
Having the Eagles at home next week is a Godsend for them.
PrayforGronk.
As I said above, I think it was just a really bad bang to the knee rather than a bad injury…severe bruising I suspect.
Collins and Amendola should be back next week… inshallah.
They have a handy run in as long as they hold off the Texans pass rush and the Jets banana skin they’ll be hard to knock off top spot.
Some of the potential wild cards will eb very tough match ups like Kansas and Pittsburgh.
“Broncos rushing stats before Hightower injury: 15 carries, 43 yards.
Broncos after Hightower injury: 17 carries, 136 yards, 3 TD.”
Maybe he shouldn’t have got injured so. That’s where the Pats probably lost the game.
Well, there and on the scoreboard.