Manning lights it up, other Broncos shut down in Denver's latest loss

Looking for someone to blame for Denver's latest loss?

Look anywhere other than the locker belonging to No. 18, Peyton Manning.

From a confused defense that couldn't get off the field to a butterfingered offense that couldn't stay on it to a coaching staff that got outmaneuvered at every turn, the Broncos dug themselves a hole in a 31-21 loss to New England on Sunday. Manning made his usual, determined effort to get them out of it, but came up short.

Denver fell to 2-3 and raised a critical question nearly a third of the way into the season: Sure, the Broncos upgraded at the quarterback position by acquiring Manning in the offseason, but did they take care of the rest?