Dashes of Mayo a big help
But LB feels that he could have done more in return
DENVER - No. 51 for the Patriots took his spot on the field four minutes into the game. For the first time since limping off in the season opener with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee, middle linebacker Jerod Mayo was back yesterday.
“I was anxious to get back out there,’’ Mayo said. “They’re a great group of guys out there. They’re like my family. I just have to take it one week at a time and try to get better for next week.’’
Against the Broncos, the 2008 AP Rookie of the Year and one of the Patriots’ captains showcased all the elements that made his absence so critical the past few weeks. He forced a fumble in the first quarter that led to a Patriots field goal and collected six tackles. Although the game ended in a 20-17 overtime loss for the Patriots, Mayo’s return was a bright spot for his teammates.
“That’s one of the leaders on our team,’’ nose tackle Vince Wilfork said. “He’s so young, and he was so eager to get back, and I was so happy for him from a big brother standpoint. Hopefully, he can stay healthy enough for us to win some ballgames.’’
Said cornerback Leigh Bodden, “It’s good to have a guy like Mayo on the field. He brings a lot of leadership, makes plays, and any time you add that it’s good.’’
Mayo missed three games after he left the field in the first quarter of the Patriots’ 25-24 win against Buffalo Sept. 14. Mayo, 23, had been seen in the locker room in the weeks following his injury, but he didn’t return to practice until last week. He had limited participation in the days leading up to yesterday’s game and was listed as questionable in the last injury/practice report for the week.
“We didn’t think Jerod was really ready to go a whole game,’’ Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. “He practiced this week and got some snaps in the game and he seemed OK.’’
Mayo made a quiet entry on the eighth play of Denver’s opening drive. He returned on the Broncos’ next possession and made his presence a little more known.
Denver running back Knowshon Moreno grabbed a pass from Kyle Orton and started to sprint, but he was quickly stopped. Mayo wrapped up Moreno and punched the ball loose, allowing Brandon McGowan to recover on the Denver 43. Broncos coach Josh McDaniels challenged the play, but the ruling was upheld, giving the Patriots possession with 5:13 left in the first quarter.
The play led to a drive that set up Stephen Gostkowski’s 53-yard field goal, the longest of his career, with 3:56 left that gave the Patriots a 10-0 lead, their largest after the first quarter this season.
Making the big play “felt good,’’ Mayo said, “but a win would have felt better.’’
Mayo said overall he “felt good’’ but said he could have performed better.
At some of the more crucial points of the game, Mayo said execution was the difference.
“Those guys just made a lot of great plays and we didn’t make plays,’’ he said. “We just have to go back to practice and try to get better for next week.’’
In the fourth quarter, the Broncos put together a 12-play, 98-yard drive that led to Brandon Marshall catching an 11-yard pass to tie the score at 17 with 5:21 left in the game. In overtime, the Broncos won the coin toss and drove downfield, getting close enough for Matt Prater to kick a 41-yard field goal and keep Denver undefeated after five games.
Mayo said he and his teammates were “well prepared’’ for yesterday’s game but there were aspects of the game plan they did not finish.
“We just couldn’t make the play and we couldn’t execute when it came down to it,’’ Mayo said. “The defense, we’ll take this one on our shoulders.’’
Monique Walker can be reached at mwalker@globe.com. 
