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FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Tom Bradys ageless performances have carried the Patriots this season.But in a game where he and the offense struggled, New Englands 16-3 win over the Broncos Sunday featured the kind of defensive effort that should make the newly-crowned AFC East champs a much tougher out in the upcoming playoffs.The Patriots defense more than filled in the gaps as Brady was held to a season-low 188 passing yards, without a touchdown pass for only the second time in 2016.New Englands defense looked more physically imposing than the Broncos, which came in with the NFLs third-ranked defense. The Patriots held the Broncos offense without a touchdown and forced two turnovers.They also did it in a bruising style that had previously only shown up in flickers. It included four sacks on Denver quarterback Trevor Siemian and several more big hits on his receivers. The biggest -- and loudest -- example might have been a drive-ending blow delivered by Patriots safety Devin McCourty in the fourth quarter, dislodging a pass to Demaryius Thomas.You could just tell guys were talking and communicating, McCourty said. Were trying to get to offenses the best we can, so when we go out here on Sundays we can just fly around. ...They made a couple of plays and then we make a big play.It might have also been the most emphatic example that the Patriots defense can not only survive, but thrive following the trades defensive end Chandler Jones and linebacker Jamie Collins.Cornerback Logan Ryan, who had his first interception of the season Sunday, attributed the success to everyone remaining as loose as possible on the field.Were getting after the quarterback, were playing great defense, guys are feeding off of each other, were joking a lot and guys are just having fun playing ball right now so its working, he said. Plus, we were doubted all year. ... We heard about (the Broncos) secondary and their defense so we wanted to come out here and prove something.Underestimated or not, everything has flowed together at the right time for Ryan and his teammates.The defensive line is getting consistent production from Trey Flowers and Malcom Brown. Its exactly what the coaching staff hoped to see with Flowers healthy after being limited to just one game during his rookie season.Flowers finished with two sacks Sunday to bring his season total to seven. Brown had one sack Sunday, increasing his total to three in 2016.Each week is different. Different offensive lineman, different sets, different schemes as far as defense, you just got to get to them when you can, Flowers said. Obviously Im not the one looking at sack numbers, its more about pressuring the quarterback. Its having him looking at the rush instead of looking down field. Anytime we can flush the quarterback and get his line rattled a bit, is big.Flowers said nobody in the Patriots locker room is dwelling on locking up the division title.Obviously we worked hard for it and we earned it, he said. But we still got a job to do so well continue to work for our ultimate goal.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Kyle Hightower on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/khightower Gareth Bale Jersey . After Gasquet beat fifth-seeded Ivan Dodig of Croatia 7-5, 6-3, Tsonga followed up with a 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-2 win against sixth-seeded Edouard Roger-Vasselin in an all-French match. Ashley Williams Jersey . -- Timbers coach Caleb Porter didnt stray from his business-like approach to the season even after Portland downed the two-time defending league champion Los Angeles Galaxy to gain crucial playoff position. http://www.soccerwalesstore.com/aaron-ramsey-wales-UEFA-EURO-jersey/ . The Oilers come in having lost five in a row (0-4-1) and 16 of their last 20 games, dropping a 2-1 decision to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday. Joe Ledley Wales Jersey . Philadelphia is 2-0 against the Senators this season and scored five goals in each victory. The Flyers recorded a 5-0 win in Ottawa on Nov. 12 and then earned a 5-2 home decision on Nov. 19. The Flyers have claimed three straight and four of the last five encounters with the Sens overall and Philly has won two in a row and three of its past four tests in Canadas capital city. Joe Ledley Jersey . Now tied for second in the league in shootout goals, the 24-year-old likes to see what the opposing goaltender has in store before he ultimately lands on a move. Rio -- Indias fourth-seeded pair of Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna took their first step towards an elusive Olympic medal with a 7-5, 6-4 win inside one hour and 13 minutes against the Australian duo of Samantha Stosur and John Peers.A big Indian contingent waited patiently for the mens doubles semi-final featuring Rafael Nadal to finish on court three before making their way into the premises. It was a small court but every seat was taken in the media enclosure. Among those watching was Leander Paes, who has won four mixed doubles slams over the last couple of years.Peers began the match serving strong and held his first two serves comfortably. With the balls not bouncing as much as the evening grew chillier, the Indians too held their serves quite easily. Stosur, the shortest player on court was a muscular presence, whipping groundstrokes and firing big serves in; she did not drop a point in her first two games.?The men were serving into a strong wind and the first eight games went unbroken. It was in the ninth game that the Indians made an incision, with Peers losing his serve. However, just like in the mens doubles match, Bopanna lost his serve while serving for the set on a backhand volley error by Sania.India, though, stayed focused and put Stosur under pressure right back. A third straight break gave them another opportunity to take the lead, and it was duly completed on Sanias serve.The second set began much like the first, with both teams holding serve. Bopanna faced a challenge, but Australia started to make more errors. At 2-2, Peers serve came under assault with Sania ripping a backhand that Stosur could not volley back. A double fault by Peers gave India the all-important break as yelps of Bahut acche (Very good) started to be heard from the Indians in the crowd.Sania wwas moving sharply now and creamed an overhead in the next game as Bopanna held serve again.dddddddddddd The finish line was nearing, but India were not there yet.Peers avoided another break, but Bopanna was serving full strength now and finished the match off with three aces in his final game -- fittingly the last of them was on match point against Peers. It lasted just over 70 minutes and gave an Indian contingent thirsting for some success reason to cheer.The conditions are tough, especially because it is very windy. We are used to the heat but this is harder, Sania said after the match.?It is easier for the guys because they have the power. Windy is tough to play, especially when guys serve to you in the mixed it is very tough to connect on your returns. I return well normally but when its windy it takes away a big strength of mine. I was happy that I was able to connect at the crucial points and thats why we came out on top.Bopanna and Sania will next face Great Britains Andy Murray and Heather Watson in the quarterfinals.?In 2012, the Indian pair of Sania and Leander Paes had also made the quarterfinals, before going down to eventual champions Victoria Azarenka and Max Mirnyi of Belarus.I have been saying this from the very beginning how tough it is going to be to win every match here, Sania said. We play multiple grand slam winners in every match, no matter who we play either the girl or the guy has won slams.Heather is a great player, she has won a slam very recently at Wimbledon. Shes confident and we all know what a champion Andy is. We feel good to have won our first round but we obviously feel we can play better. Hopefully that will happen. ' ' '