FOXBORO — 

Since being drafted by the Patriots last month, Jake Bequette has taken a local approach whenever a New Englander asks how his last name is pronounced.

“I say, ‘It’s just like Josh Beckett,’ ” the affable Arkansas native said with a smile Friday during a break in the Patriots’ two-day rookie minicamp at Gillette Stadium.

Bequette recently turned 23, so you can forgive him for not knowing any better. And while he has a few things in common with Beckett — namely, a fondness for golfing, hunting and fishing — it appears (thankfully) that’s where the similarities end.

It doesn’t take long to realize saying and, more importantly, doing the right things matter a great deal to this Bequette.

“I’m just working as hard as I can and I’m just going to try to establish myself,” he said. “For me, it’s exciting. It’s been a lifelong dream to play in the NFL, especially for a great organization like the Patriots. It’s just awesome and exciting. Like I said, I can’t wait to get started.”

Judging by that comment, Bequette had no trouble acing Patriots 101. He and the team are hoping the rest of the transition from the University of Arkansas to the pros will be equally seamless.

The Patriots drafted Bequette in the third round with the 90th overall selection, one acquired from Green Bay in a trade that saw them drop back 28 spots and still get their player. He was the fourth of six straight picks made with the intention of fortifying a defense that ranked both 31st overall and against the pass last season.

Like Chandler Jones, the Patriots’ first overall pick, the 6-foot-4, 264-pound Bequette excelled as a pass-rushing defensive end in college while also playing some outside linebacker. When it comes to a Bill Belichick-coached team, you can’t go wrong with being multi-positional.

“That’s a tremendous point of pride for me,” Bequette said. “Versatility is about helping the team any way you can. That’s a big part of this organization, I’ve been told, and that’s hopefully something I can bring to the table.”

Being able to play two positions is a valued trait. But the one thing the Patriots are banking on is Bequette displaying a knack for pressuring — and taking down — the quarterback.

That’s something he consistently did at Arkansas, finishing his career with 23-1/2 sacks in 48 games, including 10 in 10 games as a senior. He improved his sack total in each of his four seasons.

But you should know better if you expected Bequette to talk about a quick first step, explosiveness, high-end speed, or a relentless motor. No, his top attribute is being a diligent worker.

“That’s something I’m trying to prove starting today, not just to the coaches but to the veterans in the locker room,” he said. “That I’m willing to come in here and work and get better every day and just prove that I’m willing to do the things (needed) to be a part of the team.”

The Bequette family certainly knows all about being part of a team, specifically the one that the entire state of Arkansas passionately follows. Jake’s grandfather (1954-56), father (’80-82) and uncle (’84-87) all played for the Razorbacks before he completed the third generation triple play.

“Well, that was great,” Bequette said. “Playing at Arkansas was another goal of mine from when I was young, and to be able to accomplish that and play at the same place as my father, grandfather and uncle was great.”

Bequette did the family name proud both on and off the field. He was a second-team All-SEC selection as a junior and made the first team as a senior while also being selected as an academic All-American.

Bequette earned a degree in finance in three years and is currently working on his master’s. He has given a lot of thought to attending law school someday.

“My dad is an attorney and I’ve always been interested in law school, so hopefully I can pursue that some time after football or even while playing,” Bequette said. “If I can pursue that, it would be great. But for right now, I’m worried about football 100 percent. I’m lucky and blessed to be a Patriot and I’m going to work hard every day.”

Now, if they can only get that Beckett over at Fenway Park to start thinking and acting that way, it might not be such a lost summer after all.

Brandon Lloyd is reunited with Patriots’ offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. (AP)

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Team inks receiver, three others

ASSOCIATED PRESS

FOXBORO – The New England Patriots announced the signing of free agent receiver Brandon Lloyd on Tuesday.

Lloyd, 30, is a nine-year veteran and came to terms with the team last week. He has played in 112 games, catching 311 passes for 4,784 yards and 31 touchdowns. His best season was in 2010 with Denver when he made the Pro Bowl after leading the NFL with 1,448 yards receiving.

The Patriots also re-signed offensive lineman Dan Connolly, and announced two more free-agent deals, with defensive end Jonathan Fanene and tight end Daniel Fells.

Lloyd joins a new-look receiving corps in New England. On Saturday, the Patriots signed former Colts wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez, and on Monday, they added Donte’ Stallworth, who spent one season in New England in 2007 when the team went 18-0 before losing the Super Bowl to the New York Giants.

Stallworth had 46 catches during that regular season with the Patriots. He had 17 receptions with Cleveland in 2008, two with Baltimore in 2010 and 22 with Washington last year. He was suspended for the 2009 season by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for violating the league’s personal conduct policy for a DUI vehicular manslaughter charge.

The receiver signings could spell the end of Chad Ochocinco’s career with the team. He signed a two-year contract before last season but struggled trying to learn the offense and finished with 15 catches in 15 regular-season games.

For Lloyd, this is just another stop in a journeyman career. He has also played for the 49ers, Redskins, Bears and Rams, and was traded by Denver to St. Louis during last season.

Lloyd had expressed his desire to follow offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels – who coach Lloyd in Denver and served as his offensive coordinator in St. Louis last season – to New England.

