DENVER BRONCOS HEAD COACH MIKE SHANAHAN

Opening statement

"Obviously it was very disappointing. We didn't take advantage of the opportunity we had today. Bottom line is we didn't get it done. Now we have to get ready to go against San Diego in their own backyard, and find a way to get the job down out there."

On home losses

"We moved the ball quite well, but we gave up some yardage on special teams. We also didn't get the ball in the end zone when we were in the red zone. We also lost the turnover game, and when you do that you lose football games. In the NFL, everybody is good."

On CB Champ Bailey

"I thought he did a pretty good job coming back. He got sore there at the end when he took himself out. But for the most part, he did a pretty good job."

On Broncos offensive line

"To see [T] Ryan Clady - with what kind of shape he was in this week - and to come back and play is very impressive. With [G] Chris Kuper having a couple broken bones in his hand, and playing the whole game, that tells you about the character and mind set that these young men have."

On the field goal attempt at the end of the first half

"The wind was blowing pretty good. I felt like it was a ten-yard difference, so the distance was not a question. They came back and hit a 49-yarder against the wind, so it turned out to be the wrong decision, and we were also stopping them at that point."

On the Broncos defense

"We blitzed early, and took advantage of that. Then they came back with some quick passes and got yards after the catch. We tried to keep them off balance, but when they got in the red zone they scored. That was the difference in the game. They took advantage of their opportunities, in the running game and the passing game. We were settling for three points while they were getting touchdowns, but we still had an opportunity at the end of the game to at least tie it."

On QB Jay Cutler

"I think he made some great plays with a lot of pressure on him, but obviously there are a couple of opportunities he wished he had back, and that's the nature of the game. He's a competitor that we'll be very proud of for a long time."

On being a playoff contender

"Obviously I would be very disappointed if we didn't take advantage of this opportunity, but you just keep getting better. If you don't get it done then you're just getting ready for the next year. I think we have a lot of young players on this football team that are disappointed that they didn't take advantage of this opportunity. The bottom line is either you get it done or you don't get it done. There are a few areas that we need to get better at, we've got some work to do this week, and if we don't get better in those areas once we get to the playoffs, then we won't go anywhere. We've got to fine-tune some things this week and hopefully get some of our players healthy, and find a way to get it done in San Diego."

DENVER BRONCOS PLAYERS

BRONCOS PLAYERS

QB JAY CUTLER

On RB P.J. Pope's injury

"It was tough, but it's happened before. We had chances, but just didn't take advantage of them."

On needing to win next week in order to make the playoffs

"If you would have told us at the beginning of the year that it was a one game series between us and San Diego to go to the playoffs, we probably would have taken it. We've got to keep our heads up. One game; winner gets in; I'm looking forward to it."

On the failed fourth down attempt in final minute

"Stoke's [WR Brandon Stokley] a little hampered out there. I hung him out there a little bit. I stretched him out, if he's 100% I think he gets it."

On red zone struggles

"They [Buffalo Bills] were making plays; they kind of zoned us out. But, we had our opportunities."

On radio malfunctions

"It went out in the second half for at least for a series and a half. They fixed it in the fourth quarter. It's like high school; you have to run back to the side line to get the play. With the play clock, it makes it harder. We work better when we're in and out of the huddle, getting to the line. It makes it hard on us."

On if they knew that San Diego had won

"No."

On next week's game at San Diego

"It's been a roller coaster for us all year. This is pretty normal for us, we win a few and then we lose a few. We win a couple that we weren't supposed to and we come back and lose one that we should have won. It's par for the course at this point."

WR BRANDON MARSHALL

On if the Broncos knew that San Diego had beat Tampa Bay

"I don't know. We didn't get it done here. That game doesn't mean anything, as far as I know it was cancelled."

On next week's game at San Diego

"It isn't going to be difficult to refocus. But, it will be difficult to go into San Diego's backyard. They've won three or four straight games. They're a good team, but they're record doesn't show it. It'll be tough, but we'll see what kind of guys we have. It's a big game, this is only my third year and I haven't been to the playoffs yet. We just have to get it done."

