The Patriots’ fairytale season has not but reached its conclusion.
Set to tackle the Broncos, the Patriots are enjoying of their first AFC Championship Game in seven years.
They face a troublesome take a look at towards the AFC’s No. 1 seed in a setting that has been a home of horrors for the Patriots within the postseason.
The Patriots are 0-4 within the playoffs at Denver. This matchup did get simpler final weekend, nevertheless, when Broncos beginning quarterback Bo Nix broke his ankle. Now former Patriots fourth-round decide Jarrett Stidham will begin in Nix’s place.
Listed here are 10 issues we’re watching in Sunday’s matchup, which kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on CBS.
• Let’s begin with Stidham. Broncos followers have rallied round their backup quarterback, with hundreds of followers altering their social media avatars to an image of Stidham’s face, photoshopped with sun shades and headphones, imitating a LeBron James meme. Fairly frankly, nobody is aware of what the Broncos are getting in Stidham this weekend. He hasn’t thrown an NFL go since 2023. Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is aware of Stidham comparatively effectively. He coached him from 2019-22, however even that was three years in the past.
• Maybe the No. 1 key for the Patriots is to proceed to stuff the run. The Patriots’ protection wasn’t leaving the Chargers’ and Texans’ working video games any room to breathe. They need to proceed to stifle the Broncos’ speeding assault this week. Why? As a result of then it places the onus on Stidham to hold the Broncos’ offense. Who is aware of? Perhaps he can do it. However don’t count on the Broncos to enter Sunday’s contest with the sport plan to throw the ball 40 occasions. The Patriots might want to drive that by stuffing the run and making Sean Payton’s offense one dimensional.
• The Patriots catch a break with working again J.Ok. Dobbins (ankle) out Sunday. He averaged 5.0 yards per carry to rookie RJ Harvey’s 3.7 yards per try. The Broncos’ O-line may nonetheless create room to run, however Harvey hasn’t been constantly efficient this season.
• The Patriots ideally will need to strain Stidham to drive turnovers, however the Broncos’ offensive line is among the many greatest they’ll face this season. Interim defensive coordinator Zak Kuhr has proven a willingness to blitz to extend strain on opposing quarterbacks. Don’t be shocked if that continues this week towards the Broncos, because the Patriots actually don’t understand how Stidham will deal with blitzes. And, fairly frankly, the Patriots do must blitz to deliver strain, regardless of having some formidable go rushers on their line of defense. They’ll be with out Harold Landry on the sting, forcing them to rely extra closely on Anfernee Jennings and rookie Bradyn Swinson.
• Rookie left sort out Will Campbell faces one other big take a look at this week towards Broncos two-time Professional Bowl go rusher Nik Bonitto. Bonitto does most of his work on the defensive proper, which suggests he’ll be going towards Campbell, who struggled in consecutive weeks towards Chargers and Texans go rushers, for many of the recreation. The Broncos even have defensive sort out Zach Allen, who’s one of many league’s premier inside go rushers. So, rookie left guard Jared Wilson additionally must be on his toes this week to guard quarterback Drake Maye.
• Maye has, considerably surprisingly, had a reasonably main fumbling problem during the last two weeks. Most of them have come underneath strain whereas throwing, which signifies that Maye, his offensive line and McDaniels most likely must time his drops better. Maye has struggled within the first half of his first two playoff video games, however he’s performed a lot better within the second half when the video games have mattered most. A full 60-minute effort from Maye ought to guarantee a victory.
• If there’s a weak point for the Patriots’ offense to use, it’s the Broncos’ run protection, which allowed 183 yards of their divisional-round win over the Payments. Operating again Rhamondre Stevenson is enjoying the perfect soccer of his profession, whereas rookie TreVeyon Henderson has struggled to generate large performs. Count on a heavy serving to of Stevenson, so long as he stays wholesome.
• Vast receiver Kayshon Boutte wasn’t intimidated by final week’s matchup with Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. If Broncos All-Professional cornerback Patrick Surtain II is in protection on Boutte this week, would Maye be hesitant to focus on him? Not if he can stack Surtain in his route and beat him excessive like he did towards Stingley.
• Broncos cornerback Riley Moss has been a a lot simpler matchup this season. He’s allowed 834 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns in 19 video games. The Patriots unfold the ball round anyway, to allow them to play stay away from Surtain, if wanted.
• Prediction? Patriots win 24-17. Count on a detailed recreation all through, with the Patriots pulling away late. Each defenses are stout. Maye ought to have extra success than Stidham.
