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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Before winter weather rolls into the Northeast, the Patriots are rolling out to Denver for the AFC Championship game on Sunday. "It's a shorter turnaround," coach Bill Belichick said pointing to the 3 p.m. ET scheduled start against the AFC's top-seeded Broncos.
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For all the bluster coming from Broncos' defensive players -- outside linebacker Von Miller, cornerback Chris Harris Jr. and others have shared strong and critical opinions of the Patriots -- New England has been mostly tight-lipped. The Patriots lost a Sunday night game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Week 12, 30-24, but are playing in their record-tying fifth consecutive AFC title game.
Wide receiver Julian Edelman made it clear again Friday morning that the Patriots are focused on the prize.
"We're focusing on what they do, not what they say," said Edelman, who missed the Nov. 29 game at Denver with a broken foot but caught 10 passes for 100 yards last week. "They're a really good football team and we can't afford to get into that game. We have to really just sit back and see what these guys do and go out and prepare for that instead of saying something. ... That's what we do here."
Denver's No. 1 overall defense also led the league in pass defense at 199.6 yards per game. Quarterback Tom Brady threw three touchdown passes in the previous meeting but was also heavily pressured -- on 40 percent of his throws.
The Patriots are confident in their offense with Edelman back and Rob Gronkowski dominating in the playoffs the past two years. There isn't as much certainty about New England's defense.
Part of that is not knowing what to expect from the Broncos. They controlled the ball and ran at will, a matter of consternation for Belichick this week.
"It was definitely a problem. We just didn't play very well. Give up 179 yards, I mean, that's not where we want to be," he said Friday.
Brock Osweiler started that game for the Broncos, but it will be Peyton Manning on Sunday, starting for the 17th time against Brady. He's 2-2 against Brady in their AFC championship clashes and last lost to him in 2004. Brady is 2-6 all-time in Denver.
Inside linebacker Dont'a Hightower said the Patriots are looking closely at Manning's arm strength and velocity on his preferred routes. It's something Hightower said Friday the team will take advantage of only if they are disciplined and in position.
"I don't know if it's more fun as much as it is tricky," Hightower said. "You don't want to be in that kind of fight with Manning. He usually wins with that. Last year we had a pretty good plan as far as trying to mix it up and trying to confuse him a little bit and it kind of showed early on, and in the game it kind of had him frizzed a little bit so hopefully we can do a little bit of that this year too."
