The New England Patriots are set to hit the road and take on the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game. What five keys must they focus on in order to knock off the Broncos and advance to the Super Bowl?
1. Tom Brady Must Take Care of the Football
Denver has one of the top defenses in the NFL, which makes taking care of the football even more important. Peyton Manning didn't put up huge numbers against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week, but their defense made the necessary plays to pull off the win. Tom Brady has to take care of the football and not allow turnovers to give Denver life.
2. Establishing Rob Gronkowski Early Has to Happen
Going up against a defense like Denver has is never easy, but the Patriots have one weapon that the Broncos don't have a chance to defend. Rob Gronkowski has an advantage on every defense he faces and that will be the case again this weekend. New England has to establish him early and use him as the workhorse for their offense.
3. Put Pressure on Peyton Manning
After missing a good chunk of the season due to injury, Peyton Manning will not like taking hits throughout the course of the game this week. New England has to throw pressure his way early and often. Getting to him and forcing him to make quick decisions could be a way for the Patriots to force turnovers as well as get Manning out of his comfort zone.
4. Focus on Slowing Down the Broncos' Running Game
Anyone that has watched the Broncos since Manning came back has seen that the Broncos are very much a running team now. Manning will still get his numbers, but he checks down to the run quite often. New England has to focus on slowing down C.J. Anderson and Ronnie Hillman and if they can do so will put Manning in a difficult position.
5. Don't Get Too High with the High's or Low with the Low's
Perhaps the most important point is that the Patriots cannot afford to get too high when they're playing well or too low during struggles. Both are going to happen throughout the game, but the Patriots have to stay grounded and calm. Playing their game and believing that they will win through any situation is a must for New England.
Who do you think will win this game and what are your final score predictions? Let us know in the comment box below!
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