2016 AFC Championship Game

[Amy]

Championship Sunday! It's becoming a norm for the Pats to be here. Mr. Kraft has owned the team 21 years, and this is his 10th AFC Championship game.

The historical aspects of the game, if we win, are huge. The Pats will play in the teams's 9th Super Bowl, which would be the most ever. The Cowboys, Steelers and Pats are all tied with 8 at the moment. Brady would play in his 7th Super Bowl, which would be the most for any player. Bill Belichick would coach in his 10th Super Bowl. (2 under Parcells with the Giants, 1 under Parcels with the Pats, and 7 as the Pats head coach.) Or, to put it in another way, if the Pats win today, BB will have coached in 10 of the last 20 Super Bowls.

While the Pats are 2-6 in Denver with BB and Brady, we are also 26-3 when Jules and Gronk both play in a game. While anything can happen, if we play Pats football we should win. We have a better offense by a lot, and they have a better defense, but not by that much.

Notable inactives for us are Tre Jackson, Tavon Wilson and Chris Harper. Harper, as you may recall, let Denver back into the regular season game with 2 fumbled punt returns.

Notable inactives for Denver are nobody. I didn't see a significant name on thier list.

The weather might have an impact. The forecast is calling for a mix of rain and snow showers in Denver from 3 to 6:30 local time and the wind could gust at up to 12 miles per hour.

Ed Hochuli is the ref, Nantz and Simms with the call.

Let's Stop the run! Let's play smart! Let's go to Cali!!!

Go Pats!

[Amy]

We win the toss and decide to take the ball.

Pats Possession 1. We start at the 20.
1st and 10: Brady to Gronk for 4.
2nd and 6: Brady to Jules for 9. Talib called for holding. We took the play.
1st and 10: White for 2.
2nd and 8: Brady to Jules. Incomplete. Roby pushed Jules in the back. No flag.
3rd and 8: Brady to Gronk. Low throw and incomplete.

Denver Possession 1. They start at the 17 with 13:02 left in the quarter.
1st and 10: Manning to Hillman off playaction. Incomplete.
2nd and 10: Manning to Davis, pass defended by Devon.
3rd and 10: Manning to Sanders, 13. High throw, nice catch. It was a 10 yard catch, right at the sticks. Somehow, the refs added 3 yards to the spot.
1st and 10: Hillman dropped for a loss of 1 by Collins.
2nd and 11: Manning to Norwood for 13.
1st and 10: Anderson for 2.
2nd and 8: Anderson for 2.
3rd and 6: Manning to Thomas. Incomplete. Holding on Logan Ryan. However, Ed calls PI. Not holding. The difference is about 10 free yards.
1st and 10: Hillman for 7 off tackle.
2nd and 3: Manning to Caldwell on a rollout. 15 yards.
1st and 10: Hillman loses a yard. Hicks with the play.
2nd and 11: Manning to Daniels, 21. TD.

7-0 Denver with 7:32 left. Nice drive by Denver.

However, bad game so far by Ed and his crew. They have 1 correct call, and 3 mistakes. CBS also did not show the holding on Talib, so I don't know if that was a good or bad call and it's not included here.

Pats Possession 2. We start at the 20.
1st and 10: Brady to Jules for 7. Jules was wide open, but stumbled and fell.
2nd and 3: Wolfe bats down Brady's pass.
3rd and 3: Brady to Gronk. Ward was holding. No Flag!!!

1 correct call, 4 bad mistakes! Simms tried to argue that the hold with within 5 yards, but Gronk and Ward were 5 yards past the marker, and it's 3rd and 3. 3+5=8.

Denver Possession 2. They start at the 34 with 6:40 left in the first.
1st and 10: Manning to Thomas on a screen. 5 yards.
2nd and 5: Hillman loses a yard. Chung on the play.
3rd and 6: Manning to Folwer, Coleman defends the pass.

Pats Possession 3. We start at the 40 after Danny had a great return. 5:05 left in the first. C'mon offense. Let's get it going.
1st and 10: Jackson for 5. After the play, we are called for a personal foul on Stork. Good call.
2nd and 20: Brady to Danny, 6.
3rd and 14: Brady sacked by Wolfe. Loss of 2.

