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Broncos take second shot at wrapping up AFC West

Dec 16, 2008 - 3:36 PM Buffalo (6-8) at Denver (8-6), 4:05 pm EST

DENVER (Ticker) -- The Denver Broncos' loss last week left the door slightly ajar for the underachieving San Diego Chargers to sneak in and steal the AFC West title.

The Broncos will know if they need to slam it shut before they take the field Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.

Denver had a chance to wrap up its first division title since 2005, but was run over by the Carolina Panthers, 30-10, last week. The once-feared Broncos' running game is in shambles after six running backs have been placed on injured reserve.

Tatum Bell ran for 43 yards on seven carries and P.J. Pope, who was out of football last season, carried seven times for 51 yards.

"We weren't able to run the ball as well as we wanted to," said Jay Cutler, who threw for a season-low 172 yards with one touchdown and an interception.

Denver's 25th-ranked defense (373.4 ypg) also had no answer for Steve Smith, who hauled in nine passes for 165 yards and a touchdown.

Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey missed a seventh straight game with a groin injury, and his status for this game is uncertain.

Denver thought it would clinch the division when Kansas City jumped out to a 21-3 lead over San Diego (6-8) last week, but Philip Rivers tossed two touchdowns in the final 73 seconds in a stunning 22-21 victory.

"I was aware of what happened," Denver coach Mike Shanahan said. "Our team wasn't."

What happened is the Broncos gave the Chargers a glimmer of hope.

If the Chargers beat Tampa Bay in an early game, the Broncos (8-6) must win to clinch the division. If the Chargers win and the Broncos lose, it would set up a season-ending showdown in San Diego that will decide the AFC West.

"We need to win and take care of business as fast as possible," Denver cornerback Dre' Bly said. "Time is running out. We don't want to go into the last game with the Chargers."

It will be no walk in the park against a Buffalo team that still is dangerous. The Bills nearly upset the New York Jets (9-5), but Shaun Ellis returned a fumble 11 yards for a TD in a 31-27 loss last week.

J.P. Losman made a second straight start for Trent Edwards (groin) and was 24-of-39 for 148 yards with a score and three interceptions.

Marshawn Lynch already had run for 121 yards, but head coach Dick Jauron chose to throw the ball instead of running the clock out. Jauron, who overruled offensive coordinator Turk Schonert, took full blame.

"Clearly the responsibility for the last call, the play-action pass, that was mine," Jauron said. "That goes right on me. It backfired clearly and caused us to lose the game. ... It's one of those times in a game that's pretty good for a pass, right before the two-minute (warning)."

Buffalo was once in the driver's seat in the AFC East, but has lost seven of its last eight games.