New England Patriots Links 1/17/14 - Patriots' Pass Coverage Faces Toughest Test Yet

TEAM TALK

• Erik Scalavino notes Brady's return makes for perfect practice attendance.
• Press Conference transcripts: Tom Brady - Rob Ninkovich - Logan Mankins.
• #NextGameUp - Playoffs. AFC Championship game. This is what the Patriots live for. (1.42 min. video)
• From the NFL - Preview: Patriots vs.Broncos. (3.05 min. video)
• Patriots Today - Brady returns, Patriots practice. (1.46 min. video)

LOCAL LINKS

• Jeff Howe thinks Tom Brady's best asset Sunday could be the offense's pace and attitude.
• Karen Guregian runs through the positional matchups to see which team has the edge.
• Matt Chatham explains the real-life matchups [not Manning vs. Brady] Sunday, the biggest test being the Pats coverage units vs. Broncos pass catchers.
• Erik Frenz thinks Jamie Collins could draw his most difficult assignment yet vs. Broncos TE Julius Thomas.
• Mike Reiss serves up some picked-up pieces around Gillette Stadium Thursday.
• Zuri Berry explains Peyton Manning's 'Omaha' call and how the Patriots players will handle it.
• Jeff Howe reports a 'chipper' Tom Brady was back on the field yesterday, telling supporters they shouldn't be worried.
• Christopher Price notes Willie McGinest will serve as honorary captain for the Patriots Sunday.
• Ron Borges writes that the only reason he's still playing is to win the Super Bowl.
• Mark Daniels notes Kenrell Thompkins counts his blessings as he rides out his whirlwind rookie tour.
• Christopher Price mentions how Aqib Talib has been a leader and mentor for the next generation of Patriots DBs.
• Nick Underhill says it didn't take Kyle Arrington long to learn the differences between Welker and Edelman.
• Tom E. Curran says 'no quit' Sealver Silinga is proving he belongs in the NFL.
• Doug Kyed notes WR Greg Orton has been mimicking Demaryius Thomas in practice.
• Mike Reiss posts the transcript of his weekly online chat: Brady: "Everything matters"
• Chad Finn picks five memorable plays by unsung players during the Patriots season so far.
• Tom E. Curran reports from his bunker on the bedlam following the news of Tom Brady falling ill Wednesday. (1.23 min.video) /Pretty funny.
• The Boston Herald writers share their thoughts on Sunday's matchup in Denver. Only Jeff Howe gives the advantage to the Patriots.
• Jeff Howe Patriots Notebook: Kyle Arrington gears up for rematch with Wes Welker; Willie McGinest will serve as the team's honorary captain; Brady, Arrington (groin) and Danny Aiken (illness) were removed from the injury report; Alfonzo Dennard (knee, shoulder), Dane Fletcher (groin), Logan Mankins (ankle) and Shane Vereen (groin) were all upgraded to full participants.
• Jim Lazar tells everyone to step aside for the team-be-damned, Tom & Peyton extravaganza, and makes his AFC Championship picks. Pats 26-23.

NATIONAL NEWS

• Robert Mays (Grantland) Dante Scarnechia, the Patriots forgotten man. /Excellent read.
• Dan Pompei (Sports on Earth) Victim of his own success: We're starting to take Bill Belichick for granted.
• Jackie MacMullan goes in depth with the Tom Brady, Bill Belichick narrative.
• Greg A. Bedard (The MMQB) Broncos and Patriots run more pick plays with greater precision than any other team in the NFL.
• Gregg Rosenthal (NFL.com) The ever-changing New England Patriots' offfense.
• Brandon Ayanbadejo (Fox Sports) Five keys to taking down Tom Brady and the New England Patriots' offense.
• Ross Tucker (Sporting News) Broncos' biggest worry? Who's not covering slot.
• Darin Gantt (ProFootballTalk) Remain calm, all is well, or at least Tom Brady is.
• Mike Wilkening (ProFootballTalk) Tom Brady no longer on Patriots' injury report.
• Brent Sobleski (USA Today) NFL personnel choose Brady over Manning.
• Rachel Shuster (USA Today) Tom Brady holds decided stats edge over Peyton Manning.
• Alex Gelhar (NFL.com) Manning vs. Brady: The complete history.
• Dan Wetzel (Yahoo! Sports) Can a Super Bowl ring outweigh a UFC champion's belt? Patriots' Chandler Jones might find out.
• Zubin Mehenti and Tedy Bruschi (ESPN) Being Rob Ninkovich. (2.30 min. video)
• Inside the Huddle (ESPN) Bill Belichick challenge. (1 min. video)
• Marc Sessler (NFL.com) AFC Championship Game preview: Patriots-Broncos.
• Bill Barnwell (Grantland) AFC Championship Preview: A whole new ballgame.
• John Parolin (ESPN Stats & Info) AFC Championship: Matchups to watch.
• Mike Tanier (Sports on Earth) Game riffs: Championship Sunday.
• Doug Farrar (SI) The all-22: Keys to victory in the Conference Championships.
• Russell S. Baxter (Cold Hard Football Facts) Super or Else: Championship statistical onslaught.
• Nathan Jahnke (Pro Football Focus) 32 observations: Conference Championships.
• Photo essays (NFL.com) Mind-blowing stats for Championship Sunday.
• Andy Benoit (The MMQB) It's time to man up: The AFC Championship Game is a case study of how NFL defenses are evolving.
• Jim Corbett (USA Today) Madden: In the cold, 'you better be able to run it.'
• Rich Cimini (ESPN) Analysis: A compromise for Rex Ryan, Jets.
• Rick Gosselin (Dallas Morning News) Special teams rankings. Patriots finish first.
• Elliot Harrison (NFL.com) Championship Sunday predictions. Broncos 26-24.
• Don Banks (SI) NFL Conference Championship picks. Broncos 34-31.
• Around the League (NFL.com) Picking winners for Championship Sunday. 2 out of 5 pick Pats over Broncos.
• Vinnie Iyer (Sporting News) NFL Conference Championship picks. Patriots 26-23.
• Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) Conference Championship game picks. MDS picks Broncos 37-35, Florio picks Patriots 30-27 (OT).
• Peter Schrager (Fox Sports) Cheat sheet: Sit back and savor Championship Sunday. Patriots 33- 27.
• NFL Live (ESPN) Prediction: NE-Den. (1.30 min. video) Schlereth and Sharper pick Broncos, Bruschi picks Patriots.

VIEW FROM DENVER

• Patrick Saunders (Denver Post) Tom Brady is 7-0 against NFL defenses guided by Jack Del Rio.
• Patrick Saunders (Denver Post) Peyton Manning: Broncos must focus on "finishing drives" vs. Patriots.
• Mike Morris (DenverBroncos.com) Respect runs deep between Manning, Brady.
• Mark Kiszla (Denver Post) Go home, chowderheads - Broncos don't want you here.
• Mike Klis (Denver Post) Bill Belichick can match Peyton Manning's high football IQ.
• Patrick Saunders (Denver Post) Demaryius Thomas gets case of nerves early.
• Eddie Pells (Colorado Springs Gazette) McDaniels tries to stick another dagger in Denver.