FOXBORO, Mass. (AP) – Tom Brady would drop back, look for a receiver and never see one of his favorites, Deion Branch, for seven straight games.

That changed last Monday night when the New England Patriots’ dangerous combination reconnected as Branch returned from a knee injury.

“He’s just a tremendous player,” Brady said Wednesday. “Deion ran some great routes and whenever I saw him I tried to get him the ball.”

He did that six times for 105 yards in Monday’s 27-19 win at Kansas City. One short completion turned into a 26-yard touchdown when Branch made the catch on the left side, cut across the field and eluded several defenders.

Not bad for his first game in two months.

“I felt a little rusty in practice,” Branch said. “I think once the game started I was so emotionally high I think the main thing (was) I just wanted to go out and help my teammates.”

It probably won’t be as easy in his next game Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, who have allowed the fewest points in the NFL and have the third best pass defense, featuring defensive backs Ed Reed and Chris McAlister.

“I don’t think it gets any easier,” Branch said. “It’s the best defense in the league by far, great linebackers (and) the secondary is good.”

The Patriots did well without Branch, going 6-1. David Givens stepped in as the primary receiver and caught 33 passes in the seven games. But Branch provides Brady with another talented target and frees up wide receiver Troy Brown to spend more time filling in at cornerback, where starters Ty Law and Tyrone Poole have been sidelined.

“Deion’s a great player,” Brown said. “He worked hard to get back to where he is. I saw the guy rehabbing and working out and getting himself ready.”

Branch had 43 catches as a rookie in 2002 after being drafted in the second round out of Louisville. Last season he led the Patriots with 57 catches and added 10 more, including the first touchdown, in the 32-29 Super Bowl win over Carolina.

He started this season with seven receptions and a touchdown in an opening-game win over Indianapolis. But in the Patriots’ next game at Arizona, he made just one catch before being hurt on the last play of the first half.

He was pursuing linebacker James Darling, who was returning an interception. Offensive guard Stephen Neal was behind Branch and fell into him when blocked from behind by defensive tackle Darnell Dockett.

Branch didn’t play again until last Monday.

“You forget how special he is catching the ball and running after the catch,” tight end Christian Fauria said. “It’s like he never missed a game. He came back in and made a bunch of huge plays for us.”

Branch was frustrated that he was in the training room trying to get healthy while his teammates were practicing for another game. He didn’t even travel to all the road games.

But he wanted to make sure he was all better before getting back on the field with Brady.

“I don’t think you can contribute and help your team get better being out there 50 to 75 percent (healthy),” Branch said. “You can hurt yourself by doing that as well.”

Brady was in his third season, his second as a starter, when Branch joined the Patriots. It didn’t take long for that combination to click.

“We’re getting better and learning each other a whole lot more being that we work so hard in the offseason during minicamp and training camp,” Branch said. “The comfort level is great. We can only get better.”

As long as Branch can avoid injury.

“We always like everyone healthy, but the reality of the NFL is you just don’t get that very often,” Brady said. “So you really need to take advantage when you do get them.”

AP-ES-11-24-04 1627EST