Broncos Beat Patriots, End Losing Streak : AFC: John Elway passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns as Denver defeats New England.

The Denver Broncos needed a victory to climb out of the AFC West cellar, and the bumbling New England Patriots gave them a big boost.

The Broncos dominated from start to finish in a 37-3 victory Sunday night that ended their two-game losing streak and evened their record at 3-3.

“They caught us at the wrong time, because we really needed this win,” John Elway said.

How bad?

“Really, really, really, really bad.”

And that’s how the Patriots played in their first prime time home game in 14 years.

“Here you are on national television, you play like that,” a seemingly stunned Patriot Coach Bill Parcells said quietly. “We stink. We’re bad right now. We’re real bad.”

Elway didn’t need any fourth-quarter heroics to improve his record to 8-0 against the Patriots. It was Denver’s first victory since Elway’s last-play touchdown pass beat Washington 38-31 on Sept. 17. That was Elway’s NFL record 28th fourth-quarter, game-winning drive.

Sunday’s game was decided long before then as the Broncos jumped to a 23-3 halftime lead, forcing Drew Bledsoe to throw the ball to try to come back.

“You always look for that perfect game,” Denver Coach Mike Shanahan said. “By no means did we play a perfect game, but it was nice to put a lot of pressure on them” with the big lead.

New England (1-4) lost its fourth game in a row, tying its most decisive home setback since it moved to Foxboro in 1971. It has been outscored 129-43 this season and has been held to a single field goal in three of its last four games.

“When you get beat like this, you wonder if you can even score a touchdown, much less beat somebody,” Parcells said. “I’m ashamed of this. I mean, this is a joke.”

The 34-point margin was Denver’s biggest since it beat Phoenix, 37-0, on Dec. 16, 1989.

The Broncos led, 14-3, after one quarter on one-yard touchdown runs by Aaron Craver and rookie Terrell Davis, who rushed for a season-high 97 yards.

“He never ceases to amaze me,” Elway said of Davis. “He’s a tough guy and he gets the tough yards.”

Elway completed 21 of 34 passes for 287 yards and one interception.