“I can’t even lie about that. I’m tied to McDaniels,” Lloyd told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch earlier this year. “He uses me differently than other offensive coordinators used me in my entire career. He uses me as an every-play receiver. The short game, mid-range game, gimmick passes, deep balls. I do everything in this offense as opposed to other coordinators who would just run me off as the deep guy.”

Lloyd’s loyalty to McDaniels is justified. In 2010, he led the league in receiving (1,448) and set career highs in receptions (77) yards and touchdowns (11). After being traded to the Rams, he caught 51 passes for 683 yards in 11 games.

Connolly, 29, is a veteran of seven NFL seasons, and has been with the Patriots since 2007. While with New England, he has started at both guard and center. Last season, Connolly played in 13 regular-season games with 11 starts at center. He also started at center in all three postseason games.

Connolly is in the history books, too. He set an NFL record for the longest kickoff return by an offensive lineman with a 71-yarder against Green Bay on Dec. 19, 2010.

Fanene, 30, is a veteran of seven NFL seasons, all with Cincinnati, and Fells, 28, has played for Atlanta (2006), St. Louis (2008-10) and Denver (2011) in a five-year career.

New England also released linebacker Christian Cox.

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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots announced the signing of free agent receiver Brandon Lloyd on Tuesday.Lloyd, 30, is a nine-year veteran and came to terms with the team last week. He has played in 112 games, catching 311 passes for 4,784 yards and 31 touchdowns. His best season was in 2010 with Denver when he made the Pro Bowl after leading the NFL with 1,448 yards receiving.The Patriots also re-signed offensive lineman Dan Connolly, and announced two more free-agent deals, with defensive end Jonathan Fanene and tight end Daniel Fells.Lloyd joins a new-look receiving corps in New England. On Saturday, the Patriots signed former Colts wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez, and on Monday, they added Donte’ Stallworth, who spent one season in New England in 2007 when the team went 18-0 before losing the Super Bowl to the New York Giants.Stallworth had 46 catches during that regular season with the Patriots. He had 17 receptions with Cleveland in 2008, two with Baltimore in 2010 and 22 with Washington last year. He was suspended for the 2009 season by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for violating the league’s personal conduct policy for a DUI vehicular manslaughter charge.The receiver signings could spell the end of Chad Ochocinco’s career with the team. He signed a two-year contract before last season but struggled trying to learn the offense and finished with 15 catches in 15 regular-season games.For Lloyd, this is just another stop in a journeyman career. He has also played for the 49ers, Redskins, Bears and Rams, and was traded by Denver to St. Louis during last season. He caught 51 passes for 683 yards and five touchdowns for the Rams.Connolly, 29, is a veteran of seven NFL seasons, and has been with the Patriots since 2007. While with New England, he has started at both guard and center. Last season, Connolly played in 13 regular-season games with 11 starts at center. He also started at center in all three postseason games.Connolly is in the history books, too. He set an NFL record for the longest kickoff return by an offensive lineman with a 71-yarder against Green Bay on Dec. 19, 2010.Fanene, 30, is a veteran of seven NFL seasons, all with Cincinnati, and Fells, 28, has played for Atlanta (2006), St. Louis (2008-10) and Denver (2011) in a five-year career.New England also released linebacker Christian Cox.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Patriots announced the signing of free agent receiver Brandon Lloyd on Tuesday.

Lloyd, 30, is a nine-year veteran and came to terms with the team last week. He has played in 112 games, catching 311 passes for 4,784 yards and 31 touchdowns. His best season was in 2010 with Denver when he made the Pro Bowl after leading the NFL with 1,448 yards receiving.

The Patriots also re-signed offensive lineman Dan Connolly, and announced two more free-agent deals, with defensive end Jonathan Fanene and tight end Daniel Fells.

Lloyd joins a new-look receiving corps in New England. On Saturday, the Patriots signed former Colts wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez, and on Monday, they added Donte’ Stallworth, who spent one season in New England in 2007 when the team went 18-0 before losing the Super Bowl to the New York Giants.

Stallworth had 46 catches during that regular season with the Patriots. He had 17 receptions with Cleveland in 2008, two with Baltimore in 2010 and 22 with Washington last year. He was suspended for the 2009 season by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for violating the league’s personal conduct policy for a DUI vehicular manslaughter charge.

The receiver signings could spell the end of Chad Ochocinco’s career with the team. He signed a two-year contract before last season but struggled trying to learn the offence and finished with 15 catches in 15 regular-season games.

For Lloyd, this is just another stop in a journeyman career. He has also played for the 49ers, Redskins, Bears and Rams, and was traded by Denver to St. Louis during last season. He caught 51 passes for 683 yards and five touchdowns for the Rams.

Connolly, 29, is a veteran of seven NFL seasons, and has been with the Patriots since 2007. While with New England, he has started at both guard and centre. Last season, Connolly played in 13 regular-season games with 11 starts at centre. He also started at centre in all three post-season games.

Connolly is in the history books, too. He set an NFL record for the longest kickoff return by an offensive lineman with a 71-yarder against Green Bay on Dec. 19, 2010.

