BroncosZone

[TJJackson]

So our game during this bye week is Broncos - Patriots, and we want a Broncos win, because

1) The Patriots currently have the 3rd seed at 7-3

2) The Bengals currently hold the 4th seed at 7-4

3) We're not gonna catch the Broncos in wins, so their win is meaningless to us

4) The Patriots loss is however VERY meaningful because it drops the Pats to 7-4, same as us

5) The first tiebreaker is head to head, and we beat the Pats, so we own this tiebreaker

6) so....a Broncos win takes us from the 4th seed to the 3rd seed

7) 4th seed will almost assuredly play either the Broncos or the Chiefs in the first round. Not good

8) 3rd seed will probably play the 5-5 Jets or 5-5 Miami. Quite a bit better situation.

so G O B R O N C O S ! ! ! !

if you have a really, really strong constitution - you're also a Cardinals and.....*choke*.....Carson Palmer fan this week

Colts are also at 7-3, so a Colts loss this sets up a real chance to reach for the second seed - particularly with the Bengals playing the Colts in a few weeks - and a first round bye :-)

[HoosierCat]

Arizona has been playing well too. I think they've won three straight. Granted it's been against teams like Jax and Houston, but th Colts defense isn't anything special. As long as Carson doesn't throw 12 pick sixes they have a shot.

I like the Broncos chances against New England.

[cincyhokie]

Playing out west is hard. There's a good shot that both the Patriots and Colts lose this week. Especially the Colts as they have flirted with losses so frequently.

[Earendil]

Playing out west is hard. There's a good shot that both the Patriots and Colts lose this week. Especially the Colts as they have flirted with losses so frequently.

Except the Broncos are going to Foxborough.

[cincyhokie]

Playing out west is hard. There's a good shot that both the Patriots and Colts lose this week. Especially the Colts as they have flirted with losses so frequently.

Except the Broncos are going to Foxborough.

On a short week. I'm not sure that the Patriots can keep up and the Broncos have a much better pass rush than NE. Bad matchup for NE, IMO.

[kingwilly]

...and to think with wins over Miami and Baltimore, we'd be a lock for the 2....UGH!

Ok, so go Broncos, go Cardinals....

[ArmyBengal]

I'm all about rooting for whatever situation puts the Bengals in the #2 spot.

They have work of their own to do though.

[Earendil]

Playing out west is hard. There's a good shot that both the Patriots and Colts lose this week. Especially the Colts as they have flirted with losses so frequently.

Except the Broncos are going to Foxborough.

On a short week. I'm not sure that the Patriots can keep up and the Broncos have a much better pass rush than NE. Bad matchup for NE, IMO.

Oh I know, and I agree with you. I was just pointing out that the game is not out here, but in New England.

[kingwilly]

I'd really like the 2 seed, as I think Denver will be the 1.

Indy has to go to AZ, go to Cincy and goes to KC coming up. That's a tough road.

NE hosts Denver, goes to Houston and goes to Miami. About the only tough games for them. Cleveland could also give them issues.

Best case the 2, worst case the 3, considering what NE and Indy are facing.

KC is lock for wild card. Miami and Oakland are the only other two currently with a winning record v conference opponents. My money is on them making it, crazy as it sounds. Won't be the Jets, or SD. Pitt and Baltimore just suck goat balls.

[HoosierCat]

It looks like Denver will be down S Rahim Moore, who underwent emergency surgery last night. Out indefinitely but at least he seems OK.

/>http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/denver-broncos-safety-rahim-moore-undergoes-emergency-surgery-111813

ETA: Denver puts Moore on IR, signs Michael Huff.

/>http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_24555822/rahim-moore-broncos-ir-denver-signs-michael-huff

And while we're on the subject, Wes Welker is dealing with "concussion like" symptoms.

/>http://blogs.denverpost.com/broncos/2013/11/19/wes-welker-was-evaluated-for-neck-injury-and-concussion/23310/

[HoosierCat]

Playing out west is hard. There's a good shot that both the Patriots and Colts lose this week. Especially the Colts as they have flirted with losses so frequently.

Except the Broncos are going to Foxborough.

On a short week. I'm not sure that the Patriots can keep up and the Broncos have a much better pass rush than NE. Bad matchup for NE, IMO.

Oh I know, and I agree with you. I was just pointing out that the game is not out here, but in New England.

