ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- One of the quirks of facing Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots is that Belichick plays favorites with your favorite things.

If he knows you like to pound the ball in the run game, he’ll force you to do something else. If you like to get your top receiver involved early, his plans force you to throw the ball to someone else. Broncos cornerback Aqib Talib, who played for the Patriots earlier in his career, has said, “[Belichick] doesn’t ever want you to do what you do best.’’

Sure, every team heading into every NFL game in every week of the season wants to take away what its opponent does best. But Belichick’s teams routinely play with the assignment discipline to pull it off.

Von Miller will face a variety of looks and formations as the Patriots try to neutralize the Broncos' biggest defensive weapon. Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

“I think that’s a credit to Bill and his staff and how well they teach,’’ Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said. “They have a lot of veteran football players and very smart football players that they get a lot done with. It’s just a big, big challenge. It’s a credit to Bill. They’ve been doing it a long time. They do a lot with their players and they get it done.’’

What that means for the Broncos (8-5) on Sunday, in a game Denver really could use to help its playoff hopes, is that it will be far more difficult to get the ball to wide receivers Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders. And when the Patriots have the ball, Broncos linebacker Von Miller will be occupied with other tasks to keep him from chasing down quarterback Tom Brady.

That’s why in the AFC Championship Game this past January, tight end Owen Daniels had two touchdown catches against New England. The Patriots used plenty of defensive resources to keep Thomas and Sanders from making plays, so QB Peyton Manning went elsewhere with the ball.

And those were the only two receptions in the game for Daniels, who had three touchdown catches in the entire regular season in 2015. But the bottom line is that on either side of the ball or on special teams, it often takes an unexpected hero to beat the Patriots.

In the regular-season meeting last November between the Broncos and Patriots, Andre Caldwell had the Broncos' only touchdown reception. Caldwell had 10 receptions and two touchdown catches for the season.

The best exception this season may have been the Seattle Seahawks' victory over the Patriots last month when quarterback Russell Wilson threw three touchdown passes in the game, all to Doug Baldwin.

“Belichick’s done the same thing for a long, long time. Offensively or defensively, they try to attack your weakness,’’ Broncos defensive coordinator Wade Phillips said. “Whatever they perceive your weakness to be, they try to attack. They do a great job of that.’’

Against Miller, the Patriots figure to add some blockers to his side or use formations and motion to force Miller into a coverage role, something other teams have tried.

The Broncos, and Miller, were able to force the issue against the Patriots' offense in the AFC Championship Game, with Miller recording 2.5 of the team’s four sacks as Denver battered Brady in the pocket. This year’s Patriots team runs the ball far better. RB LeGarrette Blount already has topped 1,000 yards rushing and will present the Broncos with some difficult choices even though injured Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is out.

“They feel like they know what we’re going to do; we feel like we know what they’re going to do,’’ Phillips said. “It’s that kind of match.”

“There’s so many things that you have to take time at practice to cover. Sometimes you’re playing other teams that may not be that way, but this team presents so many challenges for you that you can really get caught in situations,’’ Kubiak said. “Bill is just a great teacher. Some days you may show up on Sunday and you might practice all week against one thing and here comes another. It’s always about adjusting and giving yourself and team a chance to win.’’