Fanene, 30, is a veteran of seven NFL seasons, all with Cincinnati, and Fells, 28, has played for Atlanta (2006), St. Louis (2008-10) and Denver (2011) in a five-year career.

New England also released linebacker Christian Cox.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) The New England Patriots announced the signing of free agent receiver Brandon Lloyd on Tuesday.

Lloyd, 30, is a nine-year veteran and came to terms with the team last week. He has played in 112 games, catching 311 passes for 4,784 yards and 31 touchdowns. His best season was in 2010 with Denver when he made the Pro Bowl after leading the NFL with 1,448 yards receiving.

The Patriots also re-signed offensive lineman Dan Connolly, and announced two more free-agent deals, with defensive end Jonathan Fanene and tight end Daniel Fells.

Lloyd joins a new-look receiving corps in New England. On Saturday, the Patriots signed former Colts wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez, and on Monday, they added Donte’ Stallworth, who spent one season in New England in 2007 when the team went 18-0 before losing the Super Bowl to the New York Giants.

Stallworth had 46 catches during that regular season with the Patriots. He had 17 receptions with Cleveland in 2008, two with Baltimore in 2010 and 22 with Washington last year. He was suspended for the 2009 season by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for violating the league’s personal conduct policy for a DUI vehicular manslaughter charge.

The receiver signings could spell the end of Chad Ochocinco’s career with the team. He signed a two-year contract before last season but struggled trying to learn the offense and finished with 15 catches in 15 regular-season games.

For Lloyd, this is just another stop in a journeyman career. He has also played for the 49ers, Redskins, Bears and Rams, and was traded by Denver to St. Louis during last season. He caught 51 passes for 683 yards and five touchdowns for the Rams.

Connolly, 29, is a veteran of seven NFL seasons, and has been with the Patriots since 2007. While with New England, he has started at both guard and center. Last season, Connolly played in 13 regular-season games with 11 starts at center. He also started at center in all three postseason games.

Connolly is in the history books, too. He set an NFL record for the longest kickoff return by an offensive lineman with a 71-yarder against Green Bay on Dec. 19, 2010.

Fanene, 30, is a veteran of seven NFL seasons, all with Cincinnati, and Fells, 28, has played for Atlanta (2006), St. Louis (2008-10) and Denver (2011) in a five-year career.

New England also released linebacker Christian Cox.

NEW YORK (AP) — Tom Brady is one of eight Patriots and Patrick Willis one of eight 49ers to make the Pro Bowl, the most on each roster.

Defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay (14-1), led by starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and Baltimore (11-4), led by veteran linebacker Ray Lewis, have seven apiece for the Jan. 29 game in Honolulu, the NFL announced Tuesday.

Brady is one of seven starters from New England (12-3). The others are receiver Wes Welker, tight end Rob Gronkowski, defensive tackle Vince Wilfork, defensive end Andre Carter, and guards Brian Waters and Logan Mankins all are starters for the AFC from the Patriots. Special teamer Matthew Slater is the other New England representative.

Linebacker Willis, DE Justin Smith, cornerback Carlos Rogers and tackle Joe Staley will start for the NFC from the 49ers (12-3), who had only Smith and Willis make the Pro Bowl last year.

Green Bay’s Rodgers is the starting NFC quarterback, backed by record-setting Drew Brees of New Orleans (12-3).

“It does have special significance, because when I was voted in in 2009, I was the third guy and I was very thankful to be voted in, and got the opportunity to start because of some injuries and guys not going,” Rodgers said. “It’s great to be voted in as a starter, that means a lot to me and it’s a special honor.”

Four of the NFL’s biggest headline makers this season did not get voted in by players, coaches and fans: Lions DT Ndamukong Suh, Steelers LB James Harrison, Panthers rookie QB Cam Newton, and Denver QB Tim Tebow.

Tebow, who supplanted Kyle Orton after the Broncos stumbled to a 1-4 start, is a second alternate.

Suh might have lost support after drawing a two-game suspension for stomping an opponent, and Harrison’s one-game suspension for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Browns QB Colt McCoy might have reduced his support.

Fifteen first-time Pro Bowlers made the NFC squad, including Rogers, Staley and safety Dashon Goldson of the 49ers. Thirteen AFC players were first-time selections, including Gronkowski, Carter and Slater of New England. Carter is on injured reserve (left quadriceps) and won’t play.

“If you look around the NFC, you see a ton of amazing and talented players at tight end,” said the Saints’ Jimmy Graham, the starter at the position and a first-time Pro Bowler. “And to be thought of in that company by my peers, the head coaches and the fans who follow the NFL is something I take seriously.”

Fourteen teams from each conference were represented, with St. Louis (2-13) and Washington (5-10) drawing blanks in the NFC, Buffalo (6-9) and Tennessee (8-7) shut out in the AFC.

Pittsburgh (11-4), New Orleans and Chicago (7-8) each had five representatives.

Three rookies were chosen: Denver linebacker Von Miller, Cincinnati receiver A.J. Green, and Arizona cornerback Patrick Peterson, selected as a kick return specialist. He has tied an NFL record with four punt runbacks for TDs this season.

