01-13-2006, 08:29 PM
When it became apparent the Broncos would meet the Patriots at Invesco Field in the playoffs, I turned to the guy next to me, who has the twin misfortune to be both a Patriots fan and an in-law. "I've already seen this game," I said.
That settled it for me. The score I had to look up, 28-20, but the circumstances were clear enough. A rout, worse than the score. Big day for the offense, big plays for the offense.
No sweat, even at the end, when the Broncos teased the Pats by letting them get closer than they should have.
The other thing I remember is that linebacker Tedy Bruschi was about to return to football and that the Patriots could certainly use his inspiration and his tackling ability.
"Did Seymour play?"
The question seemed significant. I sensed an argument coming on. I had to admit that no one named Seymour had played.
"Then, you didn't see the Patriots," he said.
Apparently Richard Seymour is a very good player. And so is Corey Dillon, who did not play, and so is Kevin Faulk, who did not play, and Duane Starks, who isn't and did.
This was not the Super Bowl Patriots, and no one disputes that.
But neither is this. This Patriots team now has all the players it is supposed to have, including Bruschi, maybe, and Tom Brady, of course, and a defense more settled and experienced than the one that gave up 432 yards to a Broncos team that had averaged 324 .
Still, this is the same New England team that came to Denver in October in this regard. It is a team past its best days, a team no better than its record says it is, a team that struggles to win even against poorer teams than the Broncos.
To finish 10-6 from a start of 4-4 would be more notable if the Patriots had managed to beat anybody but Tampa Bay in doing so. Beating the Jets, the Bills, the Saints and the Dolphins is a bit like using frequent flogging miles.
Beating wild-card Jacksonville at their place was expected. New England stuffed the Jacksonville run in its opening playoff game as it should have. This is certainly no signal the Pats are again what they were when they were winning two consecutive Super Bowls.
So, now, this is what I hear: "The Patriots are the team that no one wants to play."
This is what I say: The team no one wants to play is Denver - not in Denver, not with a week for Mike Shanahan to prepare.
There seems to be a wistfulness around about this game. Not anti-Bronco exactly. More like pro-possibility.
The notion that the real showdown, the real transition between yesterday and tomorrow, can take place only in Indianapolis between the Pats and the Colts is one of those imaginary bits of orderliness more wished for than genuine in sports.
It might be what most would like to see, a clear showdown, as if Peyton Manning could only deserve to be in the Super Bowl if he manages to get past Brady in the big game.
Root for romance, prepare for reality.
Here's the hard truth. The Broncos are better than the Patriots. The Broncos are better than almost everybody. The Broncos are at home. The Broncos do not lose at home. Not at all this season. Only twice ever in the playoffs.
For the Broncos to lose this game, Jake Plummer will have to suddenly decide his success this season has been by fluke and not by design, that the carefully crafted strategy of prudence is a crock, and start daring to be great again.
The Broncos will have to forget how to block for the run and protect for the pass, for Rod Smith to lose his nerve, for Mike Anderson to back off, for Tatum Bell to lose a step, for John Lynch to play pitty pat, for Al Wilson to become considerate, for Shanahan to be one thought behind Bill Belichick, or two or three.
And, of course, the Patriots still will have to play their artless brand of football with an efficiency they no longer have.
This game might be closer than the last one, should be closer than the last one, otherwise what's a Seymour for?
The Patriots are in that ragged retreat from dynasty, an inevitable condition that comes to the best, as it came to the Broncos, to the Cowboys, to the 49ers, to the Steelers.
The real passing of prospects will be as it was in October, the Broncos on the rise and the Patriots holding on. Oops. There they go.
As I said, I've already seen this game.
lincicomeb@RockyMountainNews.com
MORE LINCICOME COLUMNS »
Copyright 2006, Rocky Mountain News. All Rights Reserved.
That settled it for me. The score I had to look up, 28-20, but the circumstances were clear enough. A rout, worse than the score. Big day for the offense, big plays for the offense.
No sweat, even at the end, when the Broncos teased the Pats by letting them get closer than they should have.
The other thing I remember is that linebacker Tedy Bruschi was about to return to football and that the Patriots could certainly use his inspiration and his tackling ability.
"Did Seymour play?"
The question seemed significant. I sensed an argument coming on. I had to admit that no one named Seymour had played.
"Then, you didn't see the Patriots," he said.
Apparently Richard Seymour is a very good player. And so is Corey Dillon, who did not play, and so is Kevin Faulk, who did not play, and Duane Starks, who isn't and did.
This was not the Super Bowl Patriots, and no one disputes that.
But neither is this. This Patriots team now has all the players it is supposed to have, including Bruschi, maybe, and Tom Brady, of course, and a defense more settled and experienced than the one that gave up 432 yards to a Broncos team that had averaged 324 .
Still, this is the same New England team that came to Denver in October in this regard. It is a team past its best days, a team no better than its record says it is, a team that struggles to win even against poorer teams than the Broncos.
To finish 10-6 from a start of 4-4 would be more notable if the Patriots had managed to beat anybody but Tampa Bay in doing so. Beating the Jets, the Bills, the Saints and the Dolphins is a bit like using frequent flogging miles.
Beating wild-card Jacksonville at their place was expected. New England stuffed the Jacksonville run in its opening playoff game as it should have. This is certainly no signal the Pats are again what they were when they were winning two consecutive Super Bowls.
So, now, this is what I hear: "The Patriots are the team that no one wants to play."
This is what I say: The team no one wants to play is Denver - not in Denver, not with a week for Mike Shanahan to prepare.
There seems to be a wistfulness around about this game. Not anti-Bronco exactly. More like pro-possibility.
The notion that the real showdown, the real transition between yesterday and tomorrow, can take place only in Indianapolis between the Pats and the Colts is one of those imaginary bits of orderliness more wished for than genuine in sports.
It might be what most would like to see, a clear showdown, as if Peyton Manning could only deserve to be in the Super Bowl if he manages to get past Brady in the big game.
Root for romance, prepare for reality.
Here's the hard truth. The Broncos are better than the Patriots. The Broncos are better than almost everybody. The Broncos are at home. The Broncos do not lose at home. Not at all this season. Only twice ever in the playoffs.
For the Broncos to lose this game, Jake Plummer will have to suddenly decide his success this season has been by fluke and not by design, that the carefully crafted strategy of prudence is a crock, and start daring to be great again.
The Broncos will have to forget how to block for the run and protect for the pass, for Rod Smith to lose his nerve, for Mike Anderson to back off, for Tatum Bell to lose a step, for John Lynch to play pitty pat, for Al Wilson to become considerate, for Shanahan to be one thought behind Bill Belichick, or two or three.
And, of course, the Patriots still will have to play their artless brand of football with an efficiency they no longer have.
This game might be closer than the last one, should be closer than the last one, otherwise what's a Seymour for?
The Patriots are in that ragged retreat from dynasty, an inevitable condition that comes to the best, as it came to the Broncos, to the Cowboys, to the 49ers, to the Steelers.
The real passing of prospects will be as it was in October, the Broncos on the rise and the Patriots holding on. Oops. There they go.
As I said, I've already seen this game.
lincicomeb@RockyMountainNews.com
MORE LINCICOME COLUMNS »
Copyright 2006, Rocky Mountain News. All Rights Reserved.
Son, I am Disappoint.
![[Image: boston.jpg]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v314/FattyJ16/boston.jpg)
![[Image: sheephump.gif]](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v205/Pablue/new%20smilies/sheephump.gif)
Im the guy in red.
