Michael Bolton -- DEFENDS TOM BRADY ... 'When A Man Loves a QB...'

He's not even a Patriots fan, but Michael Bolton DOESN'T TAKE KINDLY to people talking smack about Tom Brady.

The king of the U.S. adult contemporary chart hit up LAX after Denver beat up on New England Sunday ... and set our photog straight when asked if he took pleasure in watching Brady get knocked out of the NFL playoffs.

"I don't take pleasure in great players losing, I really don't," Bolton told us in his silky, transcendent voice.

Bolton went on to explain why he respects the guy -- and also revealed another player who blew his mind this weekend.

Check out the clip -- and then, kick back, relax and crank some Bolton.

C'mon ... It's not that bad.