All the Broncos had to do was protect a 13-point lead from the Buffalo Bills, and the AFC West championship would be won in front of the home fans - 67,042 of them who braved the cold weather at Invesco Field at Mile High.

Easy call. Except these Broncos don't do "easy" very well. Especially not at home. The Bills rallied for 16 unanswered points to snatch the lead, leaving the couldas and wouldas of doubt to creep into the Broncos' minds.

Could the Broncos blow the game? Would they have to travel to San Diego on Sunday with the division title at stake against the revived Chargers?

The answers were yes and yes, sir. The Broncos lost 30-23 on Sunday, giving up a 30-spot for the eighth time this season. Winner of the game in San Diego wears the division crown. Loser wears bitter beer face.

How does a team - Denver - with nearly double its opponent's offensive yards (532-275, including 213 to minus 2 after one quarter), find itself scrambling to tie the score in the final seconds?

"We came away with some field goals in situations we should have had touchdowns," said wide receiver Brandon Stokley, who had a 15-yard touchdown pass on fourth down knock from his grasp on Denver's final play from scrimmage.

Denver had 20 points and an interception in five trips inside Buffalo's 20-yard line.

How does a team - Buffalo - that had lost seven of its previous eight games, overcome a 13-0 deficit to assume control of the game in the second half. Easy. The Bills, with nothing on the line other than pride and no place to go but a downtown Denver hotel because Buffalo's airport was shut down because of snow, outfought, outhustled and outwitted a Broncos team playing for a playoff berth.

The Broncos offense moved with precision early on. Then a running back went down. Go figure. P.J. Pope gained 44 yards in six carries. When he left with a hamstring injury, the Broncos offense lost some of its balance.

Meanwhile, the Bills steadily chopped at a double-digit deficit with an offense that kept searching for that big-play hole in Denver's defense. It's the hole that has been good for gains of 30 yards or more in every game this season - 46 yards or longer nine times.

Buffalo quarterback Trent Edwards found it on the first play of the fourth quarter - a 65-yard pass to Fred Jackson, setting up a 3-yard touchdown that gave Buffalo a 23-20 lead.

The Broncos managed a tie on Matt Prater's third field goal, but the Bills took the lead for good in four plays and 45 yards. Buffalo scored in six straight possessions - 23 points on five drives of less than 60 yards thanks to Denver's weak play on special teams and defense in the final three quarters.

"If we don't get better in those areas once we get to the playoffs, then we won't go anywhere," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said.

Hold up. If the Broncos don't beat the Chargers in San Diego on Sunday, they will have blown a three-game lead in the division. And they won't be going to the playoffs.