Didn't get any respect before the game, don't expect to now. Nevermind being one of the best offenses in the league all season, nevermind being one of the best defenses in the league all season, and nevermind having the 2nd best turnover ratio in the league all season.
Did the Broncos win pretty? No. But they did what 10 teams couldn't do over the last 4 years -- beat the Patriots in the postseason.
This was a team that, if you average out all the power rankings over the course of the season, was the 2nd best team in the league across the board. For people to change their mind after that game is just stupid... we got exactly what we've gotten all season out of the defense. Stop the run, but give up a lot of passing yards, yet still keep them off of the board. That's been our defense all season, and it's the same exact reason I kept sharing one stat over and over... Denver was second in the league in Turnover Margin. They don't make the mistake that the Patriots apparently do (Since you guys are so convinced the Broncos didn't win, but the Patriots lost). They don't put the ball on the ground, and Jake Plummer rarely makes a stupid decision to throw the ball. As for the Patriots fumbles, Sauerbrun got his body on the ball -- it was a forced fumble in every sense of the word. The game was in little doubt by the time the Troy Brown fumble occured. You don't just drop the ball without contact, so that first fumble was also 'forced'. And the Brady Interception was a beautiful play by Champ Bailey, not an easy catch at all.
How about that Invesco Field crowd that had Tom Brady shook throughout the entire first half? Here's another stat I shared -- Broncos are undefeated at home. No way the Steelers come in and win. In fact, anyone remember seeing the Patriots players on the sidelines wearing oxygen masks? You think it's a coincidence we were able to run the ball late?
The offense didn't look great. How many of you expected them to? It's a fairly predictable offense -- establish the run, and use it to get Jake Plummer out of the pocket. Of course Bill Belichek is going to find a way to stop it when he sees it for the second time! Especially considering their front seven is the 'best in the NFL', as I'm sure some of you would say.