2064 replies to this topic

[TheoShmeo]

So I expect the Pats to win comfortably (between 10-20 points) but I have 4 nagging concerns:

1. Willis McGahee was running all over the Pats early in that first game until he got hurt. The Pats didn't start to dominate until McGahee went out. McGahee is back and there's no reason to think he'll miss part of this game.

2. As we all know, turnovers were a huge part of the turnaround, as well. The Pats are good at creating them but, as we saw in last year's playoff game, they're not something that can be counted on in every game.

3. Everyone but everyone expects the Pats to win, and most people expect them to win big. That could make the Pats play tight. Maybe.

4. My wife's instincts are negative. Those instincts -- other than with respect to her decision to marry me -- have been shockingly on the money over the years. She's one of the few people I know who KNEW the Sox were going to win when down 0-3 to the MFYs and KNEW the Pats were not going to beat the MFJs.

[Al Zarilla]

So I expect the Pats to win comfortably (between 10-20 points) but I have 4 nagging concerns:

1. Willis McGahee was running all over the Pats early in that first game until he got hurt. The Pats didn't start to dominate until McGahee went out. McGahee is back and there's no reason to think he'll miss part of this game.

2. As we all know, turnovers were a huge part of the turnaround, as well. The Pats are good at creating them but, as we saw in last year's playoff game, they're not something that can be counted on in every game.

3. Everyone but everyone expects the Pats to win, and most people expect them to win big. That could make the Pats play tight. Maybe.

4. My wife's instincts are negative. Those instincts -- other than with respect to her decision to marry me -- have been shockingly on the money over the years. She's one of the few people I know who KNEW the Sox were going to win when down 0-3 to the MFYs and KNEW the Pats were not going to beat the MFJs.

MFJs? Concern negated for wrongful acronym (all I could think of was MFJews).

[jacklamabe65]

Derek and Clive mojo:

[Hendu for Kutch]

First, wouldn't this thread be more aptly named "End of (Tebow's) Days"?

Second, I've been hearing the narrative over and over again about how the Broncos were beating the Patriots up 16-7 until they started fumbling and McGahee got hurt. When I watched the NFL replay, I realized that was complete bullshit. It was 16-14 when the first fumble occurred, and it was already 27-16 Patriots when McGahee got hurt. The lesson...narratives suck. The other lesson...Patriots win.

[Corsi]

Edited by Corsi, 13 January 2012 - 10:43 AM.

[TheoShmeo]

http://espn.go.com/b...diction-roundup

I don't think I've ever seen so much unanimity around a playoff game. Even Keyshawn is picking the Pats.

Eric Allen is the lone dissenter. And there's no world where the only guy who knows what's going in is Eric Freaking Allen.

[Mystic Merlin]

Jason LaCanfora picked Denver, too. He's the only other dissenter, from what I can see.

[Seabass177]

I was at that game in '03 and holy shit was it frigid.

Likewise. Nothing like not being able to finish your beer because the neck froze shut.

[mascho]

It is going to be a very long 32 hours. My word.

[RedOctober3829]

Starting a 4-day weekend today baby. I can't wait for this game to start. I can't wait to go to the gym and just see Tebow all over the TVs there. It will work me into a lather that won't stop until 11:30 tomorrow night.

[Joe D Reid]

Prop bet of the week: McCourty intercepts a pass. Safety with CB hands + QB who launches deep balls all the time = Pick

[bluefenderstrat]

They are this season's Seattle Seahawks, but they have a Promisekeeper at QB. BFD.

[Soxaholic]

Prop bet of the week: McCourty intercepts a pass. Safety with CB hands + QB who launches deep balls all the time = Pick

Prop bet within that prop bet: DMC Tebows to celebrate the pick. After all, he did this in the 45-3 Jets game.

Edited by Soxaholic, 13 January 2012 - 12:27 PM.