Which is just too bad because if it were in Denver, the Pats would be at the mercy of the Broncos' secret weapon:

/>http://topekasnews.com/cheating-denver-broncos-flood-stadium-marijuana-smoke-cause-dizzied-chiefs-lose-sunday-night-game/

[COB]

Root against the Patriots? You might as well tell me I have to breathe. I always root against the cheating Patriots. And that ball last night was uncatchable, in spite of the mushroom cloud that has emanated from Bristol all day. The refs made the right call picking that flag up. Steroid guy tight end is good, but he's not plastic man. No way he gets to that ball in a million years.

[walzav29]

Yeah, I'm all about the Broncos this week. The Bengals do have to earn it. There really isn't a reason they can't win out. I don't think the Pats have the defense to slow Manning down. The bye comes at the perfect time for Cincy!

[gregcook68]

I'm all about rooting for whatever situation puts the Bengals in the #2 spot.

They have work of their own to do though.

Absolutely! They have to win out! In order to control the destiny, with the exception of the Patriots. We need help from Denver. But the Colts we can take care of by beating them.

[gregcook68]

Root against the Patriots? You might as well tell me I have to breathe. I always root against the cheating Patriots. And that ball last night was uncatchable, in spite of the mushroom cloud that has emanated from Bristol all day. The refs made the right call picking that flag up. Steroid guy tight end is good, but he's not plastic man. No way he gets to that ball in a million years.

It was hard to for me to root against them last night because I do not care for the Diva Cam Newton. Do not care for Divas on ANY team!!

But, it was a lot easier rooting for Cam since they were playing Diva Tom!

[Earendil]

Root against the Patriots? You might as well tell me I have to breathe. I always root against the cheating Patriots. And that ball last night was uncatchable, in spite of the mushroom cloud that has emanated from Bristol all day. The refs made the right call picking that flag up. Steroid guy tight end is good, but he's not plastic man. No way he gets to that ball in a million years.

It was hard to for me to root against them last night because I do not care for the Diva Cam Newton. Do not care for Divas on ANY team!!

But, it was a lot easier rooting for Cam since they were playing Diva Tom!

Indeed, Diva Tom is far worse than Diva Cam...

[redsbengalsbucks]

Root against the Patriots? You might as well tell me I have to breathe. I always root against the cheating Patriots. And that ball last night was uncatchable, in spite of the mushroom cloud that has emanated from Bristol all day. The refs made the right call picking that flag up. Steroid guy tight end is good, but he's not plastic man. No way he gets to that ball in a million years.

I agree that it was not pass interference, because it was not catchable but he was held on the play and a penalty should have been given for that. Even though he would not have been able to catch the ball he was not allowed to run his route.

[ArmyBengal]

I thought it should have been a penalty as well and even thought the refs say they got it right, I disagree.

Here's a link to a picture of the play. The ball hasn't even reached the defender in the endzone and Kuechly has Gronk wrapped up tight.

While it may not have been pass interference, at a minimum it should have been defensive holding in the endzone.

The head of officiating saying they got the non-pass interference call right is skewed to a degree. It doesn't address what the picture shows.

/>http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/24249499/nfl-vp-of-officiating-refs-werent-wrong-with-pantherpatriots-nocall

[skyline]

It was a penalty.

I agree that it had no bearing on the play, but it was a penalty all the same.

[Scottishbengal]

Ok, so go Broncos, go Cardinals....

OK, lets see what these guys can do and hopefully it falls well for Cincy

[COB]

Not a penalty in my opinion. Two possible penalties - defensive holding or PI. Defensive holding occurs before the ball is thrown. I saw the play from the back of the end zone this morning. The ball was in the air well before any holding took place. So no defensive holding was possible.

That leaves pass interference. If the ball is uncatchable, then pass interference isn't possible. It just goes away. I thought the pass was uncatchable. In fact I think Gronk gave up because he was so tightly covered. He acted like he didn't even think the pass was worth a second thought.

If you think it was catchable - pass interference. But I don't think there was any possibility of catching that ball.

[Earendil]

Either way, the Patriots have benefited from dozens of very questionable calls over the years, so I don't feel the least bit sorry for them.

[COB]

Either way, the Patriots have benefited from dozens of very questionable calls over the years, so I don't feel the least bit sorry for them.

I think that has a lot to do with my inability to see that pass as anything but uncatchable.

[ArmyBengal]

I didn't say I cared about the outcome (because I don't) but from a football perspective alone, that was a penalty.

Here's to hoping the Patriots continue down this losing path.

[HoosierCat]

Pats got hosed, and there's nothing I enjoy more than seeing that happen. As has been said elsewhere, if Aaron Hernandez had been a Bengal we would never, ever, ever hear the end of it. But since he was a Pat, it's all gone right down the memory hole.

Eff you Pats, eff you sports media and, just for old times' sake, EFF YOU CHAD!!!!