NFL Playoffs 2012: Tim Tebow and Broncos Must Alter Game Plan to Beat Patriots

Not only have the New England Patriots already beaten the Denver Broncos this season, but they've now seen what the Broncos passing attack can do.

The Pittsburgh Steelers challenged Tim Tebow to beat them. They lined up as many nine men in the box on some plays, and Tebow took advantage, using the speed of his receivers to win their one-on-one battles.

And the Broncos did win those battles against the league's top-ranked secondary and will now face the league's last-ranked secondary.

In theory it would give them more a chance against a team that already beat them 41-23 once before, but when Bill Belichick is involved, that is never the case.

The Patriots coach is a defensive mind despite his team's dominant offensive statistics and porous secondary.

Giving him not just one look, but two looks into what the Broncos can and cannot do means trouble, and the Broncos have to know this.

Coach John Fox and offensive coordinator Mike McCoy must know this—they've been around long enough, and if they are going to beat the Patriots, they have to make adjustments.

Obviously the Broncos defense plays a huge role in this game. If Elvis Dumervil, Von Miller and Robert Ayers can find a way to hit Brady, it will change the complexion of the New England offense.

But what the Broncos do defensively is what the Broncos are going to do defensively. The adjustments need to come on offense because Belichick will be damned if he lets Demaryius Thomas go one-on-one with no safety in the vicinity.

The Patriots secondary is very susceptible, but it's not going to be beat the same way the Steelers were—it just won't happen.

In the first meeting the Broncos ran the ball for 252 yards. And while Tebow threw for 194 yards, he threw no touchdowns and no interceptions, but the Broncos lost three fumbles.

Denver was up 16-7 early in the second quarter before the wheels came off. Belichick made adjustments in game and dominated the Broncos from then on.

By whatever means necessary, the Broncos coaching staff has to have something up their sleeve for this week.

If they try to beat the Patriots the same way they did the Steelers, they won't be competitive past halftime.