[Mystic Merlin]

This is an interesting account of Mangini's departure, per Heath Evans - if you believe him, BB was angry because Mangini pulled a Parcells, not because he went to the Jets.

"Let me backtrack back to '05," Evans said. "In '05 Belichick gives Mangini permission to go interview with the Jets. He comes back -- basically, we all knew he was getting that job -- and spends the week recruiting front office staff and players to go with him. Not really doing his job. We go to Denver, lay an egg [in] Round 2 of the playoffs."

Added Evans: "The bottom line is people always think that Belichick was mad at Mangini because he went to the Jets or he went somewhere in the division. No, it's because ultimately, he screwed our team over when he came back. A man's supposed to be only as good as his word. So, I'll just leave it at that. He gave Bill his word to come back, we'll coach, we'll be focused on the Patriots to finish out this '05 season.

I put it here because it's not really worth a thread, IMO.

Edited by Mystic Merlin, 13 January 2012 - 12:55 PM.

[Corsi]

I was at that game in '03 and holy shit was it frigid.

Coldest I've ever been in my life. I was up in the 300 level. Dude in front of me got a beer spilled on him and it froze on contact.

[jsinger121]

MikeReiss Mike Reiss




Broncos rule out snapper Lonie Paxton (personal) and WR Eric Decker (knee) vs. Patriots. S Brian Dawkins is doubtful.

[tims4wins]

I was there too and I was... not that cold. We arrived at the parking lots around 4pm (8pm kickoff). But we brought tents, generators, and portable heaters. Despite it being under 10 degrees outside, we had it cranked up above 50 degrees in the tent. I remember just wearing some long underwear and a sweatshirt during pregame, and a baseball hat too. Added several layers before the game, and a winter hat, and stayed fairly warm throughout the game - all thanks to the fact that I wasn't standing outside for the 4 hours before kickoff.

[Mystic Merlin]

What the hell is going on with Paxton? Death/illness?

[Shelterdog]

What the hell is going on with Paxton? Death/illness?

He's fine but it's some kind of family health emergency. Reporters are being discrete.

T&P to our favorite snow angel making long snapper and here's to hoping his replacement fucks up big time.

[Bucknahs Bum Ankle]

Is it Saturday night yet??? Jesus H. Chrrrrrrrrrist on a cracker, this feels like the slowest week ever.

[BigSoxFan]

Is it Saturday night yet??? Jesus H. Chrrrrrrrrrist on a cracker, this feels like the slowest week ever.

Calm down. The Russian dude's charades party will get here soon enough!

[SoxScout]

MikeReiss: Patriots add safety Patrick Chung to injury report. He was removed yesterday but is now questionable (knee). Had previous foot injury.
https://twitter.com/#!/MikeReiss

[Mystic Merlin]

What the hell? Did he hurt it during the walkthrough?

Jesus Christ.

[Ed Hillel]

What an asshole.

[j44thor]

For someone who looks like he was carved out of granite he seems to be a lot closer to made out of glass, not the good skyrim type either.

[Stitch01]

Not good to lose him this late in the week.

[Manzivino]

Limited Participation
CB Kyle Arrington (foot) Questionable, OL Marcus Cannon (ankle) Questionable, C Dan Connolly (groin) Questionable, LB Dane Fletcher (thumb) Questionable, S James Ihedigbo (shoulder) Questionable, S Patrick Chung (knee) Questionable, G Logan Mankins (knee) Questionable, LB Rob Ninkovich (hip) Questionable, WR Matthew Slater (shoulder) Questionable, LB Brandon Spikes (knee) Questionable, T Sebastian Vollmer (back/foot) Questionable, WR Wes Welker (knee) Questionable, LB Tracy White (abdomen) Questionable

Full injury report. I've seen it reported separately that the bolded are the only 3 who are truly questionable to play.

[Shelterdog]

Lets wait until gametime or a real news report before we decide Chung is actually hurt. Haven't you guys learned these injury reports are not useful?

