This will be our 8th AFC Championship Game in the past 13 seasons.

2002: 24-17 win @ Pittsburgh
2003: missed playoffs
2004: 24-14 win vs. Indianapolis
2005: 41-27 win @ Pittsburgh
2006: lost in Division round @ Denver
2007: 38-34 loss @ Indianpolis
2008: 21-12 win vs. San Diego
2009: missed playoffs
2010: lost in Wild Card round vs. Baltimore
2011: lost in Division round vs. New York
2012: 23-20 win vs. Baltimore
2013: 28-13 loss vs. Baltimore
2014:

Absolutely virtuoso performance from BB and McD. They went fast no-huddle, attempted the deep ball, went power run game and sped up and slowed down the offensive tempo based on the situation. They were almost predictable in their offensive approach, but they knew it didn't matter. Amazing.

Very successful gameplan, agreed. Blount has been phenomenal. Collins had a coming out party. Ridley has run straight and held on like we needed him to. Edelman is playing very well. Amendola is consistent. Brady made the throws he had to make. I'm proud to be a Pats fan tonight!

One critique I would give however, is that it was very frustrating for me when we would use the Shotgun 5-wide formations. Not only do I think we don't have the right personnel to optimally run that formation anymore, but I also think that when we have a running game that is having this much success you should keep Ridley or Blount lined up in the backfield. Anytime we leave Ridley or Blount in the backfield the opponent has to respect the run at least a little bit. Even on 3rd and say 5, or 2nd and 10. I know we had one first down conversion out of this formation, but I wish we would use it less overall.

(On the 3rd and 5's I would also accept Vereen as long as he lined up in the backfield, not wide!)

I like the formation because it sends the message to opposing DCs, "we're gonna do this, even if you don't think we have the personnel." Keep everyone guessing and make them scared. With Brady, it's always a question mark for the other side.

Tonight Tom Brady broke Tom Brady's record for most career playoff wins! The new record is 18, but this record could be broken as early as next week by Tom Brady.

One thing left out in the adaptability of this amazing team. Gostowski is a perfectly acceptable punter.

Did we really win? I may have been dreaming because I thought I saw the BB call a punt from the Colts' 30yd line.

In my nightmare, I had a 2,6 for the football numbers and the score was 22-43. So if the Pats just kick a fg I would net $400.

I assume I will soon wake up in bed screaming WTF BELICHEK?

Enjoying this run but also can't help but think Collins coming out party, Hightower playing great over the past 5 games, and Dennard showing he's the real deal (if he can stay on the field) all bode very well for the future.

If they had only suffered a few less key injuries I feel they would be steamrolling the league this year.

They're still playing amazing all things considered. Super excited to see Collins playing to his potential. Collins, Hightower (back at his best spot), and Mayo is a SICK LB group.

Collins was crazy last night, team has been missing a LB like him for years. Sack was ridiculous and he was in tight coverage all night. Feeling pretty good about the Pats chances next week.

I got in on Pats -7.5, free money ftw

All those INTs last night had me thinking about all those SB runs fed by Ty Law, Rodney Harrison, and Assante Samuel picks.

I had no problem attending last nights game.

Also a quick thank you to the Broncos for the inevitable 4th quarter collapse that let my Chargers +10 bet come through for a great sports betting weekend for me. A little surprised the broncos won, pretty anticlimactic to have to play this team we already beat convincingly again.

I predict a yawner that we win by 12 to 20 points.

Nice beard, LM. I've got that hat, too, it's my fav hat ever.

(They make 'em in all team colors, of course. Chargers players were wearing theirs on the sidelines in Denver today, and all I could think was, "A winter hat in SD colors? That has to be the worst-selling hat in the history of hats!")

Even with all the injuries this year I think the D is healthier now than when they played Denver earlier in the year.

Dennard was in his 1st game back and only played 20 snaps. Talib was in his 2nd game back, played all the snaps but still wasnt 100%. Gregory missed the game.

On top of that Hightower was benched at the half and he is playing alot better now aswell as Siliga being added to the team since then.

I feel much more confident this time around about getting some stops on D. I was a bit to pessimistic prior to the last game.

I feel pretty good about going into Denver. I think the Pats win this one something like 4in 10 times, maybe slightly higher.

Weather as of now looks dry, warm, and not windy. I think it's going to be hard to win -- maybe 3 or 4 in 10.

I agree the defense is healthier but our offense was much better then, and Denver was missing one of their big targets iirc. If we can get off to a decent lead and stick to the ground game I like our chances a lot better.

I hope we win but whatever happens this team with all the injuries and changes on personnel has out-performed all my expectations and nothing can happen in this game that will make me feel like this wasn't a hugely successful season. Knocking off Denver would be the frosting on the cake and winning the SB the cherry on top.

I'm nervous already. Gonna be a LOOOOONG f'ing week looking forward to this one. Although I agree with Jbrochu that this is a successful season with this team, we're TWO games from another SB and it'll hurt like hell if they don't get it done. We're probably 5 years, maybe less, away from a few mediocre, non-playoff years so I need another SB before that happens.

+1

While this team is nowhere near as talented as in years past, they are hitting their stride, and only need to do it for two more games.

Denver didn't impress me that much yesterday. I highly doubt that their defense is able to do that to NE, Blount/Vereen/Ridley all healthy as opposed to Mathews. I think the Pats score in the 27-34 point range.

It will be on the defense to slow down the Broncos. Talib--Demariyus, Collins-Julius, Arrington (ugh)--Welker....gotta win those matchups.

I will say that as much as I wanted the Pats to get SD at home, a win @ Denver would be 10x more satisfying that a win vs SD.

Can't wait til Sunday!!

Its not a freeroll because getting this close and losing always sucks, but I will be much less disappointed if they lose this game than I was after the last two seasons.

Feel pretty good this team will compete Sunday though.

Ya I'm not saying I'll be happy if they lose but it's going to be pretty hard for me to ultimately be anything but pleased with how the team responded all year.

Also I know Brady is getting old, but damn if we can get a little bit of run good on the injury front for a couple of seasons I feel like this team could be a steamroller over the next 3 years.

If they lose on sunday I might look back on the season in a couple of weeks and think they had a good run, but i most definately will be devestated for awhile.

We'll see. I bet they'll be good, they're always good, but some work to do on both interior lines and Talib, Edelman, Blount are all free agents with limited cap room thanks to the Hernandez dead money.

Dobson is the key to me. He was really picking things up before he got hurt.

They aren't likely to pour a lot of resources into WR's this offseason, if anything they're going to lose Edelman and go with an Amendola/Thompkins/Dobson/Boyce grouping heading into next year.

If Dobson is a legitimate outside threat and Gronk can make it back next year, that's a dangerous team. If not, they might end up a little short on offensive weaponry (as they might this Sunday)

I'm really optimistic about the next 3 years if we get some injury run-good (esp. Gronk), but I'll wait until after we win the SB this year before getting into the offseason stuff.