Manning wary of playing catch up against Brees

• Peyton Manning doesn't think Broncos need to over-analyze slow starts
• Broncos are tops in the NFL in second-half scoring
• Saints quarterback Drew Brees is 0-4 in Denver

ENGLEWOOD, COLO. – Peyton Manning didn't need a full week off to realize his team had to fix its problem of disastrous first quarters.

In the six games before the Broncos' bye week, Denver had lost five fumbles and thrown three interceptions all in the first quarter. No wonder the Broncos trailed at halftime of four of those six games.

Yet when the Broncos returned to Dove Valley this week to prepare for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints, there will be no significant changes or revised game plans in order to start faster.

"You have to be careful of over-analyzing and changing what you're doing. But I think we are close," Manning said Wednesday afternoon. "So it's about being a little sharper, a little better on the execution, protecting the ball a little better. If we can do those things, we think that can make a difference."

Manning knows it will have to make a difference right away against a Saints team that has also played well in the second half of its last two games, both wins against San Diego and Tampa. Before the break, Manning led a 35-point comeback against Philip Rivers and the Chargers, and failed fourth-quarter rallies against Tom Brady's Patriots and the Houston Texans.

The Broncos are 28th in the league in first-half scoring, averaging 7.0 points, but they are tops in the NFL at putting up points in the second half with 21.3 a game.

"It certainly says something good about our team that we can come back and we can score when we need to. But we're still looking for that 60-minute game. Not 30 or 40 minute game. It is something we are addressing," Manning said. "Certainly this is the week to do it, because this is not a team you want to fall that far behind against, because they have the potential to keep scoring, and keep extending that lead. "

Sunday will mark Manning's first game against New Orleans since his Colts lost to the Saints in Super Bowl XLIV. Saints quarterback Drew Brees, 0-4 in his career in Denver, was the MVP of that game. And cornerback Tracy Porter – then a Saint, not a Bronco – was the defensive hero. Those memories, as well as his childhood affinity to his father's Saints, are history, Manning said.

"Everyone has a favorite team growing up, but anybody that plays in the NFL, I would hope that the team they play for is their favorite team at that time," Manning said. "Certainly have great friends in New Orleans, my family is still there, brother still there, but I've been with two different NFL teams now. I'm a pretty loyal fan to the team that I play for I like to think."