Stork killed that drive. Stupid, stupid, decision.

Ed's now 2 and 4.

Denver Possession 3. They start at the 26 with 3:08 left in the first. We were called for ineligible downfield.
1st and 10: Hillman for 2.
2nd and 8: Manning to Hillman, drop. It might have been backward. Freeney picked it up, and we are challenging that it was a backwards pass. After review, the ruling on the field was overturned. Pats Ball!

Pats Possession 4. We start at the Denver 22 with 2:23 left.
1st and 10: Brady to Bolden. Bolden goes to the 2, and then Ward hits him late. It's only 1 yard, but it's a good call.
1st and goal: Jackson takes it the 1 yard. Touchdown! It's his first postseason touchdown.

7-6. 1:49 left in the first. We miss the XP.

Ed's 5 and 4 now.

Denver Possession 4. They start at the 20.
1st and 10: Anderson gets 3 on a toss sweep.
2nd and 7: Manning checks down to Anderson for 3.
3rd and 4: Manning deep to Sanders. Butler almost had a pick, but Sanders gets it. 34 yards. It was an ugly pass but Sanders had a great play.
1st and 10: Hillman gets 1 to end the first.

[Amy]

2nd and 9: Manning to Green. Hightower with the pass defended.
3rd and 9: Manning to Thomas, high, incomplete.

Pats Possession 5. We start at the 14 with 14:46 left in the half.
1st and 10: Brady to Jules on playaction, incomplete. LaFell was really open.
2nd and 10: Brady picked by Miller. Gronk was the intended target.

DenverPossession 5. They start at the Pats 16 with 14:35 left in the half.
1st and 10: Manning to Sanders, overthtrown.
2nd and 10: Hillman for 4.
3rd and 6: Manning to Daniels, 12. TD.

14-6 Denver with 13:46 left in the half.

Brady's fixating. On the first play of our last possesion, to Jules, LeFell was wide open downfield. On the pick, Miller had position on Gronk and made the play. Spread the ball around, Tom. Use Danny and Jojo and Martin to get them off Gronk and Jules.

We are also having tablet issues. Denver's tablets are working. They also do not have to shut thier down. What?? Since when? But, that is what the NFL rep told Evan Washburne.

Pats Possession 6. We start at the 24.
1st and 10: Brady deep to Bolden, just overthrown. We take timeout #1.
2nd and 10: Brady to Gronk for 19.
1st and 10: False Stark, Gronk
1st and 15: White on a draw for 2.
2nd and 13: Brady to Danny for 3.
3rd and 10: Brady to Gronk. Ward is called for illegal contact.
1st and 10: Bolden for no gain.
2nd and 10: Brady to White for 11.
1st and 10: Jackson for no gain.
2nd and 10: Brady one hops it to White.
3rd and 10: Brady runs for 11! Tom!!!!
1st and 10: Brady to Jules, incomplete.
2nd and 10: Brady to White for 7.
3rd and 3: Brady sacked by Ware and Miller.
4th and 9: 46 yard FG attempt is good.

14-9 Denver. 7:02 left in the half.

Ed's now 7 and 4.

Denver Possession 6. They start at the 20.
1st and 10: Anderson for 3.
2nd and 7: Anderson for 2.
3rd and 5: Manning with a throw away. Collins with pressure.

Tablets are back up.

PatsPossession 7. We start at the 41 with 5:21 in the half. Denver called for unsportsmanlike. Webster went out of bounds on his own and did not come back in.
1st and 10: Bolden for 4. Brandon Marshall hurt on the play.
2nd and 6: Bolden for 1.
3rd and 5: Brady pressured by Jackson, Stewart with a pick.

OMG! Do not take deep shots on 3rd and short. Get the first down! This is something Josh McDaniels does way toooo often.

Denver Possession 7. They start at the 44 with 4:08 left.
1st and 10: False Start, 73
1st and 15: Manning sacked by Branch! He was sacked at the 29, they spot it at the 32. Broncos take timeout #1.
2nd and 22: Manning to Thomas, incomplete. Butler with as great knock out of the ball.
3rd and 22: Anderson for 7.

