NFL Insider Pushes Back On Critics Disrespecting Patriots

One prominent NFL personality defended the New England Patriots against skeptics who continue to question them during a deep playoff run.

The Patriots may not win over doubters even if they make the Super Bowl. After exploiting a favorable regular-season schedule, they capitalized on a vulnerable Los Angeles Chargers offensive line in the opening round and defeated the Houston Texans without star wide receiver Nico Collins in the AFC Divisional Round.

New England will now face the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game, but Jarrett Stidham will start in place of the injured Bo Nix. That has some pundits pounding the table at the Patriots’ luck, but ESPN insider Peter Schrager urged everyone to respect the Patriots.

“Don’t take the Patriots’ defense lightly, and don’t dismiss what that team has done,” Schrager said on “The Schrager Hour” podcast. “This is an unbelievable story, what the Patriots are up to. And if they can get to the Super Bowl, I don’t want to hear about the quarterbacks they faced, the injuries on the Chargers’ offensive line, Nico Collins. B.S.

“The Patriots would have done it and have played everyone that they have been asked to play, and they have gotten there on their merit.”

Schrager can see a scenario where the Patriots win the AFC title, but naysayers still diminish their success because of Nix’s injury.

“I don’t want to discredit any team that makes a Super Bowl,” Schrager added, “and already I’m feeling the narrative shifting of, ‘Yeah, but. Yeah, but. Yeah, but.'”

The AFC Championship Game starts Sunday at 3 p.m. ET on CBS.