By Marc Thaler
Sports Editor

Talk about an evening of atypical postseason firsts for the New England Patriots of the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady era.

For the first time, Belichick’s bunch experienced playoff life without the benefit of a first-round bye. After a Wild Cardround win, the Genius didn’t have the answer in a demoralizing 27-13 divisional playoff loss to the Denver Broncos.

For the first time, the quarterback with the Midas Touch had his impeccable 10-0 playoff record tarnished.

Tom Brady, who’s built a reputation on making smart passes, made perhaps his worst decision, tossing a backbreaking interception on the verge of scoring; a pick snared by Champ Bailey in the Broncos’ end zone and returned 100 yards to New England’s 1.

For the first time, Old Reliable, Adam Vinatieri, missed a must-have boot. The greatest clutch kicker in league history couldn’t connect for three critical points that would’ve pulled the Pats within eight with plenty of time remaining in the game.

For the first time, the Patriots appeared overwhelmed in a hostile environment, unable to overcome tremendous adversity on the road.

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For the first time, the Patriots were careless with the football and committed a handful of catastrophic turnovers. Those three fumbles and two interceptions added up to New England’s first five turnover-game since Oct. 28, 2001 – at Denver of all places.

For the first time, the Patriots faced a team that played their brand of championship-caliber football. Beyond forcing turnovers, the Broncos used the Pats’ powerful recipe for success and cashed in on the miscues.

Twenty-four of Denver’s 27 points came courtesy of New England’s carelessness.

For the first time, the Patriots allowed themselves to expend more energy focusing on officials’ calls – and non-calls – instead of placing their complete attention squarely on the opposition.

For the first time, the Patriots didn’t see the game-changing controversial calls go in their favor. A tough pass interference call against Asante Samuel helped deliver Denver’s first touchdown late in the second quarter.

Then, in the final frame, the officials decided against overturning their onfield ruling that Bailey’s pick of Brady – and subsequent fumble near New England’s end zone – didn’t result in a touchback and Pats’ possession.

For the first time, the Patriots weren’t able to win without establishing some semblance of a running game.

Leading, 3-0, until the final minutes of the first half, New England couldn’t crack Denver’s rush defense, among the best in the National Football League.

For the first time, Patriots Nation saw frustration boil over on the sideline. New England’s all-for-one mentality took a back seat when the television cameras caught Willie McGinest shoving teammate Larry Izzo after Denver increased its advantage to 17-6 on Mike Anderson’s second TD run.

For the first time, linebackers Tedy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel, cornerstones of New England’s dominant defense, could be seen sitting sullenly on the bench, stunned disbelief the expression on their faces.

For the first time, the sense that New England’s propensity for late-game heroics would lead to an improbable 11th straight playoff victory never surfaced.

Add these firsts together and there’s only one logical conclusion that comes from the computation.

For the first time since their storybook Super Bowl run in 2001, the Patriots simply didn’t deserve to win.