10 count'em 10 reasons why you should have confidence in the Pats @ Denver

The Patriots are all saying the right things. It's tough to win at Denver because the team is good, not because of the altitude. If you listen to Belichick talk about the Broncos you'd think THEY were the 2 time defending Super Bowl Champions. Yes, they are a GOOD all around team, but they certainly can - and will be beat this Saturday night. Here's a look at 10 reasons why.

1- 3 of Denver's TD's in wk 6 were set up by the 3 big plays, two bombs and a long run. Belichick's not going to let 3 long plays happen this time around.

2- The 2 long passes and one TD pass were 'defended' by Starks. He's gone.

3- The writers in Denver proclaimed the wk 6 game as Plummer's best in his 3 seasons with the Broncos. Do you think he's likely to repeat that?

4- In wk 6 the D was without Seymour, Bruschi, Hobbs and Hawkins.

5- Chad Brown and Beisel were the Middle LB's. In watching the replay of the game last night, it was blatently obvious how out of position those two guys got themselves on running plays. They overpursued, and the Denver RB just cut back to where they should have been. Conversely,
re-watching last wks game, Beisel did better, but Vrabel was always in position, never letting an O lineman get to him, and filling the running lanes. Fred Taylor had 24 yds rushing.

6- In wk 6 the O was without Mankins (who was ejected in the 1st) Brown, Faulk and Dillon.

7- In wk 6 WITHOUT all those O players, the pats averaged 4.7 yds/carry and Brady threw for 300 yds.

8- The Pats with Brady are 6-0 when facing a team for the 2nd time in a season when the team beat them the first time around. They learn from their mistakes and correct them. I can give you the details on all six if you need them.

9- As one-sided as the wk 6 game was, the Pats were one drive away from tying the game. On that final drive, the Pats went 3 and out because of a drop from Branch and a drop from Givens. Both would have been for first downs. Brady has shown that he is VERY capable of 4th quarter comebacks, wouldn't you agree? Maybe they could have tied or even won the game without the drops.

10- The Broncos are good, but it appears that their schedule just all fell into place for them this season. Here's week1-16, you decide. They lost @ Miami, beat SD at home, (LT got the ball only 17 times) beat KC at home, (good win) won @ J'ville (they're real good) Scraped by Wash at home by 2, beat a depleted NE team at home, lost @ the Giants, beat up a beat up Eagles team
at home, won at shitty Oakland, beat the Jets at home, won at Dallas by 3 (the game the Dallas kicker missed all the FG's and got cut the next day) Lost @ KC, beat baltimore at home (they suck) won @ Buff (Bills were already thinking about tee times at that point in the season) Beat Oakland again, Won @ SD the week after SD was eliminated from the playoffs.
From where I'm standing, I'm not terribly impressed.

I'll give you one more reason, just in case the first 10 reasons aren't enough for you. Mike Shannahan has NEVER won a playoff game without a guy named Elway.

I hope this makes you feel better about Saturday night. I have no doubts at all that the Pats win this game, it's just a matter of figuring out by how much.