Pats Fan Report

Mmmhmmm.

The loss of RG Chris Kuper really showed. The leader of that OLine had in Week 15 squared off witht he leader of the Pats DLine, and Wilfork tested the Broncos' depth at that position. Congrats!

Congrats to Rob Ninkovich, he tested their depth at RT.

Congrats to the Pats secondary; they covered what few weapons Tebow has.

The Broncos depth at Safety got tested. No Dawkins, Carter getting banged up multiple times.. it wasn't pretty for them especially without an effecive MLB. Congrats, Pats!

PFT's reported rumors about DE Dumervil and the possibility of an undisclosed knee-injury may not have been far off of the mark. Solder didn't have much to worry about.

Congrats to the Pats! They got away with losing the time of possession battle and the turnover battle. Speaking of which...

Why this team isn't the team of recent playoff-memory;

They lost the time of possession battle and the turnover battle and still won the game.

Their run-game looks stronger, forcing defenses to be honest.

They have better discipline.

All but Vollmer have come back healthy and ready at just the right time. First time the top-4 LBs have been healthy all season.

They have depth at the OLine.

Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez are far better in all facets of their game relative to last year, and weren't around for the 2009 season.

Most of all; they played a full 60 minutes. The Pats started the game for the first time since Week 3 at Buffalo and reminded everyone about that 1st quarter magic we talked about at the very beginning of the season.

Something for the Pats to look forward to next week;

No apparent injuries in this game.

An extra-day to rest while the Ravens and Texans duke it out tomorrow in what should be a physical slugfest.

Both the Ravens and Texans are flawed teams like the Broncos.

The stink of playoff-disappointment is gone.

What the Pats need to really worry about;

Next week, of course.

The New York Giants or the Green Bay Packers. Giants more than Packers.

Alright, well, skipping the nonsense, here goes.

Brady had probably the best game of the season, or at least one of the better ones. Some people say this was his best post-season game, but I didn't watch Brady's post-season games for half his career so I can't really say.

I will say this, though: the progression of the the team is obvious. Last year, it was if we hacked down the old, dead tree and planted a seed, which sprouted and turned into the TE-based, BJGE-running-it offense/BendButDon'tBreak D. This year, that offense has grown significantly - it might not be a 10-foot wide Redwood yet, but its certainly a sapling!

Now, the other thing I really noticed was that this is what the Jets came last year could have been. Everybody asks "is BB hiding stuff away for the playoffs," and I'd say tonight is a good example of how his style changes during the playoffs. He tries to attack with more complex, trick plays, such as putting Hernandez at RB. Last year, this was working perfectly for the first part of the first quarter, and then was brought to a sudden halt by Brady's int/Crumpler's drop. This year, instead of coming away with 2 great drives and 3 points, we came away with 2 great drives and 14 points. People will say this was utter domination and that that was a loss from the start, but I disagree - the latter half of the first quarter set the tone for both games, likely ultimately deciding their outcome as well.

Next, of all the things that worked well tonight, I'd say the D, and especially the D-line, did the best. I used to think "oh god, what sort of idiotic thing is the defense going to do now" every time the other team snapped the ball. Tonight, it was more like "is it going to be a -10 yard sack, a -5 yard run stop, or a well covered pass?" It seemed like every single play we were blowing up their pocket, even if we didn't get a sack.

And think of this - Tebow is a big, tough dude used to running and backed up by a great O-line. We dominated him. What if we were applied similar pressure to a more fragile QB, such as say Yates, Flacco, Manning, or Rodgers, many of whom probably won't have as many good players protecting them?

So yea. People like to hate on our D, but when everybody is healthy (keep in mind we were dominating even without Carter, the AFC's best pass-rusher) we are at very least middle of the pack. If we can pick up 1-2 good DBs, Ras-I comes back and the D-line plays like it did tonight, hell, I believe you've got a top-10 defense. Also, keep McCourty at safety. I don't know why, it doesn't make sense, but it seems to work.

Other notes:

Did I hear that John Kerry was there? I know Bon Jovi was.

Its so nice to see all those loyal fans finally enjoying a playoff game, like they should be. If any of you were there, I both thank and am jealous of you.

At the end, I couldn't help but think about how last time we won a post-season game, Moss would have been next to Brady. Now, its Gronk. Conclude what you want from that, but they're my new desktop background.

