Ultimate (enemy) Fan: Broncos lose, but it will be close

Patriots v. Broncos in the AFCCG

MHR – Who would have thought these two teams would be back in the AFCCG 10 years after their last matchup featuring two Hall-of-Famers, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady? Does it feel like this could develop into a fun rivalry once again?
Mike Grimaldi: I think so.  The Broncos and Patriots fan bases likely share the same sentiment: We are quite happy to have seen the last of the Chiefs and Mahomes dominating the AFC West—and for the entirety of the conference for that matter.  Denver has a great defense and an under-appreciated QB in Bo Nix. I know I was giving you grief when the Broncos drafted him, noting that he was already getting AARP literature in the mail.

Advertisement

MHR – Be honest…did you think at the beginning of the season that your beloved Patriots would be in the AFCCG? What was your prediction for the Pats back in August?
Mike Grimaldi: Absolutely…..not.  As of 10 days ago I thought it would be Buffalo and Houston.  Which points to my awesome predictive powers.  I wanted to have a season of football relevance.  After a week one loss to the Raiders and a week three loss to the Steelers we were wondering why we seemed to be blowing a golden opportunity to get off on a positive note.  Stevenson was coughing up the ball like an 18th century factory worker with tuberculosis.  I thought we might go 9-8 or 10-7.

MHR – Bo Nix is obviously not playing and your team gets to face a back-up QB that your team tried to sign as ITS backup before the season. There’s plenty of “Stiddy” hype here in the Mile High City, but when Jarrett Stidham takes the field on Sunday, it will be 749 days since his last pass attempt in a regular season game. Do you think the Pats defense is salivating over this? Are you?
Mike Grimaldi: I don’t think he will turn into Marcus Stroud, if that’s what you’re asking.  Payton will not put him in a position to fail.  The Pats defense is solid and as long as they limit the number of trips the Broncos make into the red zone, where our D had been awful for most of the year, then I think the Pats like their chances.  I do believe Vrabel has been preaching that our opponents are the Broncos and not Jarrett Stidham.  I am more concerned about stopping Harvey from breaking long runs and the fact that Dobbins is practicing again.  The Broncos OL is not the Chargers OL.  The weather will not be as sloppy as the Texans had to deal with last week.  The Pats are not going to shut down Denver’s offense like they did the past two weeks.  But in all honesty I am much happier facing Stidham than I would be facing Nix.  Obviously the bookmakers agree.

MHR – The Patriots are 8-0 on the road this year but haven’t won IN Denver in a while. What makes you confident your team will be able to change that this weekend? Do you like Vrabel’s “just business as usual” approach to handling the altitude?
Mike Grimaldi: Other than moving out to Colorado on Tuesday, I am not sure what we can do.  I’ve always thought it was ridiculously unfair to have an NFL franchise located so close to the sun.  I am sure there are standard league-wide practices for attempting to get ready to play at altitude.  When my daughters moved out to Denver in 2022 and 2023 I remember getting winded just moving their stuff up one flight of stairs. Of course I am a semi-retired grandfather who hasn’t been in shape since the Patriots went to their first SB in 1985-1986 season.

MHR – The Patriots and Broncos have been on similar paths the last two years – making some strides last year with rookie QBs, building a young team with the Draft, surprising a lot of teams this year and going to the AFCCG. But the Pats have had a bigger turnaround, 4-13 last season to 13-4 this season. What do you attribute most to this turnaround?
Mike Grimaldi: We went 14-3, but don’t let the facts get in the way. [*editor’s note: hey, this is my column, I’ll use whatever facts fit my narrative!!] Equal parts coaching and a ridiculously easy regular season schedule.  Maybe more of the latter, but we aren’t apologizing for it.

