Predicting Patriots vs Broncos Week 9 - PatriotsLife roundtable
It's pretty obvious that when you poll a couple Patriots bloggers, they are probably going to pick their team to win. So, instead we look at where we do differ- the final score.
Here's a roundup of some of our writers predictions for the team's upcoming game - Denver vs New England.
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Broncos by 11
I think the Broncos may end up going down as one of the greatest football teams of all time. They really do have everything. Though their offense is not humming along at last year's clip, they haven't needed to as much because of the also solid play on the other side of the ball. The Demarcus Ware/Von Miller pass rush tandem is going to be near impossible for a Nate Solder and Sebastian Vollmer to handle consistently. That pressure will be enough to not allow Brady to hang with Manning in this one.
The Pats secondary is much improved, but injuries up on the defensive line will let Manning sit worry free in the pocket. If the Pats pull this one out, they could be considered a realistic Super Bowl contender, as this is just the type of game they were built in the offseason for. However, up until this point the Pats are simply just one of the better teams in the AFC, with an outside shot of getting to the big game. This is a big prove it game for them.
With their injuries though and a healthy Broncos team, I'm just not sure they can pull it off unless weather becomes a serious factor.
35-24
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Paul Murphy (@_prmurphy)
Patriots by 3
The tables will be turned. This time, it is New England that takes an early lead.
Following a short second quarter punt, Patriots March 46 yards to take a 14-3 lead on a 6 yard pass from Tom Brady to Shane Vereen. Denver field before the half makes the score, 14-6.
Each team tallies a 3rd quarter TD. Peyton is starting to heat up. New England field goal by K Stephen Gotkowski makes it 24-13.
A Peyton Manning TD with two point conversion cuts it to 24-21. Denver recovers insides kick, but 49 yard attempt by Brandon McManus sails to the left as time expires
New England 24 Denver 21
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Patriots by 6
This is going to be another tight one, but I don't see the Patriots needing a comeback in this one. With all the new weapons stepping up on offense, I think this game will be easier to navigate than last year's game against Manning and the Broncos. Granted, it's never easy against Peyton Manning-led teams, but all the reliable weapons around Tom Brady not named Julian Edelman and ROb Gronkowski will make a comeback unnecessary in this game. I still think the game will be decided late, with the Patriots scoring a late touchdown to beat Peyton Manning.
On defense, I see the Patriots slowing down Peyton just enough to allow the offense to start clicking, and I think the cold weather (which generally spells trouble for Peyton) will favor the Patriots. You can't stop Peyton completely, but the improved Patriots pass defense (ranked 2nd in the league) can do enough against Peyton and all his weapons to give the offense some breathing room.
I think it comes down to a late Brady touchdown throw to Gronk, who drags TJ Ward (the guy who knocked him out last year) into the endzone in the last minute of the game.
Patriots 27-21 Broncos
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Patriots by 4
The biggest game of the regular season is upon us and who knows how many more Brady/Manning match-ups there are left (though we have been saying that for over four years now). Despite the weather warnings I still anticipate a high scoring affair through the air. With a talented secondary on both sides look for tight ends and running backs to get a lot of receptions.
The question is turnovers. Which offense will make the most mistakes? It is difficult to choose Brady over Manning in this regard but after looking at Brady's numbers over the past month he is playing like a man on fire and he hasn't been turning the ball over. With Brady playing at home I think he gets the edge. Look for the Patriots defense to give up a lot of yards to Hillman, and for Gronk and Wright to light up the field.
Broncos 31 Patriots 35
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Broncos by 10
I know the Patriots are at home and the weather could be a factor, but I just have a bad feeling about this game. I'm usually wrong when I feel that way so I hope that's the case this time.
But anyway, if things play out like I see them playing out, I think Peyton Manning will be able to expose the middle of the field and try to incorporate more of Emmanuel Sanders and Wes Welker into the game plan, as the Thomas boys should be shadowed by Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner/Jamie Collins. The Broncos offensive line is solid, and without Chandler Jones and the uncertainty of what they'll get from newly acquired Alan Branch and Jonathan Casillas, the pass rush could be minimal.
I think the Patriots will put up points and it will be close throughout most of the game, but I see Denver pulling away late.
Broncos 31, Patriots 21
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Patriots by 10
I'm feeling bold this week. Something tells me the Patriots are going to take it to Denver this week and take over the top spot in the AFC, capping an incredible surge over the past month.
It's going to be windy and cold, and those aren't exactly Peyton Manning's favorite conditions to play in...while Tom Brady and the Patriots tend to flourish in poor conditions, especially at home.
Everyone is talking about how this game is going to be a battle and it's going to be very close, and it very well could be. But I don't think it's going to end up that way. There's no specific reason why I think that, there's just something that tells me the Patriots are going to seize control of this game, and keep control the entire time.
In fact, I think the only reason Denver gets it to within 10 is because they score a late touchdown.
I think Gronk will have another big game, scoring 2 TD's. Jonas Gray will add another on the ground, and Brian Tyms will score an early touchdown on a deep ball to get the crowd and team fired up.
On the defensive side of the ball, I think the Patriots defense will step up against this high powered offense. Revis will take away Demarius Thomas and Browner will limit Julius Thomas. They may even give Denver the run in what will be a classic "bend but don't break" game.
Final Score
Patriots 31-Denver 21
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Patriots by 3
The potential is there for the Patriots to match up well with the Broncos very well at every position come playoff time. There would be no qualms about picking the New England secondary over Denver, as well as the tight-end position. While receivers and running backs look to be at a disadvantage on paper, the Patriots performance last week against the Bears certainly suggests that they could hold their own. Come January, if the matchup arises, it could be a coin flip, and it most likely will be this week. Unfortunately however, the Patriots banged-up pass-rush could struggle against Peyton Manning, who not only is getting fantastic protection, but is playing perhaps the best football of his career in this current stretch.
I have always got the sense that Brady looks forward to these games more than Peyton does however, and I believe this has impacted the heavy tilt in Brady’s favour on the head-to-head matchups. Both defenses have been stellar this year, both offenses are coming into their own heading into the divisional races. This game could be won sheerly by which quarterback has the better game. Both offensive lines are putting in top-notch performances recently and we could see a shootout. But in Foxborough, with potentially cold weather and the aforementioned determination that takes hold of number 12 during these matchups, give me Brady all day.
Broncos 27 - 30 Patriots
