2026 NFL Playoffs Thread

[EldrickOnIce]

Pats and Rams win
Pats are just better and Rams just defeated Satan - Seattle are mere mortals

[Senator Clay Davis]

Outside the QB edge the Patriots will have, which is admittedly large, Broncos are better overall. Much better DL play and huge OL edge is why I still think the Broncos are in good shape.

[MacDaddy77]

People still sleeping on Pats D group.

Total Defense Pats ranked 8th in regular season and are 2nd in playoffs (best remaining)

they're not given enough credit. Defense maybe a slight edge to Denver but Pats have a big edge on Offense.

People will be betting Patriots though, so we'll see if Vegas bookmakers hold cards on the outcome.

[MacDaddy77]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

They're not this good lol. If you just remove the Stroud pick-6 the Texans would have been winning going in the fourth despite having four turnovers. They're basically the rich man's Steelers. But yeah their comically easy route reminds me that while the Broncos and Bears are flirted with the Prince of Darkness this year, the Patriots have been in league with him for over 20 years. Fully expect the Seahawks to win 59-0 and Darnold and Lock to both get hurt so they get another gift in the Super Bowl.

LOL

[Senator Clay Davis]

"Let the hate flow through you", but also "Vegas is gonna decide the outcome" lol. If you're as good as you think just win by 20+ and leave no doubt.

[Weitz]

I would love the patriots to win this weekend so the can lose by 30 in the superbowl to whoever wins the NFC.

[Erick Estrada]

What happens if the unthinkable happens and the Broncos win on Sunday? If someone told you a couple of years ago there would be a Stidham vs Darnold Super Bowl you would probably have to pause and figure out how the hell that could happen.

[Weitz]

20% chance based on current implied odds. Not that crazy!

[Senator Clay Davis]

Unthinkable? Pretty sure the right word is "hilarious". Cause imagine the Patriots lose to a former backup who hasn't thrown a pass in a real game in more than two years. Hilarious is the only word I can think of that fits.

[ResAlien]

Keep pumping the patriots tires, the more media stories that they're going to the Super Bowl in a cakewalk the better

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Unthinkable? Pretty sure the right word is "hilarious". Cause imagine the Patriots lose to a former backup who hasn't thrown a pass in a real game in more than two years. Hilarious is the only word I can think of that fits.

They were 4-13 last season. I guess they are kind of an example of hiring the right coach and spending a lot of money in free agency working out. Most head coach hires fail and a lot of the time, teams that throw a lot of money around in free agency end up with expensive mistakes. Seems like the Patriots are kind of a charmed franchise.

[MacDaddy77]

It definitely would not be a cakewalk. Will depend on who can establish a run game, and long drives will be the winner.

The best way to beat either defense is to keep them on the field for long stretches.

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Outside the QB edge the Patriots will have, which is admittedly large, Broncos are better overall. Much better DL play and huge OL edge is why I still think the Broncos are in good shape.

Yeah sure. Everyone was picking Houston because they had much better DL as well.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Texans D held the Patriots to under 4 yards per play, Patriots were 3-14 on third down, Texans had 5 sacks and 9 TFL. They did their job, not their fault Stroud was committing gambling fraud. But, again, even with Stroud's match fixing just take away the pick 6 and the Patriots are hanging on for dear life in the fourth quarter. At home no less. If New England plays the same against Denver they might get blown out at Mile High, they gotta be better than they've been so far.

[Jason14h]

Denver might be better just playing RBs in wildcat and jumbo formations and throwing zero passes

[Senator Clay Davis]

Like Stidham is a backup, I get that, but he's not Tebow lol. In fact, I seem to recall he had a pretty good game a few years ago against the Niners the year they made the Super Bowl. Just keep it to check downs and screens and rub routes and crossers and more than anything don't turn the ball over. Broncos can win with some boring ass 15/24 for 160 yards and 1TD as long as there are no turnovers.

[ResAlien]

I thought we all agreed Nix sucks anyway, how big could the drop off to the backup really be?

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Texans D held the Patriots to under 4 yards per play, Patriots were 3-14 on third down, Texans had 5 sacks and 9 TFL. They did their job, not their fault Stroud was committing gambling fraud. But, again, even with Stroud's match fixing just take away the pick 6 and the Patriots are hanging on for dear life in the fourth quarter. At home no less. If New England plays the same against Denver they might get blown out at Mile High, they gotta be better than they've been so far.

Stroud was committing fraud because the Pats D was in his face the whole game, not to mention the DBs played better than Houstons

[Senator Clay Davis]

He was doing it against the Steelers too. A complete investigation would be the appropriate move, gambling fraud can't be tolerated.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by ResAlien

I thought we all agreed Nix sucks anyway, how big could the drop off to the backup really be?

It's going to be a significant drop off in some ways and less significant in others. I don't think you want him throwing bombs. He's started two games for Denver in which they scored a combined 30 points on 248 passing yards with an average of 33 attempts, albeit against two losing teams. You're definitely relying on your defense to keep the Pats under 20, but at playing at home, that is actually quite possible. Payton obviously likes the guy to keep him around for multiple years and give him a new contract.