The New England Patriots remain focused on the task at hand rather than engaging in any war of words with the Denver Broncos ahead of the AFC Championship Game. It’s not for a lack of opportunity, though.
On Wednesday, Broncos head coach Sean Payton told his team’s fans that they are “going to have plenty of rest after this one — two weeks,” indicating that his team would be the one to make the Super Bowl instead of the Patriots. As far as bulletin-board material goes, this is as tame as it gets.
The same is true for the response out of Foxborough.
“No, I haven’t seen it,” said wide receiver Kayshon Boutte. “I mean, you can rest in Cancún, too, at the end of the day.”
Boutte’s remarks follow straight in line with the ones that prompted this exchange in the first place. It’s a playful jab, at best.
In general, as head coach Mike Vrabel said, the Patriots are not looking for any extra motivation heading into Sunday’s contest.
“I think we’re plenty motivated for the game,” Vrabel explained on Thursday. “I think that our players are continuing to build confidence through the week. So, I’m really excited to go out there and play.”
Payton himself, meanwhile, was quick to follow up his own jest with some serious praise for the Patriots and their offense as well as advice for his team’s fans to be loud at a specific time.
“This is a team, at the line of scrimmage, that does a lot there. Josh [McDaniels] is is fantastic at putting together good plans offensively. There’s alerts, there’s kills, there’s all that,” Payton said. “Look, let’s go. I keep emphasizing: just as the huddle begins until the ball is snapped.”
The sixth playoff meeting between the Patriots and Broncos will kick off at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday at Denver’s Mile High Stadium.
