New England Patriots
“A positive note going into the game versus the Patriots is that they struggle against backup QBs in championship-type games.”
As soon as the clocks hit zero during the Patriots’ win over the Texans at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, the New England knew that it would be facing a top-seeded Broncos team that is suddenly missing its starting quarterback.
Denver’s Bo Nix broke his ankle on Saturday during the fourth quarter of their win against the Bills. Backup Jarrett Stidham, a former Patriot, is the next man up.
This, of course, will raise even more questions about the Patriots’ remarkably easy schedule. They were dead last in strength of schedule during the regular-season, according to ESPN. After mauling a banged-up Chargers offensive line and forcing Houston’s C.J. Stroud into four first-half interceptions, the Patriots are one win away from the Super Bowl.
The Patriots are back, and so are the trolls. Count former Eagles quarterback Nick Foles, who won Super Bowl LII MVP for his perfomance against the Patriots in that game, among them.
“Note for the Broncos and their fans,” Foles wrote on X. “I know it has been an emotional 24 hours. I feel for Bo and the team, and I’m sending prayers for a strong recovery. A positive note going into the game versus the Patriots is that they struggle against backup QBs in championship-type games.”
Foles famously filled in for Carson Wentz after Wentz tore his ACL in Week 14 of the 2017 regular-season. The Eagles went on a run and made it to the Super Bowl, where they faced the Patriots.
Foles tossed three touchdowns against one interception and had 373 passing yards in the game. He also caught a touchdown on the “Philly Special,” a trick play that the Eagles executed in the closing minute of the second-quarter to snatch the lead back from the Patriots just before halftime.
Tom Brady threw for 505 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in that game and the Patriots still lost. It was Brady’s final Super Bowl loss. The Patriots won Super Bowl LIII the following year against the Rams and Brady won his seventh one with the Bucs after leaving the Patriots.
On Sunday at 3 p.m. in Denver, Drake Maye will get his first shot at clinching a Super Bowl berth. He’ll have to get through the Denver defense and win a road game in a high-altitude environment to do it.
The Broncos may be without their starting quarterback on Sunday, but Foles was quick to throw a jab and remind folks that the Patriots have been beaten by a backup QB in a big game before.
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