Boomer: Patriots Should Beat Broncos, But Will Be Closer With Game In Denver
BOSTON (CBS) -- Once again, Peyton Manning will square off against the New England Patriots for a trip to the Super Bowl.
The Patriots will head to Denver for the second time in three years for the AFC Championship game, hoping to avenge a 26-16 loss they suffered in 2013.
Boomer Esiason of WFAN and CBS' The NFL Today joined 98.5 The Sports Hub's Toucher & Rich on Monday to look ahead to the 17th showdown between Tom Brady and Manning. Esiason said Manning didn't look great in Denver's 27-20 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, and he's picking the Pats to advance to the big game in San Francisco, but notes things are never easy for opposing teams in Denver.
"It'll be a chess match between him and Matt Patricia, not so much Bill Belichick as Matt Patricia, disguising coverages and fronts, trying to hold as long as you can from getting into the defense you want to try and confuse Manning. Good luck with that," he said.
Boomer notes that the Broncos' offense was grinding Sunday afternoon, as they have been for some time, which is a big advantage for the Patriots.
"You have to feel they can't throw over the top, and if they can't do that you sit on the short stuff. But you never count Manning out, especially with this game being in Denver," said Boomer. "If New England had beat Miami in Week 17 I would tell you they're 10 point favorites, but because it's in Denver it will be a little closer. I still like New England to win the game and go to Super Bowl 50, but it'll be a little closer because now they have to go on the road and do it."
Esiason spoke of Manning's struggles, and said this is likely the final season for the future Hall of Famer.
"The ball was floating all over the place. It was windy yesterday, so when he threw to the [sideline] you saw a few of those balls float," he said. "He just doesn't have a strong arm. What he does have, and it gets to be somewhat frustrating during games, he's in and out from under center, changing personnel groups, doing everything we've come to know Peyton Manning to do.
"I do believe this is it. I don't think he'll play after this year," said Esiason. "I don't know if anyone would want him, or want to pay him what he's going to want to be paid."
He also touched on Danny Amendola's controversial special teams on hit on Kansas City's Jamell Fleming in the second quarter.
"I think it was an unnecessary play. You can catch any one of those guys, and the Patriots could have their guys caught like that too and nobody would like it. Anytime you hit a defensless player, a player not expecting to be hit, you should be flagged," he said.
Esiason added that comparing Amendola to Cincinnati's Vontaze Burfict, who was suspended for three games after a dirty hit on Pittsburgh's Antonio Brown last weekend, is "ridiculous."
"I got a lot of tweets saying we didn't hold Amendola accountable, well he hasn't had seven different transgressions against other players to the point where he's been fined seven times and suspended for three games," he said. "He got flagged for the play, it was a penalty against the Patriots, and everyone is complaining because they are trying to connect the two. They're not connectable because Danny Amendola is not a dirty player.
"At the end of the day you don't want players doing this to each other," said Boomer.
