Broncos fans don’t like the New England Patriots, and the feeling is certainly mutual. That’s what happens when two teams dominate a conference for five-plus years.

But the connection between Gary Kubiak and Bill Belichick goes back further than that.

Kubiak and Belichick have been facing off against each other for well over a decade, dating all the way back to the Shanahan-era Broncos, and they know what to expect every time their teams matchup. In fact, Belichick says he knows Kubiak’s tendencies in and out.

“Different personnel running the same plays,” Belichick said, via Kevin Duffy of MassLive.com. “It’s the same plays in Houston, the same plays in Baltimore, the same plays in Denver when (Mike) Shanahan was there. It’s the same plays now. It’s the same plays. The same as when Wade (Phillips) was in Denver, when Wade was in Buffalo, when Wade was in Dallas, when Wade was in Houston. Now Wade’s back in Denver, so it’s basically the same defenses. It’s the same thing when Joe (DeCamillis) was in Denver, when Joe was in Chicago, when Joe was back in Denver. There’s a lot of continuity and consistency with their coaching staffs.”

Is that a shot at Kubiak? Or is that a compliment?

Denver media asked the Patriots head coach on Wednesday, and he replied in typical Belichick fashion.

Whatever Kubiak does, he’s been successful doing it, including two victories against the Patriots just last season.

We’ll see if the Broncos have a few tricks up their sleeve for Belichick on Sunday.