Went 9-1 ATS on Pats games L2 seasons and something like 14-3 with totals and stuff. Don't know, somehow got a pretty good read on them, so I don't care if they are heavily backed by the "public" this week.
-The two reasons I've been reading by cappers to take the Broncos is their defense and their running game. Their running game is bottom-half in the league so I don't know why people are praising their run-game. In week 12 vs. Pats, the Broncos had 15 carries for 43 yards (2.9ypc) until Hightower went down. Their offense is just not good and 15 carries even though they couldn't run tells you something about Kubiak's bullishness. The Pats front seven is a very good unit and the loss of Mayo doesn't hurt. Jamie Collins will be questionable but I still believe BB is just silent about injuries. They will contain the run game like they did in week 12. Broncos should praise that Hightower gets injured. They will get to Peyton Manning with their 2nd best sack group in the league including Ninkovich, Sheard, Jones. Branch and Brown did a great job on the inside. Yeah, the Pats had the 2nd best sack rate during the season right after Denver.
-The Broncos defense is a great one, no doubt. But it doesn't matter. Ive talked enough about how last year's road game at KC changed the whole thinking for the Pats offense. They created a style of offense and a playbook that negates every pass rush and elite coverage in the world. Quick release at 2.05 seconds with Edelman on the field. Patriots played some really good top-5 defenses L2 seasons, Broncos (2014+15), Bills (2014), Jets (2015), Lions (2014), Texans (2015), KC(2015). Their fewest points scored when Brady was playing was 24 at Denver without Edelman, Amendola and Gronk playing only 60% of the game. It doesn't matter how good your defense is, TB and Josh McDaniels always find a way to exploit it. They will attack them underneath, exploit Roby and the banged up Harris. They will search for the Gronk matchup vs. safeties and linebackers which worked well in the first game.
-People say the Pats can't run on the Broncos D. Yes. But they won't run. They will spread it out like they did last time. Since 2001, the Pats are 6-1 when they passed on more than 80% of their dropbacks. The rest of the NFL is 6-137. That's no joke. BB knows that running doesn't put you points on the board and if he can't run, he just doesn't. He ran like 3 plays vs. the Jets in the first game. He ran 2 times vs. Ravens in last year's playoffs.
-Read this: https://thepowerrank.com/2014/01/10/which-nfl-teams-make-and-win-in-the-playoffs/
-Peyton Manning is playing the worst season since his rookie adventure. 6.1 NYPPA, 9 TD, 17 INT. At home he has a 1-8 TD/INT ratio in 4 games. This is a bottom-8 offense. The only time in Super Bowl history such a weak offense has played in the SB were the Ravens with Trent Dilfer. Peyton chokes in the playoffs, he will be nervous from start to finish. He will be afraid to throw since his arm is declining since late in the 2014 season. Behind this OL he has no confidence. He is a bottom-8 QB this season playing against the best coached team in the league, come on!!!
-Bill Belichick is a genius in exposing the weaknesses of his opponents. The weakness is the OL and the arm of Peyton Manning. He will stack the box and play tight press coverage on Peyton's receivers to force him throwing deep. That's the exact same style the Chiefs played against Denver this season and Peyton got exposed. The Seahawks also played it in the 2013 SB when Peyton had a good OL and it turned into a debacle. The Pats have a very underrated defense. 3 Pro Bowlers this season. Butler is a Pro Bowler and Chung/McCourty are a phenomenal safety tandem. Peyton Manning throwing deep in the cold weather - always a recipe for a potential fail.
-Kubiak vs. Belichick? I will side with the latter one.
-BB and Tom Brady are on a mission. They want to make a statement after deflategate. The Broncos started talking trash against "Crybrady". I remember history tells us that you shouldn't talk trash about Brady, you will get it back. Even a reason more to take the Pats as crazy as it sounds.
IMO, taking the Broncos in this game is like playing Russian Roulette with 5 bullets. You need either a real vintage performance from Peyton Manning in a bottom-8 offense or 3 picks by Tom Brady. People say Goodell don't want to give Brady the trophy. Well, he doesn't need to anyway this week. And let's be honest, wouldn't it be MORE satisfaction for Goodell to see Brady losing the third SB instead of losing here at Denver? This Goodell reasoning is unfounded for my. The Pats are the 3rd LEAST penalized team this year (penalties per play). So even though people said before the season that the Pats will get all the calls against them throughout the season after they beat Goodell in court, the Pats are the 3rd least penalized team lol.
This game is won by passing offense & defense. Running hardly. I am taking the better team matchup-wise and will fade the declining QB behind a bad OL.
Patriots -3 -108
Pats ML & Cards ML +289
Cards ATS
BOL