“As I’ve said before, A.J. is the best first-round draft pick that I’ve ever been around,” Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. “He has shown the other players in this league, and the fans, that he deserved this honor. I have not seen a receiver better than he is at getting to the ball.”

All the kickers are from Bay Area teams.

NFC special teamers included two 49ers: record-setting placekicker David Akers, and punter Andy Lee; Peterson; and Corey Graham of Chicago.

For the AFC, the Raiders’ Sebastian Janikowski is the placekicker, Shane Lechler the punter. The kick return specialist is Pittsburgh WR Antonio Brown, and the special-teams player is Slater.

NFC starters will be Rodgers, Eagles RB LeSean McCoy, Packers FB John Kuhn, Graham, Panthers C Ryan Kalil, Saints guards Jahri Evans and Carl Nicks, Eagles tackle Jason Peters and Staley, Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald and Lions WR Calvin Johnson on offense.

On defense, it will be Vikings DE Jared Allen and Eagles DE Jason Babin, Cowboys DT Jay Ratliff and Smith, Packers OLB Clay Matthews and Cowboys OLB DeMarcus Ware, ILB Willis, Packers CB Charles Woodson and Rogers, Seahawks safety Earl Thomas and Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson.

AFC starters will be Brady, Ravens RB Ray Rice and FB Vonta Leach, Gronkowski, Steelers C Maurkice Pouncey, Mankins and Waters at guard, Browns tackles Joe Thomas and Dolphins tackle Jake Long, Welker and Steelers WR Mike Wallace.

On defense, it will be Broncos DE Elvis Dumervil replacing Carter, Colts DE Dwight Freeney, Wilfork and Ravens DT Haloti Ngata, Miller and Ravens OLB Terrell Suggs, Lewis, Jets CB Darrelle Revis and Broncos CB Champ Bailey, Steelers safety Troy Polamalu and Ravens safety Ed Reed.

Players who make the Super Bowl will be replaced on the Pro Bowl rosters.

Patriots outside linebacker Rob Ninkovich (50) sacks Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow (15) on fourth down in the 4th quarter. (Staff photo by Keith Nordstrom)

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DENVER (AP) – Not this time, Tim Tebow.

Not with Tom Brady on hand.

Brady threw for two touchdowns, ran for another and the New England Patriots shut down Tebow’s late-game heroics and clinched a playoff berth with a 41-23 victory over the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

“It was a really good day for us,” Brady said. “Very emotional game. It was really rocking early. We showed some mental toughness.”

The Patriots (11-3) won their sixth straight game and another AFC East title by bouncing back from an early 17-6 deficit and an awful first quarter in which they were outgained on the ground 167 yards to 4.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) throws under pressure from Broncos outside linebacker D.J. Williams. (Staff photo by Keith Nordstrom)

This time, there was no last-minute magic from Tebow, who had guided the Broncos (8-6) to four straight fourth-quarter comebacks and six straight wins.

Instead of another slow start followed by a fantastic finish, the Broncos started fast and then fizzled.

They scored on their first three possessions and then were done in by a trio of turnovers in the final 81/2 minutes of the second quarter.

“We did have things going pretty well early, scored on the first three possessions and felt like we were moving the ball good and then we put it on the ground,” Tebow said. “That’s something you can’t do against a great team and Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.

“Besides that, we were right there with them.”

Champ Bailey had said the Broncos needed a big game against a big QB to prove to themselves and others that they were not just a curiosity but a contender.

They didn’t get it on this day.

“We showed today that we’re not ready to go to the playoffs and make a push,” Bailey said. “We’ve got to get better and we only have two or three weeks to do it. If we don’t, then we’ll be sitting home.”

For a sixth straight season.

With their first loss since Oct. 30, the AFC West-leading Broncos face a tougher path to the playoffs, with a trip to Buffalo next week followed by a season finale against Kansas City, which ended Green Bay’s 19-game winning streak Sunday behind Kyle Orton, the player Tebow replaced in Denver.

“I definitely feel like we’re all right,” said Tebow, now 7-2 as Denver’s starter.

He threw for 194 yards and ran for 93 yards and two scores but was sacked four times, including a 28-yard loss in the fourth quarter.

“I thought he improved,” coach John Fox said. “He’ll continue to improve. This was a setback, no doubt about that. But sometimes setbacks are setups for bigger things to come.”

After all, the last time Tebow lost, to Detroit on Oct. 30, he was put on notice that his starting job was a week-to-week proposition, and Tebow won his next six starts.

The one thing Tebow and the Broncos haven’t been able to do is keep up with the league’s elite passers. Denver has faced four QBs currently ranked in the top-10 in yards passing – Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford, Philip Rivers (twice) and Brady. They’re 1-4 in those games.

Asked if Tebow & Co. can keep up with the league’s top passers if they make it into the playoffs, Fox said: “I can’t predict that. He’s gotten better every week. Six or seven weeks ago, people said he couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn. He does that. I think he can do that. I don’t think that was why we lost the game tonight.”

Brady was.

“He’s still the best out there, in my opinion,” Bailey said. “And you make mistakes against a guy like that, he’s going to make you pay. That’s pretty much what happened all day.”

Safety Brian Dawkins missed the game with a neck injury and the Broncos missed him as they had to rely on rookies Quinton Carter and Raheem Moore.

