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Broncos searching for defense; Patriots trying to find offense

Oct 14, 2008 - 10:55 PM Denver (4-2) at New England (3-2) 8:30 pm EDT

FOXBOROUGH, Massachusetts (Ticker) -- The Denver Broncos have struggled to stop opposing offenses. The good news for the Broncos is that the New England Patriots aren't exactly lighting up the scoreboard.

Denver and New England will try to solve their respective problems when they meet at Gillette Stadium on Monday night.

The Broncos endured their second loss in three games on Sunday, dropping a 24-17 decision to the Jacksonville Jaguars at home. It was the fourth time in six contests this season that Denver has surrendered at least 24 points - and it allowed at least 32 points in three consecutive games.

"We hung with them until late in the game, but in the end we couldn't stop them on third downs and they were able to run the clock out," Broncos linebacker D.J. Williams said. "We played better defense (against the Jaguars) than we have been, and we fought hard in the second half. We just have to move forward and keep fighting."

Sammy Morris rushed for the Patriots' only touchdown during Sunday's 30-10 loss to the San Diego Chargers, a 1-yard run with 5:18 remaining that accounted for the final score in the contest.

The setback also was New England's second in the last three games, as it has managed more than 20 points in one of five games this season.

While the Patriots' offense has struggled to connect on deep passes, coach Bill Belichick isn't planning to scale back his offense.

"I think the big thing is to hit the ones that we have an opportunity to hit," he said. "When the defense takes those plays away, I don't think it is good football to throw it down there for the sake of throwing it down there. That's not something that we really try to do.

"When we have the opportunities to hit them, we just have to connect on them. We will just keep working harder on that, but that is really the time to let it go. We just have to try to hit a few more of them when we get that opportunity."