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Post by patriotsk1d on Jan 11, 2014 18:52:40 GMT -5
Patriots inactives:
G Chris Barker DE Jake Bequette LB Steve Beauharnais WR Aaron Dobson CB Justin Green DT Isaac Sopoaga TE DJ Williams
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Post by patriotsk1d on Jan 11, 2014 18:55:08 GMT -5
A season high 6 healthy players inactive. Of course this doesnt include players on IR.
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Post by patriotsk1d on Jan 11, 2014 23:31:39 GMT -5
And that is what I meant when I said we would see a ground and pound type game.
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Post by Morkim on Jan 11, 2014 23:43:09 GMT -5
Most Career Pass TD - NFL Postseason History: Joe Montana 45 Brett Favre 44 Tom Brady 42 Peyton Manning 32 Dan Marino 32 So in theory Tom Brady could pass Joe Montana today. He broke Montana's record of 17 playoff wins last year, and will have a chance to break his TD record this year. Didn't quite make it.
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Post by patriotsk1d on Jan 12, 2014 0:21:14 GMT -5
Most Career Pass TD - NFL Postseason History: Joe Montana 45 Brett Favre 44 Tom Brady 42 Peyton Manning 32 Dan Marino 32 So in theory Tom Brady could pass Joe Montana today. He broke Montana's record of 17 playoff wins last year, and will have a chance to break his TD record this year. Didn't quite make it. Only 4 TD's short. Maybe next week. This is pretty much how we have attempted to play all season. Ridley's week 1 fumble, and Shane Vereen's week 1 injury set us back, but it has pretty much been the attack since week 13. I know the offense isnt as pretty as it was over the last 6 years, but it certainly is built for more playoff success. If we play in Denver or Foxboro next week it will likely be very cold and rain/snow/wind. The passing game typically struggles in those sorta games, and it hurts when you dont have a power running game. Anyways 12-4 and an Afc championship appearance, at this point we have accomplished as much as last years team, and a chance to do even more.
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Post by patriotsk1d on Jan 12, 2014 0:23:11 GMT -5
This is the 3rd consecutive divisional round playoff game that we have scored over 40 points.
Bill Belichick tied Don Shula with 19 playoff wins.
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Post by Morkim on Jan 12, 2014 1:03:25 GMT -5
NFL Network says:
Brady is 4-0 in Playoff games he doesn't throw a TD pass.
How entertaining is that?
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Post by awesomeace on Jan 12, 2014 1:39:25 GMT -5
NFL Network says: Brady is 4-0 in Playoff games he doesn't throw a TD pass. How entertaining is that? Tom Brady is so good that he doesn't need to throw a TD to win games
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Post by patriotsk1d on Jan 12, 2014 4:16:17 GMT -5
2 injuries to watch for. Kenbrell Thompkins took a arm to the head in the second quarter, I am not 100 percent sure but I do not remember him returning. Punter Ryan Allen injured his shoulder either on the free kick or on the safety, he has been very good this season and would be a fairly big loss if he is unable to play next week. Gostkowski can actually punt the ball pretty high and far, but he doesnt exactly have the skills to avoid a touchback.
This was a breakout game for LB Jamie Collins. He was incredible in coverage and offered great run support. I think Brandon Spikes days as a Patriot are over, and that next years LB core will feature Collins and Hightower as the OLB's and Mayo as the MLB. Although this team is rarely in a base 4-3.
Aqib Talib and Alfonzo Dennard both played a great game, Talib got beat once in man coverage although a safety was suppose to be over the top, so you cant really blame him. I do not recall Dennard getting beat at all in man coverage.
Kyle Arrington was replaced in the second half by rookie CB Logan Ryan. Ryan has had an outstanding season and has ended up starting multiple games due to injuries to Talib, Dennard, and Arrington. I do not believe Arrington was injured, I think he was replaced because of a few miscues in coverage. Arrington was signed to a 4 year deal last offseason, but I think he may be released this offseason. He is one of the best slot corners in the league, but he is also one of the worst outside corners in the league. We would save around 4 million in cap room by releasing him.
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Post by patriotsk1d on Jan 12, 2014 21:15:25 GMT -5
So the AFC Championship will be a rematch of the November 24th matchup of Broncos vs Patriots.
Here was the snap count from the first matchup on the defensive side:
S Duron Harmon – 90 of 90 DE Chandler Jones – 90 of 90 DT Chris Jones – 90 of 90 S Devin McCourty – 90 of 90 DE Rob Ninkovich – 90 of 90 CB Kyle Arrington – 85 of 90 CB Aqib Talib – 80 of 90 DT Joe Vellano – 70 of 90 CB Logan Ryan – 69 of 90 LB Brandon Spikes – 68 of 90 LB Dane Fletcher – 57 of 90 LB Dont’a Hightower – 33 of 90 LB Jamie Collins – 22 of 90 CB Alfonzo Dennard – 21 of 90 DT Isaac Sopoaga – 14 of 90 CB Justin Green – 8 of 90 CB Marquice Cole – 7 of 90 DE Andre Carter – 6 of 90
I think the defense will be better off than it was in that first matchup. Brandon Spikes wont be here, but we what we will have is Jamie Collins who is playing much better than he was at that point in the year, Alfonzo Dennard who was playing on a serious knee injury and did not finish the game, and starting safety Steve Gregory who sat out with a broken thumb. We also have NT Sealver Siliga who was just signed the week before this game. He is still isnt known by most, but he has been dominate the past 5 games, and has been key to our run defense which has significantly improved.
The offensive style has changed significantly since the matchup. The week after that game we began more of a ground and pound approach, using a FB instead of a 3rd receiver. I have a tough time seeing Denver being able to stop this running game, assuming we dont turn the ball over 3 times in the first quarter...
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