Marshall is back in the game. Ed's crew is 9 and 5 now.

Pats Possession 8. We start at the 12 with 2:27 left in the half.
1st and 10: Jackson gets 2. That takes us to the two minute warning.
2nd and 8: False Start, Kline.
2nd and 13: Brady to Martin, terrible throw.
3rd and 13: White for 7. Denver takes timeout #2.

Denver Possession 8. They start at the 44 with 1:46 left.
1st and 10: Anderson for 9.
2nd and 1: Manning to Thomas for 6. Bad pass, great catch.
1st and 10: Manning to Anderson for 6.
2nd and 4: Manning to Sanders, incomplete.
3rd and 4: Manning to Thomas, incomplete. Logan Ryan defended the pass.
4th and 4: 52 yard FG try is good. We call a timeout before the try.

17-9 Denver. 33 seconds left.

Pats Possession 9. We start at the 20.
1st and 10: Kneeldown and to the locker room.

Well, the bad news is that we are losing and are not playing well.

The good news is that we are down just 8.

There have already been 17 possessions. It's a very strange game. We need to step it up, on offense, big time.

[Amy]

2 quarters to go. Will it be a good result? Or will it be a bad one in more than one way?

Denver Possession 9. They start at the 20.
1st and 10: Hillman for no gain.
2nd and 10: Manning sacked by Collins and Brown at the 5. Spotted at the 7.
3rd and 23: Anderson for 7.

Ed's 9 and 6 now, with 3 terrible spots in Denver's favor.

Pats Possession 10. We start at the 32 with 13:45 left in the third. Lattimer made a great play to take away Danny's chance of a return.
1st and 10: Brady to Gronk, Trevathan knocked the pass down.
2nd and 10: Brady to Gronk. Big play! 31 yards. Gronk limped off after the play.
1st and 10: Brady to Jules for 6.
2nd and 4: Brady to Danny for 10. We're in the red zone.
1st and 10: Brady to White in the endzone, incomplete.
2nd and 10: White on a draw, no gain.
3rd and 10: Brady to Danny. Bad pass. Incomplete.
4th and 10: 38 yard FG attempt is good.

17-12 Denver with 10:26 left in the third.

Gronk was cramping it seems. He's been hydrating.

Denver Possession 10. They start at the 20.
1st and 10: Anderson for no gain.
2nd and 10: Manning deep to Thomas, incomplete.
3rd and 10: Manning runs for 12.
1st and 10: Manning playaction to Lattimer for 13. Great catch.
1st and 10: Hillman for 2.
2nd and 8: Manning to Sanders for 7.
3rd and 1: Anderson loses a yard! Butler with the play!

Pats Possession 11. We start at the 8 with 6:42 left in the third.
1st and 10: Brady sacked by Miller at the 2.
2nd and 16: Bolden for 3 on a draw. Stewart hurt on the play.
3rd and 13: Brady to White for 3.
4th and 13: False Start, Pats

Fleming killed this drive. Miller made him look terrible on first down.

Denver Possession 11. They start at the 44 with 4:40 left.
1st and 10: Hillman for 3.
2nd and 7: Manning sacked by Collins at the 33!
3rd and 19: Manning to Anderson for 9.

Pats Possession 12. We start at the 4. Webster with a great special teams play with 2:35 left in the third.
1st and 10: Brady to Danny for 9.
2nd and 1: Brady keeps and gains 3. Wolfe hurt on the play.
1st and 10: Brady to Gronk for 12,
1st and 10: Brady to White, incomplite. Jackson with pressure.
2nd and 10: Brady to Jules, well overthown.
3rd and 10: Brady sacked by Miller.

Well, we won the third quarter. That's a positive. We're going to need a turnover to win this I think.

[Amy]

Stewart is questionable to return. Wolfe will be back in.

