The New England Patriots are starting to have that look again.

After opening the season with a slew of injuries and a near mutiny, Bill Belichick’s team has won five consecutive games. The latest came thanks to some shrewd coaching and some good luck that’s reminding the rest of the NFL how this team won the Super Bowl just two seasons ago.

New England beat the Denver Broncos, 30-26, Monday night after Belichick ordered his long-snapper to intentionally hike the ball out of the end zone for a safety. The Broncos misplayed the free kick, the Patriots forced Denver to punt, then took advantage of the gain in field position to march right into the end zone.

“There were a lot of things we didn’t do very well tonight, but the thing about this team is sometimes we’re down, but we’re never out,” said quarterback Tom Brady, who hit David Givens on an 18-yard touchdown pass with 30 seconds left for the win. “Once everyone gets back, hopefully the team just continues to … play good, tough hard-nosed games.”

And get some luck.

In winning the 2002 Super Bowl, the Patriots overcame the death of a coach, the suspension of receiver Terry Glenn and an injury to franchise quarterback Drew Bledsoe. But good fortune was on their side: They won one game when receiver David Patten, after being knocked unconscious, touched a ball and the sideline at the same time, turning a fumble into a dead ball.

But nothing compared to the now-infamous “tuck rule” that helped New England beat the Oakland Raiders in the playoffs. After the replay official overruled a season-ending fumble because Brady hadn’t tucked his arm back in after pumping it, he led the team downfield for Adam Vinatieri’s game-tying field goal. Vinatieri kicked another in overtime to win it.

Nothing quite that strange has happened this season, but the way things are going for the Patriots it could be just a matter of time.

Monday night, they were helped by a replay ruling that overturned a fumble. They had smart coaching when Lonie Paxton snapped the ball off the upright to trade the points for field position. And then the Broncos inexplicably let Ken Walters’ free kick bounce around before downing it on their 15-yard line.

When Denver went three-and-out, the Patriots got the ball back with 2:15 to play on their 42 — a net gain of 41 yards for the two points they surrendered. But because of the safety they needed a field goal to tie. Or, of course, a touchdown to win.

Brady led New England to the 18 before hitting Givens in the front left corner of end zone.

Now the Patriots are 7-2 heading into their bye week, with a 11/2-game lead over Miami in the AFC East.

“What else can you say?” tight end Daniel Graham asked. “Coach Belichick always comes up with the right call.”

It didn’t seem that way back in Week 1, when Belichick released safety Lawyer Milloy five days before he lined up against them in a season-opening, 31-0 loss to the Buffalo Bills. The players were shocked at the loss of one of the captains, and ESPN reported the Patriots “hated” their coach.

And Milloy was the least of New England’s problems.

Linebacker Ted Johnson broke his foot in the second game and hasn’t played since. Linebacker Rosevelt Colvin broke his hip in Week 3 and is out for the season. Nose tackle Ted Washington is out with a leg injury and linebacker Mike Vrabel has been playing the last three weeks with a broken arm.