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DENVER -- Denver Broncos cornerback Darrien Gordon jumped the question as he might a familiar pass route.

	Darrien Gordon and the Broncos secondary got lit up by Lamar Thomas three weeks ago.

With Dan Marino and the Miami Dolphins coming to town for Saturday's divisional playoff game, the plan of attack -- this time by reporters -- was easy for him to spot.

"Are you talking about how weak the secondary is?" he asked bluntly.

Gordon has heard the criticism, especially after successive losses near the end of the regular season in which big pass plays helped seal Denver's fate.

"If we played the way we played in all three phases, not just on defense or in the secondary, I think we'll lose the game," Gordon said of the Miami rematch. "I think a lot of emphasis has been placed on the fact Marino threw for over 300 yards and four scores, but it's a team game. I don't think we played well in any phase. That's the focus this week."

Gordon certainly makes a good point.

In the Monday night battle with Miami, Denver mustered only 58 yards rushing and 167 yards passing.

But he, fellow cornerback Ray Crockett and the rest of Denver's defensive secondary know the pressure will be on them to make some plays this time around.

"We had guys in position to make plays. We just have to make them," veteran safety Steve Atwater said.

Safety Tyrone Braxton, meanwhile, said the criticism is warranted.

"We haven't been playing that well. It's as simple as that. But it's something we can correct, and we look to correct it this week," he said.

Having a bye certainly will help, Braxton said. He played only in nickel situations in Miami and even then had a tough time tackling because of a shoulder injury. But on Monday he proclaimed himself 100 percent healthy.

"Now I've got a good opportunity . . . I'll be playing the whole game," he said.

While many Broncos secretly hoped they would get Miami in the playoffs, Braxton said it's a stretch to say everyone is thrilled to see Marino again.

"I wouldn't say I was glad," Braxton said. "You obviously don't want to call it 'glad' that you're going to be going against one of the greatest quarterbacks who has ever played, and possibly get scarred up again.

"But it's definitely a chance for us to redeem ourselves. What better way to do it than against a Hall of Fame quarterback. You want to go out and have a great game."

Marino has gone 2-0 lifetime against the Broncos, having completed 48 of 81 passes for 745 yards, with seven TDs and only one interception. In Miami's 31-21 victory Dec. 21, he escaped without being sacked.

"We can help (the secondary) by getting a better pass rush," defensive tackle Keith Traylor said.

Marino's quick release, however, makes that tough. Both Traylor and Gordon said there will be more emphasis on linemen getting their hands up.

"You saw Buffalo had a few tipped balls (in the wild-card game), and Miami had a bunch against us," Gordon said.

"When you realize you're not going to get the guy for a sack, you might try to get the hands up and get a deflection and try to create some turnovers."

Another key, Braxton said, is avoiding the big play.

"We didn't play that bad," he said, noting Denver held Miami to 36 yards rushing on 28 carries and allowed the Dolphins to convert only four of 14 third-down opportunities.

"But they had three big plays. . . We cut out the big plays, and I think we'll be all right."

The biggest was Marino's 56-yard touchdown pass to Lamar Thomas that gave Miami a 14-13 quarter lead.

George Coghill went for the pick on the play. He missed and Thomas went down the sideline untouched.

Backup cornerback Tito Paul also was beaten for a touchdown by Marino.

"I got beat off the line. He got a step on me. It was a great pass and a great catch," Paul said.

The Broncos young defensive back said Marino had a phenomenal game, playing like a Hall of Fame quarterback.

Paul had nothing but praise for him Monday.

"Is there panic or worry on our part? No," Paul said. "We respect Dan Marino for what he can do but at the same time if we go out and play our game, we have a good chance of winning this game."

Lynn DeBruin writes for Rocky Mountain News in Denver.