New England Patriots Have Their Divisional Round Opponent

But things have changed for the Patriots as well since Week 3. “We are playing a team that has earned this opportunity”, Brady said. The same quarterback that team general manager Smith payed $37 million guaranteed, despite the fact that O’Brien had never before even met the quarterback. And they all had quarterbacks who, at the time, avoided crucial mistakes and did just enough to outplay Brady.

Once Pittsburgh completed its task, defeating the Dolphins, 30-12, in their wild-card game on Sunday, the Texans’ ticket back to Foxboro was punched.

They were hoping Osweiler would be that guy. Nothing for the other team to put on the bulletin board. He’s had a lot of third down production, so I think that pretty much says it all right there.

“If you look at games earlier in the season against them, we played well. It starts today preparing for that challenge”.

The offense got a boost by the return of running back Lamar Miller, who missed the last two regular-season games with an ankle injury. No, I don’t really go too much to the Vegas betting line. “It’s a very hard challenge for us and hard challenge for anybody that goes against them because they’re all very good at what they do”. Indeed, it played out as if Belichick was trying something different in order to set up a teachable moment for his players (which I outlined here). I can assure you that won’t be happening, though.

“It really doesn’t matter last time we played them or past year because things change so much with the game and a game plan and players”.

New England will be fresh off its well-earned bye week with Brady playing particularly well.

Offensive coordinator/job interviewee Josh McDaniels: “I think we all evolve as the season goes on”. They might not even get there.

While that’s a theory you can’t easily punch holes in, it is short-sighted. And there was very little bad during a day that suggests this is a very, very good Steelers team. “You have to make sure that number one, that you do your job”. The Denver Broncos showed the rest of the National Football League how to stop three elite quarterbacks last postseason (Ben Rothlisberger, Tom Brady, and Cam Newton).

“It’s a tricky situation”, he said.

If they want to be the best, they have to beat the best. “It just wasn’t publicized”.

When Belichick was asked about the game during his Tuesday morning press conference, he said it exemplified the type of game fans of pro football and college football alike can expect at this time of year. “I’m very thankful to be here with my guys”. Because you could argue that the Ravens and Jets did not necessarily have the better teams in 2009, 2010, or 2012, but it was that hatred that synergized them and made them winners on those days. But I can assure you, Saturday night won’t end well for Osweiler and the Texans.

This is where, dare I say it, Houston will have the advantage this weekend.

The Raiders got a 2-yard TD run by Murray late in the first quarter.