Welcome to the third installment of our AFC Championship Game roundtable discussions. With the first entry, we talked about our confidence in Jarrett Stidham. For the second entry, we talked about the players and position groups that needed to step up to help defeat the New England Patriots.
For the third question, I wanted to get a pulse on how the staff felt about the Patriots as a team. You don’t win fourteen games in the regular season and topple the Buffalo Bills from being kings of the AFC East
without having a well-coached squad. The Patriots are going to be a very tough opponent who comes ready to play. That’s why I asked the staff, “What concerns you the most about facing the Patriots?”
Tim Lynch
The Patriots two-headed beast in the running game. They can win in play action because of that, and this is an area of weakness with the Broncos defense. Vance Joseph needs to come out with the best game plan of his career and that Broncos’ pass rush needs to be dominant.
Adam Malnati
That’s a well-coached team. The Patriots will come into Mile High ready in all phases. That demands a well-coached team from the Broncos sideline. They are, but the chess match is made that much more difficult for Head Coach Sean Payton missing his starting quarterback.
Sadaraine
Their run game pure and simple. Our defense has been exposed recently, and the Pats have backs who can punish open gaps for big gains. The inside linebackers for the Broncos are a weak link, and the Patriots will attack them early and often.
Taylor Kothe
Tight end coverage. The Broncos have been hit or miss in covering tight ends this season, making this an important matchup. Last week, Dalton Kincaid & Dawson Knox combined for 9 catches, 115 yards, & a TD. Hunter Henry is the #2 target for the Patriots and is having one of the best seasons of his career. He is ranging from 5th to 10th among TEs in most statistical categories. Vance Joseph will need to have an answer for him.
Christopher Hart
I like all of the points the staff has made. I’m going to head in another direction and say I’m concerned about their defense. That’s a well-coached unit that performs at a high level. The Patriots have been lights out in the playoffs and rattled both Justin Herbert and C.J. Stroud. Their interior defensive line is very good and generates a lot of pressure. They have been forcing turnovers.
Denver needs to find a way to be efficient on offense. That’s why I’m anxious to see whether or not Luke Wattenberg starts at center. Will he be able to make a full-go of it going head-to-head with Christian Barmore and Milton Williams? Those two are top-notch players. Or will the Broncos have to rely on Alex Forsyth or Sam Mustipher at some point in time to snap the ball and protect Jarrett Stidham? This is a game where the offensive line is going to have to bring it.
How about you, Broncos Country? What concerns you the most about Denver’s gridiron matchup with New England on Sunday? Sound off in the comments section and let me know what you think.
