DENVER -- Unlike a year ago, Denvers dazzling defense cant hide all the warts on offense or special teams.These Broncos are actually surrendering fewer points per game (18.4) than last years version (18.5) that brought home the Lombardi Trophy .They limited Tom Brady to 16 completions and the Patriots to 16 points on Sunday, but their sputtering offense and atrocious special teams again couldnt match the effort.Denvers 16-3 loss to the Patriots (12-2) put the Broncos (8-6) in danger of missing the playoffs a year after winning Super Bowl 50.I cant sit here and tell you what all the scenarios are, but if we dont find a way to win 10 games, were not going to have an opportunity, Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said said.That means the Broncos are going to have to win on Christmas Night at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, where theyre 3-16 in December. Then, theyll have to beat Oakland at home, where the Raiders won last year.Even beating the Chiefs (10-4) and Raiders (11-3) wont guarantee Denver a ticket to the postseason party.Theyre in this precarious position because of a season-long ineptitude on offense, shaky special teams and debatable coaching decisions, all of which were on display as Brady won for just the third time in 10 trips to Denver.After watching rookie speedster Kalif Raymond post good punt returns in the two weeks since his promotion following Jordan Norwoods two costly muffs on punt returns against Kansas City, Kubiak went back to Norwood on Sunday.Norwood promptly let his first punt go through his arms and legs for a key turnover after Denver held Brady to three-and-out to start the game.Just a short punt, think it was a bad punt on the punters part. Tried to get up there and fair catch it and save us a lot of field position, Norwood said. Tough play that Ive got to make.Asked why he made the switch, Kubiak said the offensive game plan and its no-huddle and three-receiver sets, was better suited for Norwood.But Norwood caught just one pass, in the games closing seconds, and he fumbled away the football after a 15-yard gain.He wasnt the only goat by any means. The Broncos porous O-line couldnt keep Trevor Siemian upright enough, and Siemian made two uncharacteristic bad decisions, one of which resulted in a red-zone interception and another which pushed Denver out of field goal range.Demaryius Thomas, Virgil Green and A.J. Derby once again had huge drops that thwarted any building momentum.When you kill yourselves with two early turnovers, and youre not putting up points, its hard to win games, Denver safety T.J. Ward said. Thats point-blank, period. Thats what weve been doing the last two weeks and have two Ls on that side of the column.Last week, the Broncos limited Marcus Mariota to six completions for 88 yards and lost 13-10 at Tennessee.Three weeks ago, Aqib Talib shoved Norwood after one of his muffs, prompting Kubiak to remind them they fight together, not each other.What about now?Thats not going to take us nowhere, being frustrated and beefing with the offense, Talib said. Thats going to get us nowhere. Were going to ride and stick together.Still, theres clearly budding friction, but Von Miller said hell be the peace-keeper if necessary.Theres not going to be any friction, Miller promised. Im the partition.Other takeaways from the Patriots win in which they improved to 7-0 on the road:DIVISION DOMINANCE: The Patriots passed out AFC East Champion caps after becoming the first NFL team to win eight consecutive division titles. This is never old hat, noted Julian Edelman, who said, Its an honor to play here and experience eight of them.Coach Bill Belichicks 14th division title broke a tie with Don Shula and Tom Landry for most ever.RUN STUFFED: The Broncos again struggled on the ground -- after a promising start, too. Denver had 46 of its 58 yards in the first half, but finished 2 of 12 on third downs after going. Theyre now 6 for 36 on third downs in December.We have to block better, run better and catch better in those situations, running back Justin Forsett said. Then well be able to run the ball more.MISSING MARSHALL: With Brandon Marshall (hamstring) missing his second straight game, inside linebackers Corey Nelson and Todd Davis each collected 13 tackles. Still, the Patriots gained 136 yards on 39 carries, keeping Brady from having to test Denvers No Fly Zone secondary.They really didnt have to take a lot of chances, cornerback Chris Harris Jr. said. They didnt have to throw the ball too much, and its hard to make plays when you dont get that many targets.GOOD BYE: With the win, New England earned a first-round bye in the playoffs for a seventh straight season. The Patriots lead the NFL with 12 first-round byes since the current playoff format began in 1990. The next best is Denver, Pittsburgh and San Francisco with eight.We still got a job to do, so well continue to work for our ultimate goal, defensive lineman Trey Flowers said.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---AP Sports Writer Pat Graham contributed.---Follow Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton Travis dArnaud Rays Jersey Peter Fairbanks Rays Jersey . Numbers Game looks into the Canadiens securing the services of Thomas Vanek in a trade with the New York Islanders. The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick. https://www.cheapraysonline.com/1096i-blake-snell-jersey-rays.html . The Brazilian goalkeeper signed a loan deal with the Major League Soccer club on Friday as he looks to get playing time ahead of this summers World Cup in his home country. Tampa Bay Rays Store .J. -- Marshawn Lynch said Thursday it will be good to get back to football after the Seattle quiet talking running back wrapped up his final mandatory media session of Super Bowl week. Jesus Aguilar Jersey .H. -- Matt Kenseth made it 2 for 2 in the Chase, holding off teammate Kyle Busch to win Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. SESTRIERE, Italy -- Tessa Worley won her second straight World Cup giant slalom Saturday after first-run leader Mikaela Shiffrin struggled in her second trip down the 2006 Turin Olympics course.Charging after placing third in the opening run, Worley captured her 10th career giant slalom win to match the French record set by Carole Merle between 1988 and 1993.Worley finished 0.15 seconds ahead of rising Italian skier Sofia Goggia and 0.29 in front of defending overall World Cup champion Lara Gut of Switzerland.Its a tough day to win, said Worley, the GS world champion in 2013. Those girls are fighting hard and I try to fight a bit harder.It was a memorable day for the French team with Alexis Pinturault winning a mens GS on home snow in Val dIsere.Worley also won a GS in Killington, Vermont, two weeks ago.Shiffrin, the American who won the slalom at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, lost a big chunk of time early in her second run after getting thrown off course and finisheed sixth.dddddddddddd.Shiffrins lead over Gut in the overall standings was cut to eight points, although shell be the favorite in a slalom on Sunday on the Giovanni Agnelli course.Goggia is third overall, 51 points back.It was Goggias fourth podium result in six races -- and three different disciplines -- this season.Goggia made serious mistakes in each run but her attacking style kept her in contention and kept the partisan crowd on its feet.Conditions were perfect, with the race held under clear, sunny skies and the snow hard and icy.A surprise came from Simone Wild, a 23-year-old Swiss racer, who placed seventh with the No. 27 bib.The womens World Cup circuit had not stopped in Sestriere since 2008.Julia Mancuso won the GS on the Agnelli course during the 2006 Olympics.The slope is pretty technical. Its pretty complete, Worley said. ' ' '