Someone should tell that Bronco player its not a good idea to shove a 250+ pound linemen when there are like 4 other 250+, fired-up linemen right there to back him up. Your already losing bad, nothing to gain from ending up on the bottom of a pile on the Pats sidelines.

Nicely done 49ers, that was a great game. Great final 2 minutes too.

And finally, hats off to all you Bronco fans. I hope Tebow has give you reason for optimism, and congratulate you on a great season. Though I've always been pretty much Tebow-neutral, I'd like to apologize on behalf of all the haters out there who thing its their job to make a mountain out of a molehill. Good luck going forward, to both you and the Pats! =D

Keep ignoring Tom Brady and the Patriots. That’s just fine with them.

Brady, playing like a sharpshooter out on a morning deer hunt, played with precision and a killer instinct all night as the Patriots moved to the doorstep of the Super Bowl with a 45-10 rout of Tim Tebow and the Broncos.

Brady, who took a backseat all week to Tebowmania, put his stamp on the night with six touchdown passes, five in the first half as the Pats made it a laugher by halftime.

The Patriots (14-3), winners of nine straight games, will move on to host either Baltimore or Houston next Sunday for a spot in the Super Bowl.

Saturday night’s romp snapped a three-game postseason losing streak, two of those at Gillette Stadium, and lifted the Patriots to the verge of their fifth Super Bowl appearance in 11 seasons. They’ve won it three times.

Brady’s night even included a punt, it coming with 2:56 remaining, 48 yards on a third down.

And so ended one of the season’s most exciting story lines — one that caught the nation’s attention and began when Denver was 1-4 and made Tebow a starter. The one-time third-stringer promptly won six in a row and seven of eight, with a string of stunning comebacks, and the Broncos ended up backing into the AFC West title.

Tebow was beat up and hit about as hard it at any point in his pro or college career. The Pats defense did their homework, and seemed to know the Broncos playbook all too well.

The second-year QB was just 9-for-26 for 136 yards with no touchdowns and no picks. Willis McGahee was about all the offense that Denver had, going for 76 yards on 17 carries with a TD that made it a 14-7 game early in the second quarter.

New England put the game away with two TD’s in the final two minutes of the first half. Already up 21-7, Brady threw a 61-yard score to Deion Branch, and then with just five ticks left in the half he hit TE Rob Gronkowski down the middle for a 19-yard TD to make it 35-7 at the break.

Gronkowski dominated the Broncos to the tune of three touchdowns on 10 catches for 145 yards. New England outgained the Broncos 509 yards to 252, even though the Broncos actually held the ball almost 7 minutes longer than the Pats.

Brady was 26 for 34 for 363 yards and Gronkowski made 10 catches for 145 yards as the Patriots gained 509 yards in all. In stark contrast, Tebow was 9 for 26 for 136 yards.

The Broncos won the coin toss and elected to defer. Bad idea: They never were in the game after that.

Brady hit his first eight passes for 79 yards and two touchdowns. Offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, who’s leaving to become Penn State’s coach once the Patriots are done, threw in a wrinkle by using TE Aaron Hernandez as a running back. On one of those plays, Hernandez broke free down the left sideline for a 43-yard gain, the team’s longest run this season.

But with the ball in his hands and a 14-0 lead, Brady momentarily stumbled. His throw over the middle for Julian Edelman sailed directly to safety Quinton Carter, whose weaving return set up Denver at the New England 24.

Carter left the game moments later with a neck injury; Denver was already without strong safety Brian Dawkins with a neck problem. And it’s secondary had no chance without them.

Brady was 26 for 34 for 363 yards with the six scores. The Pats defense, ranked 31st in the league, never looked like it. They hit hard all night, and never seemed to miss a tackle.

Now it’s sit back and scout time, as the Pats will watch Sunday’s other AFC Divisional game between the Texans and Ravens to see the next team that will come to New England.