“You can’t expect to get the same results when you lose a guy like that,” Bailey said. “But, at the same time, guys have to step up as professionals. You can’t play like that and expect to get wins.”

Brady was 23 of 34, including his first scoring toss to Chad Ochocinco. His TD run was his first of the year.

Brady made up for another bad day by the Patriots’ defense to beat the Broncos for the second time in eight career starts – the only team with a winning record against the three-time Super Bowl champion.

The Broncos’ 167 yards rushing in the first quarter – 11 more than their league-leading per-game average – represented the biggest output in any quarter of the Belichick era in New England.

But they would manage just 85 more.

After the Patriots fell behind 16-7, they went to the no-huddle and Brady threw a 1-yard TD strike to Aaron Hernandez, who set career highs with nine catches for 129 yards.

The Broncos’ ball-control offense stumbled after that.

Lance Ball, who earlier scored his first TD in the NFL on a beautiful 32-yard scamper, fumbled at his own 19 and linebacker Rob Ninkovich recovered, leading to Stephen Gostkowski’s 21-yard field goal put the Patriots up for good at 17-16.

Then, defensive end Mark Anderson, subbing for Andre Carter, who seriously injured his left knee earlier in the game, forced and recovered a fumble by Tebow at the Broncos 40. Six plays later, Brady took it in himself from a yard out to make it 24-16.

Brady celebrated his eighth career TD with a masterful spike.

“I don’t get in the end zone very often,” Brady said. “Maybe once a season. So, when I do I get pretty excited.”

The Broncos’ bumbling ways – which included a bad snap on an extra point attempt – continued when punt returner Quan Cosby tried to field a punt on the run and muffed it with three seconds left.

Dane Fletcher recovered for New England and Gostkowski trotted out for a 34-yard field goal to make it 27-16 at halftime.

Tebow’s 2-yard keeper with 8:41 left pulled the Broncos to 34-23 and had the crowd thinking comeback again, but Brady led the Patriots on another 80-yard scoring drive, this one culminating in BenJarvus Green-Ellis’ 1-yard TD run.

“The more we fight, the better this team gets,” defensive tackle Vince Wilfork said. “We knew they were going to come out fighting. They were going to come out fast and explosive. Our main goal was to weather the storm.”

Notes: The Patriots qualified for the playoffs for the 13th time since Robert Kraft bought the team in 1994. … The Broncos haven’t won seven straight since 1998. … New England hadn’t won in Denver since 2003. … Brady’s last TD run was Nov. 14, 2010, at Pittsburgh.

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DENVER — Not this time, Tim Tebow.

Not with Tom Brady on hand.

Brady threw for two touchdowns, ran for another and the New England Patriots shut down Tebow’s late-game heroics and clinched a playoff berth with a 41-23 victory over the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

“It was a really good day for us,” Brady said. “Very emotional game. It was really rocking early. We showed some mental toughness.”

The Patriots (11-3) won their sixth straight game and another AFC East title by bouncing back from an early 17-6 deficit and an awful first quarter in which they were outgained on the ground 167 yards to 4.

This time, there was no last-minute magic from Tebow, who had guided the Broncos (8-6) to four straight fourth-quarter comebacks and six straight wins.

Instead of another slow start followed by a fantastic finish, the Broncos started fast and then fizzled.

They scored on their first three possessions and then were done in by a trio of turnovers in the final 8½ minutes of the second quarter.

“We did have things going pretty well early, scored on the first three possessions and felt like we were moving the ball good and then we put it on the ground,” Tebow said. “That’s something you can’t do against a great team and Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.

“Besides that, we were right there with them.”

Champ Bailey had said the Broncos needed a big game against a big QB to prove to themselves and others that they were not just a curiosity but a contender.

They didn’t get it on this day. “We showed today that we’re not ready to go to the playoffs and make a push,” Bailey said. “We’ve got to get better and we only have two or three weeks to do it. If we don’t, then we’ll be sitting home.”

For a sixth straight season.

With their first loss since Oct. 30, the AFC West-leading Broncos face a tougher path to the playoffs, with a trip to Buffalo next week followed by a season finale against Kansas City, which ended Green Bay’s 19-game winning streak Sunday behind Kyle Orton, the player Tebow replaced in Denver.

“I definitely feel like we’re all right,” said Tebow, now 7-2 as Denver’s starter.

He threw for 194 yards and ran for 93 yards and two scores but was sacked four times, including a 28-yard loss in the fourth quarter.

“I thought he improved,” coach John Fox said. “He’ll continue to improve. This was a setback, no doubt about that. But sometimes setbacks are setups for bigger things to come.”

After all, the last time Tebow lost, to Detroit on Oct. 30, he was put on notice that his starting job was a week-to-week proposition, and Tebow won his next six starts.

The one thing Tebow and the Broncos haven’t been able to do is keep up with the league’s elite passers. Denver has faced four QBs currently ranked in the top-10 in yards passing — Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford, Philip Rivers (twice) and Brady. They’re 1-4 in those games.

