FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- With a matchup against the Broncos’ explosive offense on Sunday, Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower is looking for his defense to play aggressive.

“Definitely want this to be a physical game on our part,” Hightower said. “They have a lot of big receivers, a lot of quick guys. The one thing we are going to have to do that I think we are pretty good at is being aggressive. Whether it is jamming or they have a lot of crossers, so just being aggressive and coming down on that.

“Peyton [Manning] is going to get those guys the ball no matter how or when or whether they are double-covered or whatever. We are just going to have to do a real good job on the line of scrimmage and just be aggressive with these guys.”

Last season against the Broncos, the Patriots came back from 24 points down to win an overtime thriller, 34-31, in week 12 of the season. Though in the postseason, the Broncos bested the Patriots with a 26-16 victory.

“Try not to dwell on the past,” Hightower said. “It’s football. You definitely don’t want to relive that last game we played against them last year. But, we have to just go out there and play our ball.”

The Patriots are well aware of the Broncos’ track record of putting up points as the No. 1 scoring offense in the NFL in 2013 and so far in 2014. This year's Broncos’ offense has different weapons in wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders and running back Ronnie Hillman.

“We just try to approach every week as any other week, but this week will be a little bit more of a challenge,” Hightower said. “Peyton Manning is a really good quarterback and they have a really good defense as well.”

The big-game atmosphere of another Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning battle and playoff implications don't change the way Hightower or any of the Patriots go about their week of preparation.

“Obviously it is a big week, but we approach it just like it’s any other week,” Hightower said.

In addition to Hightower and linebacker Jamie Collins, the Patriots will likely turn to their new acquisitions -- Akeem Ayers, who has played one game for the Patriots, and Jonathan Casillas, who was acquired at the trade deadline. Hightower noted the increase in football intelligence with Ayers and Casillas’ presence on the team.

“They are doing really well. Two really smart guys,” Hightower said. “They stay in the film room, constantly asking questions on the field, making sure they have all the terminology and everything down.

“I’m definitely proud. I feel like what they brought to the locker room is not just athleticism or the way they play, but a lot more football IQ. ... [Ayers and Casillas] come up and see things differently than we do, so it helps a lot.”

After a long week of practice and game-planning, Hightower is going through the final mental preparations for Sunday’s showdown.

“I feel like we’ve been on top of it,” Hightower said. “You can never do too much. These next couple days are definitely going to be mental days.”