DENVER -- "We've got to do a better job of coaching."

That's what Bill Belichick says just about every time his Patriots lose.

He said it here Sunday, after the Pats blew a 17-7 halftime lead over the Broncos and wound up going down in defeat in overtime, 20-17.

It's his way of taking a portion of the responsibility for the loss. Usually, it seems perfunctory, and nobody takes it too seriously, because Belichick obviously is one of the best coaches in the business, with three Super Bowl titles and a 16-0 regular season to prove it.

Yesterday, however, his comment was absolutely spot-on.

The offense designed by Belichick's former coordinator, 33-year-old Josh McDaniels, and led by Kyle Orton -- the quarterback the Bears didn't want -- put together touchdown drives of 90 and 98 yards Sunday against Belichick's defense.

Lest we forget, it was as a defensive coach that Belichick built his reputation.

But the New England defense both bent and broke against the Broncos, as Orton completed 35 of 48 passes for 330 yards and two touchdowns. He did throw an interception, but that was on a desperation pass at the end of the first half he put up for grabs at the goal line.

"He was making the right reads," Pats QB Tom Brady noted. "He was very accurate. He made all the throws they needed."

Conversely, Belichick's offense, directed by future Hall of Famer Brady, didn't put up a point in the second half. And that was even with a drive that twice -- not once, but twice! -- was prolonged by special teams penalties against Denver when the Patriots were punting the ball away.

The first came when Darrell Reid was called for running into punter Chris Hanson. The second was called on Richard Quinn for lining up in the neutral zone. Yet the Patriots still were unable to move the ball even into field-goal range.

After halftime, when adjustments can be made that can change the game, Denver outscored New England, 13-0. Which is why McDaniels' Broncos are sitting atop the AFC West at 5-0, and Belichick's Patriots are 3-2 and in second place in the AFC East.