Read More: Tom Brady (QB – NEP), Rob Gronkowski (TE – NEP), Tim Tebow (QB – DEN), New England Patriots, Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos are going to face their first real challenge of the season since Tim Tebow took over as starting quarterback when they welcome the New England Patriots to Mile High. The only elite quarterback the Broncos have faced this season before Tom Brady was the Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers, who threw for 408 yards and four touchdown passes and rushed for two more scores.

And the Broncos defense has allowed 45, 24 and 32 points during this winning streak. It is quite possible that Brady and the Patriots could beat up the Broncos defense. The early projections from numberFire have both Brady and his star tight end Rob Gronkowski are the top of their respective positions. Brady is the No. 2 quarterback and overall player (behind Rodgers) this week and projected to reach 17.69 points. Gronkowski ranks as the No. 23 best fantasy option and No. 1 at the tight end position with his 13.40 points. Will Gronkowski be able to make it seven straight games with a touchdown pass?

For more on this game visit Broncos blog Mile High Report and Patriots blog Pats Pulpit. For extra help during the fantasy football playoffs, head over to SB Nation Fantasy or ask on Twitter, @sbnationfantasy.

PHILADELPHIA – Tom Brady had his way against the Philadelphia Eagles – again.

Brady threw for 361 yards and three touchdowns and the New England Patriots beat the Eagles 38-20 Sunday in a rematch of the 2005 Super Bowl.

Filling in for the injured Michael Vick for the second straight game, Vince Young couldn’t keep Philadelphia’s fading playoff hopes alive despite throwing for a career-best 400 yards passing. The Eagles (4-7) are all-but-mathematically eliminated from playoff contention in a season that began with Super Bowl expectations.

Angry fans made their feelings known about coach Andy Reid, chanting “Fire Andy!” in the second half.

The defending NFC East champions fell to 1-5 at home and have lost eight of nine at the Linc, including a playoff loss to Green Bay last January.

Down 10-0 early, the AFC East-leading Patriots rallied behind Brady. New England (8-3) scored on five of its next six possessions, excluding a kneel-down at the end of the first half.

Brady and coach Bill Belichick improved to 4-0 against Reid’s Eagles, including a 24-21 win for their third NFL title in four years after the 2004 season.

Brady finished 24 of 34, Deion Branch had 125 yards receiving and Wes Welker caught eight passes for 115 yards and two TDs.

Brady, a two-time NFL MVP, has completed 67.3 percent of his passes for 1,232 yards, nine TDs and no interceptions in four career games against Philadelphia.

Young led the Eagles to a 17-10 win against the New York Giants last week in his first start in nearly a year. He put up decent numbers against the worst-ranked defense in the league, but couldn’t overcome another inept performance by the Eagles’ defense.

Young finished 26 of 48. It was just his third career game over 300 yards.

Vick broke two lower ribs in a loss to Arizona on Nov. 13. He got hurt on the second play of that game and stayed in, but hasn’t practiced the last two weeks. It’s uncertain whether Vick can play when Philadelphia visits Seattle on Thursday night.

After a fast start, the Eagles fizzled.

Brady engineered a 70-yard drive capped by BenJarvus Green-Ellis’ 4-yard TD run to cut it to 10-7. The Pats converted two third downs on the drive, including two by penalty.

Helped by a missed call, New England’s defense then forced a three-and-out. Young was sacked by Rob Ninkovich, who spun the quarterback down by pulling his facemask. But the referees didn’t see it, eliciting loud boos from the crowd when the replay was shown on the video screen.

One play after just-signed Tiquan Underwood dropped a wide-open pass, Brady connected with Branch for 63 yards to the Eagles 1 on a third-and-13. Green-Ellis scored on the next play to put the Patriots up 14-10.

Antwaun Molden intercepted Young’s deep pass intended for DeSean Jackson on Philadelphia’s next play and returned it 27 yards to the Eagles 34. But the Patriots couldn’t convert the turnover into points. Stephen Gostkowski missed a 39-yard field goal wide right.

No problem for Brady and Co.

The Eagles went three-and-out again, and the Patriots went to a no-huddle when they got the ball back.

Welker blew past the secondary and Brady hit his wide-open target in stride for a 41-yard TD pass to give New England a 21-10 lead.

DeSean Jackson dropped what should’ve been a 4-yard TD pass and the Eagles settled for a 22-yard field goal to get within 21-13.

It was the second time in the first half that Jackson appeared to shy away from contact and dropped a pass across the middle. Fans let him hear it with a chorus of boos. Jackson, a two-time Pro Bowl pick, is in the final year of his rookie contract and has been unhappy that he didn’t get a new deal. He dropped a deep pass that should’ve been a TD in the third quarter.

The Patriots got the ball to start the second half and Brady led them into the end zone again, tossing a 9-yard TD pass to Welker for a 31-13 lead.

Brady threw a 24-yard TD pass to Rob Gronkowski to extend it to 38-13 in the fourth quarter.

Young came out firing. He tossed a 22-yard pass to Brent Celek on the first play from scrimmage. Then he connected with Riley Cooper for 58 yards to the Patriots 4. LeSean McCoy ran in from the 2 to give the Eagles a 7-0 lead.