EDIT: I wouldn't be surprised if it was a career ending ACL injury and I wouldn't be surprised if he's 100% and BB is just fucking with Denver. We just don't have anyting reliable to go on at this point.

Edited by Shelterdog, 13 January 2012 - 04:03 PM.

[DaughtersofDougMirabelli]

Per Rotoworld

Patriots SS Pat Chung was added to the Divisional round injury report, and is listed as questionable with a knee injury.

Chung was "limited" in Friday's practice, necessitating the addition. He practiced fully on Thursday. There are no indications that Chung suffered a setback. He should be all systems go for this weekend's game against Denver.

[CaptainLaddie]

CAN THIS FUCKING GAME JUST GET HERE

[Al Zarilla]

Someone show Chung an article about Jack Youngblood playing a half game on a broken leg. I know there are broken legs and there are broken legs. I'm sure he wants to play though.

[Jnai]

What the fuck is Wes Welker doing on my injury report listed as Questionable?

[RedOctober3829]

[RedOctober3829]

Let's fucking go. "It's football baby, just make a play."

Edited by RedOctober3829, 13 January 2012 - 05:23 PM.

[tims4wins]

For those feeling nostalgic:

http://www.hulu.com/...ans-at-patriots

[MentalDisabldLst]

Broncos rule out snapper Lonnie Paxton (personal) and WR Eric Decker (knee) vs. Patriots. S Brian Dawkins is doubtful.

Lonnie Paxton ain't gonna take the field against his Pats in no playoff game.

Hell, Vinatieri may be the only noteworthy Patriot to play the Pats in a playoff game as an ex-Pat. And of course the bastard was money (3/3).

[CheapSeats]

This is an interesting account of Mangini's departure, per Heath Evans - if you believe him, BB was angry because Mangini pulled a Parcells, not because he went to the Jets.

This is basically the account that was in War Room. They didn't mind Mangini moving on (it's the nature of the beast, right?) as much as they minded him trying to covertly take chunks of the team with him.







Edit: Fixed crappy html.

Edited by CheapSeats, 13 January 2012 - 09:13 PM.

[Brickowski]

If the weather tomorrow night is anything like it is tonight-- frigid temperatures and howling winds-- the team with the best running game and short passing game is going to win.

[Turrable]

http://www.theonion....it-again,27037/

[SoxScout]

If the weather tomorrow night is anything like it is tonight-- frigid temperatures and howling winds-- the team with the best running game and short passing game is going to win.

It's not going to be howling winds tomorrow.

[Ferm Sheller]

It's not going to be howling winds tomorrow.

Temps are going to be near or in the single digits with wind chill around zero. It's been noted that Brady has considerable experience throwing in such frigid conditions, whereas Tebow hasn't. Adding to that (perceived) advantage, I also think it's harder to breathe (and catch your breath) when the temperature is so low. If Tebow runs a lot, and conventional wisdom and past experience suggests that he will, I have to think that he will be sucking wind much more than normal.

Edited by Ferm Sheller, 13 January 2012 - 11:14 PM.

[jacklamabe65]

Tom Brady has proven to be a very good to excellent cold weathe quarterback.

[PseuFighter]

gameday.

[RedOctober3829]

Can't sleep......been waiting for this day for a year.

[CaptainLaddie]

This IS funny. Wrong, but funny.

Edited by CaptainLaddie, 14 January 2012 - 04:24 AM.

[Sille Skrub]

Win today.

[Ferm Sheller]

Happy Tebow Elimination Day.

[PayrodsFirstClutchHit]

Denver had their signature win last week. Put that as the finale on the Tim Tebow DVD of the Broncos 2011 season and call it a wrap.

Time for the Pats to produce some playoff highlight moments for the Return to Glory DVD of their season.

Win this mofo.

[bigsid05]

I may cry if the Pats lose another playoff game and this season ends to Tim Tebow.

Win.

[Marbleheader]

Win or I might kill someone.

It better be damn loud there tonight.