Denver: WR Eric Decker, TE Julius Thomas, T Ryan Harris, DE Derrick Harvey, LB Mike Mohamed, S Brian Dawkins, LS Lonie Paxton

New England: QB Ryan Mallett, RB Shane Vereen, T Sebastian Vollmer, G Donald Thomas, DL Ron Brace, LB Gary Guyton, CB Nathan Jones

www.tommyoftheweek.com

WEEK EIGHTEEN – FIRST ROUND BYE

hey kids- every season, there’s one totw that arrives on the morning of the next week’s game – and this is it. let’s do this!

after all was said and done last weekend, the denver broncos emerged as the patriots’ first opponent, and it’s good news for two reasons: we quite recently beat the broncos handily – and while we were in a similar position with the jets last year and lost that first playoff game, i feel cautiously optimistic about our chances against a quarterback with way more hype than actual playoff experience. secondly, the steelers always try to kill our players, literally, and any time we can avoid that, it’s a good thing. tom brady agrees, and he was so happy, he was skipping with glee!

wes decided to grow his mustache again for the playoffs, and while i heart him, because i hate it! i hear gronkowski is also getting in on the action- so stay tuned. this could turn into the i heart aaron hernandez at any moment!

sometimes, a clear tommy-of-the-bye recipient emerges, but no one did, so i almost awarded it to our fearless quarterback by default. however, i realized while writing this that i’m really excited about tonight’s game. in spite of our 13-3 record, i’ve watched this team struggle all season and have often thought this just isn’t our year...but now, it really feels like anything could happen. so, i hearby award the tommy-of-the-bye to the 2011 new england patriots – for driving me crazy all season long but giving me hope in january (when it counts!).

i know you’ve been practicing your happy patriots thoughts all week – but let’s put in one final push before tonight. i shouldn’t have to remind you that a win equals more games, which equals more totws! have a great day, and go pats!

Broncos fans fired up; Patriot's fans not so much

Brady and Tebow. NFL's Most Hated Good Guys..

I have heard it from many talking heads on the TV that the Patriots are not good and will be one and done. I hear that there the same team from last season or even worse than that. I hear that there defense is terrible and couldn’t stop a thought.

I had to dismiss all this garbage from these so called "experts". The truth is not so easy and plays a different sport. Seriously though, I will list their complaints and reasons of our Patriots demise and I will explain why these experts are so off base.

"The Patriots have lost 3 playoff games in a row". This statement of course is accurate in fact and misleading in truth. Last year we had a team that was made up of 60% new players and a whole bunch of rookies just cutting their teeth in the NFL. They all will be that much smarter, but also that much tougher. I believe that the word is seasoned. Just looking at the TE position are Gronk & A bomb better than last year?

2010 out of the way, now 2009 was the year that Welker the white had his knee incident and we were shelled by Baltimore, with a huge pass rush and not much in the way of blocking for Brady. This year Waters(damn never thought he would have been available. he has held our line together all season, thanks Brian), Solder, Cannon all fortify the front “to keep calm and keep Brady on". Welker had a pretty good season. Not to mention that our offense is more diverse and don’t rely on Moss, Welker, Welker, Moss.

The game that shall not be named. Well, to me this is a dead subject. We all saw what happened, we all know why. I will say the deciding play was a week before against Pittsburgh. Vince took the Burger and threw him to the ground. He did not drive him into the ground nor fall on top of him. Yet there was that yellow flag for "ruffing the passer" . I have said enough on that.

"Their defense is terrible and isn't SB quality". This one I really have to laugh at. Have you watched any football for the past 5 years? Except for 3-4 teams a year most defenses are terrible and get lit up on any night. The rules that have been enforced have greatly helped the offense and really didn’t help the defense. How many people went over 5K yards this season 3, 4? Before this it was just Danny. I am not excusing there play and I am not too pleased with how they get gashed almost every play in the 1st quarter.

I have found one thing that makes me a happy camper about this defense. Adjustments for the better happen. Last game in the 2nd quarter, but in weeks past at half time. The defense looks at what the other team is doing and adjust correctly to stop it. I haven't seen these adjustments from our defense in a long, long time. 2004, I think. Not saying the Patriots will get the 2nd half average points through the playoffs that were gotten in the past 8 weeks. If you give this offense an extra possession you will at your own risk.

“If Tom Brady has a bad game this team is sunk”. OK I am going to agree on that one. This team is built around Tom and they go as Brady goes. I would like to point out that if ANY QB has a bad game in the playoffs there team will have great difficulty winning. Green Bay, New Orleans are considered favorites at this late in the season and either could go home this weekend if Rogers or Breeze has a bad game. Rogers has to face that crazy D-line of NYG and could be in for a rude awakening. Breeze has to work through the tight coverage from San Fran and he could be seeing a pick 6 in his game. As for our the other AFC game, both QB are marginal. I always expected more out of Flacco and I would be most concerned with him against the Pats defense. Either one is not the quality of Brady, Rogers and Breeze. TJ Yates is to me an unknown. He really couldn’t take advantage against a porous Cinncy defense that was missing 3 starting DB.