Young hit Jackson for a 44-yard gain to the Patriots 36 on the first play of the next series. The Eagles’ drive stalled at the 25 after three consecutive dropped passes, and Alex Henery kicked a 43-yard field goal to make it 10-0.

Besides Vick, the Eagles didn’t have leading receiver Jeremy Maclin or nickel cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha didn’t start after injuring his knee in practice on Thanksgiving Day, though he played in some situations.

The Patriots played without three starters: cornerback Devin McCourty, safety Patrick Chung and center Dan Connolly.

From Tom Brady(notes) and Randy Moss(notes) to John Hannah and Mike Haynes, the 3-time Super Bowl champion New England Patriots have been graced with some of the greatest players in NFL history. A team of modest beginnings, the 40-year franchise from Foxborough exceeded its tenuous start by earning worldwide recognition in the last ten years and becoming the most successful team in the league. The decade has been highlighted by a record for wins in a ten-year stretch, an undefeated regular season and four Super Bowl appearances for the Pats. It has also featured the ascendance of new Patriots legends, including perhaps the best quarterback in NFL history.

Below you will find five New England Patriots legends, ranked in order of career impact:

5. Stanley Morgan

* 1985 AFC champion

* 4-time Pro Bowl selection

* All-time leader for the Patriots in Receiving Yards (10,352)

* All-time leader for the Patriots in Receiving Touchdowns (67)

4. Andre Tippet

* 1985 AFC champion

* 5-time Pro Bowl selection

* 2-time First Team All-Pro

* 4-time Pro Bowl selection

* 1985 Defensive Players of the Year

3. Mike Haynes

* Ranked as the 49^th best player in NFL history by NFL.com

* 9-time Pro Bowl selection

* 1976 Defensive Rookie of the Year

* Named to NFL 75^th Anniversary All-Time Team

2. John Hannah

* Ranked as the 24^th best player in NFL history by NFL.com

* 1985 AFC champion

* 2-time All Decade Team selection

* 9-time Pro Bowl selection

* 1981 cover of Sports Illustrated dubbed him the “Best Offensive Lineman of All Time”

1. Tom Brady

* 3-time Super Bowl champion

* 2-time Super Bowl MVP

* 2-time NFL MVP

* 6-time Pro Bowl selection

* Leader in Single-Season Passing Touchdowns (50)

* Third all-time in Career Passer Rating (95.7+)

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BOSTON (CBS) – Julian Edelman of the New England Patriots was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week, the NFL announced Wednesday.

Edelman returned a third quarter punt 72 yards for a touchdown against the Chiefs for the second punt return for a touchdown of his career.

Read: Is Tom Brady Hurt?

It is the first Player of the Week honor for Edelman and the first Special Teams Player of the Week honor for a Patriots player since offensive lineman Dan Connolly was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 15 last season after he returned a kickoff 71 yards in a win against Green Bay, the longest kickoff return by an offensive lineman in NFL history.

It is the fourth Player of the Week honor for the Patriots in 2011 after Tom Brady was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week following the first two games of the season and Andre Carter was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week following last week’s win against the Jets.

Read/Watch: Pats Hand Out Thanksgiving Baskets

Tune in to the Patriots-Eagles matchup Sunday afternoon at 4:15pm on 98.5 The Sports Hub and WBZ-TV. Pregame coverage begins on WBZ at 11:30am Sunday morning with Patriots Gameday, followed by 98.5′s coverage beginning at 1pm. Tune in after the game for all the postgame reaction and analysis on 98.5, and over on MY TV38 on Patriots Fifth Quarter.

By DAVE SKRETTA
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Todd Haley looked like a man who hasn’t gotten much sleep lately.

Sure, the Chiefs didn’t get home from a humbling 34-3 loss to New England until about 4 a.m. Tuesday, but that probably wasn’t the only reason he’s been awake at night. Kansas City has lost three straight in lopsided fashion, along with their starting quarterback for the season.

So it made sense that Haley’s eyes were a bit glazed over Tuesday afternoon, the strain of a 4-6 season evident in every syllable that came from his mouth.

“The game last night was disappointing,” Haley said after laboring through at least two reviews of the film. “The guys were let down. We went up there fully expecting to play our best and win the game, and get further back into this race, and it didn’t happen.”

Not by a long shot.

Behind the often unsteady guidance of Tyler Palko, who was pressed into his first NFL start after a hand injury to Matt Cassel, the Chiefs were unable to score a touchdown for the second time in the last three weeks. They yielded the final 34 points of the game to Tom Brady and the Patriots, despite hanging within 10-3 at halftime.

Everything unraveled in the second half, like it has so often this season. Julian Edelman returned a punt 72 yards for a touchdown, Palko wound up throwing three interceptions — a couple were tipped — and Kansas City’s once-vaunted ground game again struggled.

Thomas Jones showed signs of emerging from his slump, carrying eight times for 48 yards, and Dexter McCluster and Jackie Battle also had bright moments. But without the game-changing ability of Jamaal Charles, one of several players lost for the season to injuries, the Chiefs were again unable to break the big play that turned into surprise touchdowns last season.

“It’s not a lot,” Haley said. “It’s just been little things that make a big difference.”

