Full gallop

MICHAEL IVINS/US PRESWIRE

DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF GAME
Patriots 45, Broncos 10 (1/14/'12): The conversation around all the campfires in the parking lot before yesterday's playoff game focused on two topics: the cold weather and the Pats' postseason cold streak.

Neither proved to be a problem.

The enchanted forest lot across from the Bass Pro Shop began filling up about 3 p.m., five-plus hours before kickoff. I was coming from the north while my friends Mark and Bergs and were coming from the south. The plan was to get into the lot and then call each other. I pulled into an open spot in the very back of the forest and Bergs stepped out of the car next to me. It was a good omen.

The fire pit was quickly roaring in anticipation of the eight-layer cold. By the time Shep and Matt arrived a half-hour later I was tailgating in just a T-shirt, jersey, and hoodie. The beers were cold but my feet weren't. And the sun was shining bright. It was a good omen. The fun was enhanced by a round of Bloody Marys -- and the three women they arrived with (thanks Amy, Roxanne, and Frances).

A few cups of chili and rice, some flank steak, and a few trays of wings kept things warm as the the sun went down. Body temperatures began to drop as game time neared and the wind-chill hit single digits. We got in early to avoid getting stuck in the usual logjam at the gates and stood in the cold watching Mr. Kraft and Jon Bon Jovi (sporting a very sharp red scarf) schmooze on the field before the game. My feet were starting to get a little cold and a round of margaritas and beers didn't help much. Then Tom Brady and the offense warmed the Gillette crowd up -- in a hurry.

After witnessing the last two seasons end in great disappointment at home, the fired-up crowd was clearly looking for some good omens early. That came four plays into the game when tight end Aaron Hernandez lined up as a running back and busted a 43-yard run down to the Denver 7-yard line. "We steal coaches and run tight ends out of the backfield! We can't be stopped!," one of the guys behind us yelled, referring to Belichick signing former Broncos' head coach Josh McDaniels this week.

One play later Brady hit Wes Welker for a touchdown and the temperature in the stadium rose a good five degrees. Besides giving up a ridiculous amount of yards on defense, the Pats' biggest problem lately had been getting off to slow starts. Another concern that proved not to be a problem. Brady got the ball back and led another fast scoring drive, this time ending with Gronk making a great diving catch at the side of the end zone. Pats 14-0 just ten minutes into the game. The crowd was on its feet and stayed that way throughout the whole offensive show. When Brady hit Branch for a 61-yard score with just more than two minutes to play in the half, the crowd went into celebration mode. When he and Gronk connected again with just nine seconds to go the crowd began looking ahead to the AFC title game. At Gillette. Brady threw a record five touchdowns in the first half while the defense gave Tim Tebow all kinds of trouble.

The deservedly-maligned  D kept the Denver quarterback from running all over the field and he wasn't able to recreate his passing performance from last week's upset against the Steelers. Tebow was held to just 136 very-ineffective passing yards and -- impressively -- only 13 yards rushing. The Pats got to Tebow for five sacks while also stuffing the league's best running game. It was an impressive performance.

The chants of "Teee-bow! Teeee-bow!" echoed through Gillette. The crowd hadn't been that fired up since the days of chanting "Paaaay-ton! Paaaay-ton!"

My hand was sore by the time I got back to the parking lot from all the high-fiving with strangers after the game. My throat was sore from all the yelling.

That's how you know it was a great game.