Denver Possession 12. They start at the 39.
1st and 10: Manning to Norwood for 3.
2nd and 7: Manning to Sanders for 6.
3rd and 1: Anderson rips out a huge run. 30 yards. However, with 1 second on the playclock, the refs reset it! Denver should have had no play because of having to call a timeout or being called for delay.
1st and 10: Anderson for 8.
2nd and 2: Hillman loses a yard.
3rd and 3: Manning to Sanders for 5.
1st and goal: Anderson loses 4.
2nd and goal (from the 14): Manning throwaway.
3rd and goal: Manning to Norwood, incomplete.
4th and goal: 31 yard FG is good.

Denver 20-12. 10:02 left.

Ed's crew is now 9-7.

Pats Possession 13. We start at the 20.
1st and 10: Brady to Danny. Talib defends the pass. Martin was wide open.
2nd and 10: Brady to Jules for 7. Keo called for a personal foul and we get 15 more. I think it was a bad call, so it goes into the mistake column for me.
1st and 10: Bolden for 4.
2nd and 6: Brady to Bolden for 7.
1st and 10: Brady to Gronk, incomplete. TJ Ward hurt on the play. After coming back from the injury timeout, Denver calls timeout. They have 2 left.
2nd and 10: Brady to White. Bad throw, good try by White.
3rd and 10: Brady to Jules for 19! Huge!
1st and 10: White loses a yard.
2nd and 11: Brady to White in the endzone, overthrown by a step.
3rd and 11: Brady to Danny for 10.
4th and 1: Brady to Jules, loss of 1.

I'd have kicked the FG and made it a five point game.

Ed's crew is now 9-8.

Denver Possesion 13. They start at the 17 with 5:56 left.
1st and 10: Anderson, no gain.
2nd and 10: Manning to Thomas, incomplete.
3rd and 10: False Start, Thomas
3rd and 15: Manning to Hillman for 7.

Pats Possesion 14. We start at the 29 with 4:35 left. Danny danced too much.
1st and 10: Brady throw away under pressure from Jackson. Holding on us was missed.
2nd and 10: Brady to White for 16.
1st and 10: Brady to Gronk! 29 yards.
1st and 10: Brady to Gronk for 5.
2nd and 5: Brady to White. Incomplete. Holding on Marshall.
1st and 10: Brady to White for 9.
2nd and 1: Brady to White, incomplete.
3rd and 1: Brady for nothing. Denver was in the neutral zone. Missed by the refs. We are called for false start.
3rd and 6: Brady to Danny for 8. Fumbles after he was down. Ruled incomplete. Denver challenges. After the review, the ruling is confirmed. Denver loses timeout #2.
4th and 6: Brady to Gronk in the endzone. Incomplete. Talib was holding. No call.

Ed's now 12-12

Denver Possession 14. They start at the 14 with 2:22 left.
1st and 10: Anderson for 2. Pats timeout #1.
2nd and 8: Anderson loses 2. Pats timeout #2.
3rd and 10: Manning to Sanders, Butler knocks it down.

Pats Possession 15. We start at the 50 with 1:52 left.
1st and 10: Brady to White, incomplete.
2nd and 10: Brady to White, incomplete. White was tackled with the ball in the air. No call.
3rd and 10: Brady to Gronk, incomplete.
4th and 10: Brady to Gronk for 40!!
1st and goal at the 10: Brady to White, incomplete.
2nd and goal: Brady to Jules for 6.
3rd and goal: Brady to Jules, incomplete. We call timeout. None left.
4th and goal: Brady to Gronk, 6, TD!

We're alive! 20-18! :12 left. Two point time.

Denver calls timeout 3 before the try.

The conversion attempt is no good. Talib tipped the pass.

We have to try an onsides kick.

Denver recovers. Bad attempt.

This was an ugly game.

We lost because of excellent Denver defense, a questionable choice to not take a FG in the 4th, and terrible, terrible, officiating.

Ed's crew ended with 12 correct calls and 13 errors.

[ScottDCP]

I. Saw bits and pieces. Two things stood out. First,Bradylooked like a young Todd Collins in the first half. Second, I saw five plays in the last 2:30 where Boston was lined up, Denver's LCB did not get within fifteen yards of the wideout for another five seconds, and The Patriots didn't snap the ball quickly to take advantage of any of them, including the conversion attempt. Below the standard they have set.