Things won’t get much easier for the Chiefs given their upcoming schedule. They host Pittsburgh on Sunday night before facing Chicago and the New York Jets in back-to-back weeks on the road. Then comes defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay, which could still be chasing perfection on Dec. 18.

Haley knows the schedule won’t be kind to Kansas City, and there’s nothing he can do about that. But he also knows he doesn’t have the luxury of thinking about anything besides beating the Steelers, a task that seems almost insurmountable given the way the last few weeks have gone.

“We’re in the mode of doing whatever we can to win games, and stay in this mix,” said Haley, whose team trails Oakland by two games in the AFC West. “We’re still in it if we can play consistently good football down the stretch, which we haven’t done the last three weeks.”

Haley said there were bright spots in reviewing the Patriots game, which he did twice on the plane ride home and likely a few more times once the team made it back to its training facility.

Offensive lineman Rodney Hudson, the Chiefs’ second-round draft pick, performed well in about 20 snaps that he played, and rookie defensive tackle Jerrell Powe was finally active for a game. Haley said there were times that he was disruptive up front, even if he struggled to finish plays.

Then there was the performance of Palko, the journeyman who was pressed into the most unenviable of debuts: Monday night on national television against the Patriots.

Palko wound up going 25 of 38 for 236 yards, and seemed to have a good grasp of what offensive coordinator Bill Muir was trying to accomplish. But he also threw three interceptions, which Haley went through in detail with Palko when they sat together on the plane ride home.

“I mean, you can’t run away from them. They’re interceptions,” Palko said after the game. “They were turnovers and you can’t run away from those things. You have to learn from them, but move forward as well. At the end of the day, you go back, watch the film, evaluate, and move forward. You can’t do anything about the past and obviously it was disappointing, but you can’t do anything about it.”

Haley said there’s a chance the Chiefs might bring in another quarterback soon, now that Cassel has officially been placed on injured reserve. But he maintained Tuesday that Palko is the starting quarterback, and that fifth-round draft pick Ricky Stanzi is still the No. 2.

“There’s been a bunch of discussions,” Haley said. “We feel good about where we are with Tyler and Ricky, but if there’s someone who can come in and help us, we’ll take a look.”

The NFL power rankings after Week 11 didn’t change too much on top. The Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens all won while the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints benefited from not playing. But there was more room below the top of the NFL power rankings for movement, as my Philadelphia Eagles took a few steps up after a season saving win.

The Eagles have gone back and forth from being in and out of the top 20 for weeks now, and they got back in after upsetting the New York Giants on Nov. 20. Of course, since the Eagles face the Patriots on Nov. 27, they can easily fall right back down.

At the least, the Eagles can be the best 4-6 team in the power rankings now, especially since the reeling San Diego Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers share that record. They are also still ahead of the 4-6 Seattle Seahawks and 3-7 Miami Dolphins – their next two opponents after the Patriots.

As such, a victory over New England will likely lift Philadelphia further up the NFL pecking order, with the expectation that it will go to 7-6 before long. That seems to be the case with every Eagles win, as it fuels hope that this is finally the time they will live up to expectations and make a late run. Of course, that wouldn’t be the case anymore this season if Vince Young(notes) didn’t have an 18 play drive to bail him and the Birds out.

While the Eagles go back and forth in the bottom tier of the NFL power rankings, teams with a real chance at the Super Bowl have been more stable. The Packers and 49ers are still way ahead of the pack and can pull away even further with statement wins on Thanksgiving. Since they face the Detroit Lions and Ravens respectively, the Thanksgiving lineup will have top 10 matchups before and after dinner.

However, the Eagles can still take Thanksgiving off – although they may have less reason to give thanks for facing the Patriots three days later. Just two weeks ago New England was feared to be finished, and now it is just feared all over again – to the point where it will take more than one 18 play drive to beat the Patriots.

Until that can be proven, here are the full NFL power rankings following Week 11.

1. Green Bay Packers: 10-0

2. San Francisco 49ers: 9-1

3. Pittsburgh Steelers: 7-3

4. New England Patriots: 7-3

5. Baltimore Ravens: 7-3

6. New Orleans Saints: 7-3

7. Houston Texans: 7-3

8. Chicago Bears: 7-3

9. Detroit Lions: 7-3

10. New York Giants: 6-4

11. Dallas Cowboys: 6-4

12. Atlanta Falcons: 6-4

13. Cincinnati Bengals: 6-4

14. Oakland Raiders: 6-4

15. Denver Broncos: 5-5

16. New York Jets: 5-5

17. Buffalo Bills: 5-5

18. Tennessee Titans: 5-5

19. Philadelphia Eagles: 4-6

20. San Diego Chargers: 4-6

21. Kansas City Chiefs: 4-6

22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 4-6

23. Cleveland Browns: 4-6

24. Seattle Seahawks: 4-6

25. Miami Dolphins: 3-7

26. Washington Redskins: 3-7

27. Arizona Cardinals: 3-7

28. Jacksonville Jaguars: 3-7

29. Minnesota Vikings: 2-8

30. St. Louis Rams: 2-8

31. Carolina Panthers: 2-8

32. Indianapolis Colts: 0-10

Robert Dougherty is a life-long Philadelphia resident who has followed the Eagles since he was eight years old.

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