Not digging the long ball

FOXBOROUGH -- Big passing plays have been a big problem for the Patriots this year.

In three games, they already have given up four touchdown passes of 30 yards or more -- all in the last two games, against the Broncos and Jets. Denver wide receiver Javon Walker burned the secondary for scores of 32 and 83 yards in Sunday night's 17-7 loss at Gillette Stadium. The 83-yarder was a dagger that put the game out of reach.

By comparison, it wasn't until the eighth game last year against Indianapolis that the Patriots surrendered their fourth touchdown pass of 30 yards or more.

``Believe me, we don't have any defenses where it's, `If they run this, we'll give up a 70- or 80-yard touchdown,' " said coach Bill Belichick. ``That's not really the way we design it. We've got to coach it better. We've got to play it better. We can't give up 80-yard touchdowns every week."

They had better find a way to shore up the secondary quickly, with Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer and his cadre of talented receivers on tap Sunday.

``They're a huge big-play team," said Belichick. ``They do everything well. They're one of the most explosive offensive teams I've seen in a while, and obviously, they're one of the best offensive teams in the league. They're a good football team, period, but I mean offensively there's one word to describe them and that's explosive."

Running back Corey Dillon, who suffered an arm injury in the loss to Denver, was not wearing a protective wrap or a sling when he walked through the locker room yesterday. Dillon left the game midway through the second quarter after a 2-yard run and did not return. Left tackle Matt Light, who went into the game with a knee injury, was forced to leave the field on the same play, but he did return . . . After being perfect during the preseason and connecting on a 32-yard field goal in the season opener against Buffalo, rookie kicker Stephen Gostkowski has had his last two field goal attempts blocked. Gostkowski had a 29-yarder foiled late in the fourth quarter of the victory over the Jets and a 37-yard attempt blocked in the second quarter against Denver. ``I think the ball came out low," said Belichick. ``That was part of the problem; there were other problems, too." One of those problems was that Gostkowski's plant foot appeared to slip on the Gillette Stadium turf. Members of the grounds crew were working on the field yesterday afternoon.

With Artrell Hawkins (thigh) inactive for a second straight game and Eugene Wilson (right upper leg) and Rodney Harrison (right arm) both suffering injuries against Denver, second-year safety James Sanders was thrown into the breach against the Broncos. Sanders, who started two of the 10 games he played in last year, committed a pass interference penalty in the third quarter on his first play. He also appeared to be out of position on Walker's 83-yard TD reception. Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer said after the game that New England was in Cover-2 and that the throw is not normally there when the safety is playing his responsibility properly. ``I think that you're going to be able to find plays in every game that could be played a little bit better," said Belichick. ``I think James feels that way, Ellis [Hobbs]. Pick out any player who played. I think they're all going to feel the same way. It doesn't mean anything except those plays need to be played better."

After three games, the Patriots are tied with the Raiders for fewest turnovers forced -- just one -- and are tied for 26th in turnover margin at minus-3. ``If we went through the whole season and won 16 games, then you wouldn't talk about they need more turnovers," said linebacker Rosevelt Colvin. ``We've got to win regardless of whether we get two turnovers or seven turnovers. I think it helps us. It improves our chances of winning if you do get those because you get extra possessions. But that's not the main reason why we lost the game. The main reason we lost the game was because we didn't execute." . . . Linebacker Mike Vrabel said the defense has to do a better job on third down, as opponents have been successful 46.7 percent of the time. ``I think the thing that you have to realize about third down is you got your cover guys in there that you expect to cover and then you have your rush guys in there and you expect them to rush," said Vrabel. ``You got to put those two units together. We've got to do a better job of forcing them out of the pocket and forcing them to make bad throws. Sometimes those guys on the back end help us out with coverage sacks. Those two units have to work together, especially on third down." . . . Belichick said wide receiver Chad Jackson, who was a surprise inactive against Denver after being listed as questionable (hamstring), did not play because the staff felt he was not among the 45 players who'd give the team the best chance to beat Denver.

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