Advertisement

MHR – Drake Maye has been magnificent this year but has had some fumble issues in the two playoff wins. Will we be lucky enough to get that Drake Maye this weekend? What do you think his biggest strengths are? What makes you the most nervous about his play?
Mike Grimaldi: I pray to God that you don’t.  His ability to throw the most beautiful long ball and his ability to step up in the pocket.  I am most nervous about our coaches calling too many plays that rely on slow-developing pass routes.  Given the Broncos propensity to sack QBs I am hopeful we plan accordingly.

MHR – Another young guy on offense, rookie left tackle Will Campbell, has had a rough playoffs, accounting for three sacks and nine pressures to Maye, two of which led to Maye fumbles. He’ll be facing one of the best defenses in the NFL which also happens to account for the most sacks. How do you expect things to go for him on Sunday?
Mike Grimaldi: We have been working on an arm-lengthening technology to help him out. He is a solid LT but he is built like a T-Rex.  At least you don’t have Willie Anderson there.  Obviously we need our TEs and RBs to chip whoever you have coming from that side. I think we are successful when we let him roll away from pressure on the left side but I don’t think I saw much of that last week until later in the third quarter. He seems like a bright guy so I have to hope he has learned from his mistakes.  Maybe inserting a camera in the back of his helmet to help him recognize pressure.  I know that if Bill was still coaching we would be definitely working with the people at the CIA to get that done, surreptitiously, of course. As we used to say in NE, if you ain’t cheating you ain’t trying.

MHR – We love to tout Patrick Surtain because he’s a stud, but you have a rookie DB doing big things and gaining a lot of praise from some vets. How important will safety Craig Woodson be to your success on Sunday? Aside from slipping him a couple of gummies before the game, what is the best way for the Broncos’ offense to neutralize him?
Mike Grimaldi: Stuff him in his locker and padlock it.

MHR – Is Hunter Henry 100 years old yet? 😉 Too bad. He’s having one of his best years in the NFL and doing so with a young QB. How big of a threat is he for the Broncos – who, as you know, have not been known to cover TEs very well.
Mike Grimaldi: He is certainly a huge security blanket.  He has been quite consistent in the years since he left the Chargers. Austin Hooper at TE also helps this offense.

Advertisement

MHR – The Pats’ running back duo of Treyveon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson has accounted for nearly 1800 yards of offense this season. How big of a role do you expect the Patriots’ run game to have on Sunday? How big of a role would you like it to have?
Mike Grimaldi: I would love it if Maye went 8 of 10 for 83 yards and two TDs because that was all we needed. I think Stevenson is one of the most underrated RBs in the NFL.  Henderson does not have the moves of a Barry Sanders but he does share the boom/bust problem. These guys are capable of putting up 200 yards , but if the Pats run for at least 130 yards I will be happy.

MHR – The Broncos’ running game has been inconsistent at best and non-existent at worst this season, which is often as much to do with Payton’s play calling as it has to do with the running backs themselves. Which is the better approach for Denver…more running or more passing when facing your defense?
Mike Grimaldi: Probably the former.  If you are relying on Stidham to beat the Pats through the air then you are playing from behind.  You do not want to be in that position.  Seriously, how many screen passes can you dial up?

MHR – Give me your “X-factor” players on the Pats offense, defense and special teams for this championship. What about X-factors for the Broncos players?
Mike Grimaldi: On offense it has to be time for a Boutte call.  We may get Mack Hollins back but I imagine even if he does play that he is not in shape to compete too much at altitude. On defense it is Milton Williams.  You cannot stop him.  He and Barmore in the middle remind me of those NY Giant teams that gave Brady so much trouble.  QBs do NOT like pressure coming up the middle.  Marcus Jones is the best punt returner in the AFC.  Our kicker, Andy Borregales, is quietly having a great season. With respect to the Broncos, I have to be honest, I don’t know the team as well as I used to.  I know that my son-in-law is a huge Bonitto fan.  There is also the guy in the secondary with all the hair (not sure if he is a LB or a safety) and he seems to be wherever the ball is.  On offense I would be concerned that Engram has been quiet, but he certainly can be a matchup problem for anybody.  I would say Matt Prater on special teams but I know he plays for Buffalo now….