More on facing San Diego next week

"I'm licking my chops. It's a big game. Unfortunately, we can't go in there and take it easy. We've got to go into their backyard and prove that we're better. They're playing better now; they have all of the momentum. We just have got to get our guys ready to fight for four quarters. It isn't going to be easy, especially in their backyard."

On today's loss

"We just didn't get it done. We were short of a few big plays to get it done. They had a couple big plays and they won today."

On the Broncos offense

"No one can stop us. The only people that can stop us are ourselves. We can't get into the red zone and have to kick field goals. We're a dangerous offense, we're explosive. But, we have to prove it on Sunday. This loss hurts."

On Buffalo

"Buffalo's a good team, we knew what they were capable of doing and what kind of team they are. We just didn't get it done today. We didn't put enough on the board, or stop them enough to get the win."

On his third quarter fumble

"He [S Donte Whitner] did a good job of putting his helmet and shoulder pads right on the ball. That can't happen; I've got to be stronger with the ball. It was a big play because it gave them momentum. That could have been the play that changed the game around."

On the Broncos defense

"As an offense we want to go out there and put up points every week, that's the kind of offense we are. It doesn't matter what the defense is doing, the defense has been playing great the last couple of weeks. They had a couple plays here and there that broke for big. We just didn't get it done. We have some great players on that side of the ball. We just didn't get it done. Big game next week at San Diego."

TE DANIEL GRAHAM

On red zone offense

"We can't settle for field goals if we want to win. We have to get to the red zone and score seven points. We had plenty of opportunities to score touchdowns, and we didn't do that."

General

"It was a shootout, and they lasted longer than we did. We have to get our heads right and play well next week."

On playing San Diego for the division title

"We will learn what this team is really about. Everybody has to stick together on this one. This is like a playoff game right here. Win or go home."

DE EBENEZER EKUBAN

On playing San Diego for the division title

 "It is a challenge for us. We don't care what everybody outside this locker room thinks or says. We have a playoff game coming up (at San Diego)."

On the defense

"We gave up a lot of big plays, especially on crucial downs, and we did not play well in the red zone."

K MATT PRATER

General

"We had a lot of opportunities on special teams. We didn't do well on coverage, and I didn't kick off as well as I wanted. I put that on myself, I have to have more touchbacks, and drive the ball when it's cold."

On his kickoffs

"They (Buffalo) have such a good return game. We wanted to mix it up but they prepared well for it."

On his 57-yard field goal attempt

"He (Head Coach Mike Shanahan) just said, ‘Kick it.' He had confidence in me and I thought I could do it. "

WR EDDIE ROYAL

On losing the game

"It hurts. We put so much effort and energy in tonight, and to lose the way we did was bad. However, we have a big one next week against San Diego, and we have to start preparing for a good team."

On having a 13-point lead

"When we got them down early, we needed to keep them down. Today just wasn't our day. We played hard, and you can't question anyone's effort tonight, but we just didn't get it done."

On playing San Diego for the division title

 "Good teams bounce back, and we are good team, so I am sure we will bounce back. We go to San Diego next week and we still have a chance to win the division title, and get into the playoffs."

LB JAMIE WINBORN

On losing to a 6-8 team

"It is the NFL, despite records and guys getting paid, they have pride. We lost tonight, but we still have an opportunity to get in (the playoffs). Just like coach said, we are going to have to do it the hard way. This was a playoff game for us tonight, we just don't have to go home, we get one more chance."

On playing a San Diego team that has won two straight games

"It is all about what happens between the lines next week. We want to go out and prove a point, and they want to do the same. They want it as bad as we do. I advise everyone to watch the game."

WR BRANDON STOKLEY

On what happened against the Bills

"We have to take advantage of our red zone opportunities. We came away with some field goals in situations we should have had touchdowns. We will get back to work this week and get ready to play San Diego. We don't want to dwell on our loss. We have to move on and prepare to face a good team."

On the final play of the game

"I got both of my hands on it. I have to make that catch. That is what they pay me for, to make those plays. I need to make that catch. I just have to put it behind me and move on."

On losing to the Bills

"We didn't get it done today. We had plenty of opportunities. We played well offensively, but we settled for field goals, and that hurts."