BY DAN BEGNOCHEThe last two postseason games for the Patriots are not examples coach Bill Belichick will be throwing up on the video screen for pregame inspiration before they face the Broncos Saturday, unless he’s looking to prove a point.
The once impervious New England team at home has lost its last two playoff games at Gillette Stadium, falling to the Ravens in 2009 before getting ousted by the rival Jets last year.
“It’s nothing you look to try and do,” receiver Wes Welker told the media Friday. “The last two years are the last two years and we’ve moved on from it.”
Much of the talk behind Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow has come because of his five road wins this season, many of them in last-drive fashion. Before their recent string of postseason home losses, the Pats had won 11 straight in Foxborough dating back to 1978. And the last things fans want to see this weekend is a Tebow touchdown drive with seconds remaining on the clock.
“To be honest with you, I wouldn’t be human if I didn’t think about it (the home losses) in my head but at the same time, this is a different team, a different year and we’re focused on this week,” linebacker Jerod Mayo said of the string of losses. “I think about it but at the same time I think we’re prepared and ready to go.”
If the Denver offense can put up as many points this week as it did last week against the supposedly stingy Pittsburgh defense, Tebow and the Broncos may have a shot. Tebow’s quarterback rating is much better in the second half of games this year than it is in the first, and it's even better in the fourth quarter. Also, his numbers away as compared to playing at home are like night and day.
“They have a great scheme, a lot of great players,” Tebow said Tuesday. “I think we have to be prepared. (Bill Belichick's) confused a lot of great quarterbacks and stopped a lot of good offenses, so we’ll have to be prepared for a very good scheme and a very good defense.”
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