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http://rockymountainnews.com/drmn/nfl/article/0,2777,DRMN_23918_4376551,00.html
But then came Monday, and the New England Patriots got their attention.
"Nothing needs to be said," Broncos running back Mike Anderson said. "They've won it, they've won it again and they won it again. We know what they've done and what kind of opportunity we have Saturday. I think guys came back ready to go. If you can't get ready to play somebody like that, you need to go do something else with your time."
The Broncos practiced only twice last week because coach Mike Shanahan said he preferred to work on a short list of specific items and still give the team a much-needed break "both mentally and physically."
But Monday, having only six days until their AFC divisional-round game against the Patriots at Invesco Field at Mile High on Saturday (6 p.m., CBS 4), the Broncos got back to business.
Shanahan did two things to reacquaint them with the task at hand.
First, he dangled the carrot of history in front of them.
Then, he put the team in pads for practice.
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The Broncos were happy to put the pads on.
"It was good to come back and get some hitting going on . . . ," defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban said. "Guys were flying around. I think whatever everyone did when they were away from here is over after the first play. You practice like that and everybody knows this is the kind of game you want to be involved in."
"We went full speed," linebacker Al Wilson said. "That gets you right back at it, baby. It's time to get your mind right. This is why we do this."
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Since the Broncos beat the Patriots 28-20 on Oct. 16, New England has been on a roll. How the Patriots have fared in the 10 games since:
• Record 7-3
• Average points allowed 17.4
• Average points scored 24.1