TEAM TALK
- Patriots-Broncos Wednesday Injury Report.
- Erik Scalavino tells us what happened Wednesday at Gillette: Brady, Aiken not at practice; Dobson, Allen return.
- Andy Hart reports LeGarrette Blount is on this week's regional cover of Sports Illustrated.
- AP Report - Patriots secondary set for rematch with Manning.
- Press Conference Transcripts: Bill Belichick - Matthew Slater - Logan Mankins - Devin McCourty - Chandler Jones.
- Patriots Wednesday Locker Room quotes.
- Patriots Today - Edelman's the guy. (2.33 min. video)
- Patriots Today - Report from the field. (1.55 min. video)
- Locker Room Uncut - Patriots chat inside the locker room. (3.32 min. video)
LOCAL LINKS
- Tim Britton wonders if the Patriots will take the ground and pound approach in Denver, or exploit the Broncos' weak secondary.
- Adam Kaufman feels that it will be passing, not running, that decides the AFC Championship.
- Christopher Price is amazed how the offense has succeeded by altering its approach as the personnel has changed.
- Jeff Howe recalls how the Patriots defenders were able to pressure Peyton Manning and be physical with his receivers.
- Mark Daniels notes the Patriots D-line has made major improvements against the run since getting gashed by Denver in Week 12.
- Erik Frenz says one of the most intriguing, and important, matchups will be TE Julius Thomas vs.LB Jamie Collins.
- The Herald staff analyzes the matchup between Knowshon Moreno vs. the Pats front 7.
- Karen Guregian lays out the options for defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio and what he needs to stop more, the run or the depleted passing game.
- Adam Kurkjian notes Michael Hoomanawanui is healthy after missing the first Denver game with a knee injjury.
- Christopher Price reports Brian Baldinger believes Logan Mankins is still one of the best guards in the NFL.
- Christopher Price offers five reasons why the AFC title game will be completely different than the regular-season matchup.
- Mike Reiss notes DT Sealver Siliga nearly re-joined the Broncos from the Patriots practice squad, but he was promoted to the active roster instead.
- Field Yates tells us Ryan Mallett had to be Tom Brady for the first team and Peyton Manning for the scout team at practice, in Brady's absence.
- Karen Guregian reports on how the practice continued yesterday after Tom Brady was sent home due to illness.
- Mike Reiss shares some picked-up pieces from the media circus at Gillette Stadium yesterday.
- Mark Farinella describes the Patriots locker room, with the national media hoards present and looking for storylines.
- Mike Reiss notes Aqib Talib was thrilled for Marquice Cole signing with the Denver Broncos: "Cash that check, baby. Got to pay the bills, man."
- Christopher Price notes the Patriots and Broncos have a similar approach when it comes to team-building.
- Jeff Howe Patriots Notebook: LeGarrette Blount's three-game explosion landed him on the cover of Sports Illustrated; Blount doesn't fear a jinx or anything he can't run over; Julian Edelman and Wes Welker will share the field again, but Edelman shied away from any comparisons; Players all agree Jamie Collins is a freakishly gifted athlete who will blossom once he bulks up and continues to learn the game.
- The Boston Globe posts an NFL video of great rivals across different sports explaining the Peyton Manning-Tom Brady rivalry. (4.27 min. video)
NATIONAL NEWS
- Mike Reiss and Jeff Legwold (ESPN) Double coverage: Patriots at Broncos. (5.02 min. video)
- Josh Alper (ProFootballTalk) Tom Brady back at Patriots facility, expected to practice.
- Elizabeth Merrill (ESPN) Tales from the centers.
- Sound FX (NFL.com) Indianapolis Colts vs. New England Patriots. (5.26 min. video)
- Frank Schwab (Yahoo! Sports) Peyton Manning says Bill Belichick will go down as the greatest NFL coach ever.
- SportsCenter (ESPN) Peyton on facing Belichick-coached team. (2.24 minute video)
- John Feinstein (CBS Sports) Be appreciative of the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick era.
- Numbers Never Lie (ESPN) Manning or Brady? (1.59 min. video)
- Michael David Smith (ProFootballTalk) Broncos downplay Marquice Cole's ability to share information.
- Scott Brown (ESPN) Cowher dismisses impact of 'spygate'.
- Brian Billick (NFL.com) Why NFL teams revert to smashmouth football in the postseason.
- Peter King (The MMQB) The Tuesday Mailbag.
- Will Brinson (CBS Sports) Is a Seinfeld Super Bowl XLVIII reunion commercial in the works?
VIEW FROM DENVER
- Mike Klis (Denver Post) Patriots' Tom Brady has another great year with lesser receivers.
- Brandon Moree (DenverBroncos.com) Patriots' balance provides test.
- Mark Kiszla (Denver Post) Patriots' Tom Brady blocks Broncos' path to the Super Bowl.
- Nick Groke (Denver Post) How exactly Denver can beat New England (with more than voodoo).
- Paul Klee (Colorado Springs Gazette) Gamesmanship alive and well for Broncos vs. Patriots.
- Mike Klis (Denver Post) Broncos, Patriots both have overcome much to get to AFC title game.
- Irv Moss (Denver Post) New Broncos cornerback Marquice Cole ready to hit ground running.
- Stuart Zaas (DenverBroncos.com) Former Patriot Cole looking to help Broncos.
- Mike Morris (DenverBroncos.com) A rare opportunity.
- Nick Groke (Denver Post) Best Knowshon in NFL history — and drinking good beer before Broncos-Patriots.