FOXBORO — Intelligence and versatility go a long way for players seeking to get on the field for a Bill Belichick-coached defense, typically regarded as one of the most complex in football.

Defensive back Patrick Chung has those traits in bulk. If he didn’t, there’s no way he’d be able to do as many of the things he did last Sunday against the Denver Broncos.

There’s very little Belichick doesn’t ask of Chung. While a player’s value dictates many of the team’s personnel and draft moves, it also applies to Chung’s prowess on the field. In other words, if Belichick needs something done, he can count on Chung to do it and, more and more this season, do it quite well. That’s value.

“He’s a good player,” safety Devin McCourty said. “I think he’s done a lot of what we ask him to do — whether that be coverage, in the box. I mean, he’s been everywhere on the field. Like I said, PC always has a lot of energy. He plays the game with a lot of passion, and you can see it.”

The Broncos game stands as a snapshot of Chung’s versatility. Facing one of the top offenses in football, Chung played inside the box almost like a linebacker at times, covered both slot receivers and tight ends in man coverage and dropped into zone.

For a game plan designed to do one of the toughest tasks in football — confuse Peyton Manning and force him into bad decisions — Chung played his part well.

Long criticized as a liability in pass coverage, Chung was very effective against the high-scoring Broncos.

When matched up in man coverage with Wes Welker in the first quarter, Chung batted away a pass toward the sideline that helped prevent a first down.

For much of the game, Chung found himself matched up with either tight end Julius Thomas or Jacob Tamme. Thomas was able to beat Chung for a third-quarter touchdown on a perfectly thrown ball on the right sideline.

Overall, though, Chung was outstanding in coverage. In the fourth quarter, he broke up a pass intended for Tamme in the back of the end zone. Two plays later, Manning targeted Tamme in the back left corner of the end zone, but again Chung was there as the ball flew out of bounds and the Patriots took over on downs deep in their own territory.

For the game, Chung had season highs with six solo tackles and three passes broken up.

Against the Indianapolis Colts next weekend, expect Belichick to ask Chung to do just as much. Clearly, at this point of the season, he’s proven capable of handling the load.