What's up everybody? Welcome into the NextPats podcast.

I'm Phil Perry.

Fantastic episode for you this week, a conference championship week edition of NextPats.

We're bringing in our good friend two-time Super Bowl champion Rob Nikovic to talk about

this Patriots and Broncos matchup.

Not only can he tell us what it's like to prepare for a backup quarterback and how

seriously you have to take number two's at that position when they're stepping into new roles,

but he also gives us great insight into how Sean Payton will

handle this week, a week in which nobody believes in his football team.

Nikovic actually played for Peyton down in New Orleans so he can give us great detail

on the kinds of things Peyton is telling his team this week.

But before we get to Rob, let's start with the Patriots offense against the Broncos defense when it

comes to this matchup because Drake May has a massive challenge on his hands.

Another phenomenal defense after facing the Texans in the divisional round and the Chargers

in the Wild Card round. He has fumbled six times. It hasn't always looked pretty, but he's made

enough in the way of plays in order to get the Patriots to this

point. But I asked him earlier this week, if he feels like he has to change his big game

hunter's approach at all, going to Denver, understanding just how hard it is to hold on to

the football for extended periods of time and still be able to protect the football, I think you're going to find his answer fascinating. Here it is. No, I don't think you know trying to change it. I think last week, you know, you change it and K. Sean doesn't make the play. So little things like that, just knowing the time and place for it, I think trying to get the ball out of my hand and just being cognizant of, you know, the edge rushers and taking care of the football is is number one thing. So if we have time and have a look downfield, you know me. I'm going to take a look and take a shot. He's going to take a shot if he gets the opportunity. That's what's in his DNA. That's who he is. And why suggest to him that he should do anything else? It's what helped get the Patriots to this point. It's part of the reason why they had the number one explosive play rate in football this year. But the Broncos, they're number one in sack rate. They're number three in pressure rate. And while holding on to the football worked during the regular season for Drake May. During the postseason,

it's been a different story. When he's held onto the ball for longer than two and a half seconds into playoff games, he's gone 11 for 24. That's a 45.8 completion percentage for

8.3 yards per attempt, not bad, one touchdown, but two picks and seven sacks, including

three strip sacks.

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