What do I expect? I expect that Tom will be vintage Tom and the Patriots will end up with a similar score to the last game. I know everyone is talking about how the Denver turned the ball over 3 times in the 2nd quarter and basically gave the game away. What I would like to point out that the 1st 3 drives for Denver they scored. They were playing at home with a 7 game win streak on the line. To say they were amped would probably understate it. I expect BB to play cover 3 to eliminate(or just limit) the deep pass. I expect Tim Tebow to throw the ball 30 times and complete less than half. Patriots 38-24.

2 More wins to the Super Bowl. 3 more destiny awaits for Tom, Bill and Myra. The last one there is the most important. That is what is different than all the other playoff games and teams in the near past. Our team will go out this weekend and play for her memory and the man that brought us football this season Mr. Kraft. They will play with energy and effort. On Sunday they’ll be waiting for the next “winner”.

Poll

Final score. Who you got?

• 21-17 it was a close one but in the end the cream rises to the top
• 38-24 it was never really close a couple garbage TD's in the end made it look much closer
• 45-17. Tebow, Satan, Satan, Tebow. The introduction when TT realizes that the big guy is a Pats fan
• 24-21 Tebow Magic and the Broncos scratch out a win
• 63-7 little ditkas win over the whole of China. 1 billion people couldnt stop the ditkas

  95 votes | Results

My apologies to Carl Anderson and Tim Rice. It's the playoffs. Get in the spirit. Sing and dance along. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvVr2uks0C8

Every time I look at you

I don't understand

Why'd LeBeau let the things you do

Get so out of hand

He couldn't have coached worse

If Fox had done the game plan

Now why'd you choose such a forward time

In horsehead land?

If you'd played in the 40s

You couldn't have reached the whole nation

Denver in 41 had no mass communication

Don't you get me wrong

Don't you get me wrong

Don't you get me wrong, now

Don't you get me wrong

Don't you get me wrong

Don't you get me wrong

Only want to know

Only want to know

Only want to know, now

Only want to know

Only want to know

Only want to know

Only want to know, now

Only want to know

Tebus Tim

Tebus Tim

Who are you? When will you sing a hymn?

Tebus Tim

Tebus Tim

Who are you? Did you dominate in gym?

Tebus Tim

Superstar

Do you think you're the next pigskin czar?

Tebus Tim

Superstar

They argue about you in Myanmar

Tell me what you think

About your friends at the top

Now who d'you think besides yourself

Was the pick of the crop?

Brady was he where it's at?

Is he where you are?

Could Rodgers move a mountain

Or was that just PR?

Did you mean to win like that?

Was that a mistake or

Did you know your overtime pass

Would be a record breaker?

Don't you get me wrong Don't you get me wrong

Don't you get me wrong, now Don't you get me wrong

Don't you get me wrong Don't you get me wrong

Don't you get me wrong, now Don't you get me wrong

Only want to know Only want to know

Only want to know, now Only want to know

Only want to know Only want to know

Only want to know, now I only want to know

Tebus Tim

Tebus Tim

Run like that and you're gonna lose a limb

Tebus Tim

Tebus Tim

Are you ever going to get some trim?

Tebus Tim

Superstar

Have you ever seen the inside of a bar?

Tebus Tim

Superstar

Is all the hype just a tad bizarre?

Denver

Did not participate: S Brian Dawkins (neck), WR Eric Decker (knee), LS Lonie Paxton (not injury related)

Limited participation: S David Bruton (Achilles), TE Daniel Fells (ankle), DE Elvis Dumervil (ankle)

Full participation: LB Von Miller (thumb)

New England

Limited participation: CB Kyle Arrington (foot), C Dan Connolly (groin), LB Dane Fletcher (thumb), S James Ihedigbo (shoulder), G Logan Mankins (knee), LB Rob Ninkovich (hip), WR Matthew Slater (shoulder), LB Brandon Spikes (knee), T Sebastian Vollmer (back, foot), WR Wes Welker (knee), LB Tracy White (abdomen)