Even though a Chargers loss would put Denver into the playoffs, as would a Denver victory later in the day, Broncos coach Mike Shanahan and some players believed there might have been an element of distraction at play Sunday in Carolina.

San Diego completed a huge comeback in the final minutes to win in Kansas City and stay alive in the AFC West just as Denver was starting what turned into a flat overall performance against the Panthers in a 30-10 loss.

At a team meeting Monday, Shanahan informed the players the Buffalo Bills would be the sole focal point this weekend.

That means no updates in the locker room. No cell phone messages from family and friends. No pregame big-screen broadcast during warm-ups.

No TVs tuned to Buccaneers-

Chargers in the locker room.

It'll be all Bills (6-8), as the Broncos (8-6) look to avoid a showdown in San Diego on Dec. 28 with the division title on the line.

"We're going to concentrate on our game . . . and try to take care of business and play our best game and not worry about something we can't control," Shanahan said at his Monday news conference.

"I think I made a mistake by allowing that to happen . . . ," he added, referring to the fact many of the players watched the Chargers game before warm-ups in Charlotte, N.C., then scoreboard- watched or were informed on the sideline of the San Diego result. "It does take some emotion out of you, just common sense, at this time of year."

Another reduction: That three- game lead with three games to play has been whittled to two after San Diego's miracle comeback that necessitated two touchdowns, a recovered onside kick and a missed 50-yard field-goal attempt by Kansas City inside two minutes.

"It seemed like we were too worried, not worried, but busy looking at what other teams were doing instead of worrying about what we needed to do," Broncos defensive tackle Marcus Thomas said. "That's what we're going to take into this game is handle our own business and put it in our hands."

Thomas wasn't the only player expressing such sentiments. But some players believed it was a cop-out that fails to explain away scoring on the first two possessions, then getting shut out for three quarters, or allowing multiple big plays by Panthers receiver Steve Smith and running back DeAngelo Williams.

"They made more explosive plays than us," linebacker/safety Wesley Woodyard said. "Those are the facts of the game."

"I didn't get that vibe at all," guard Ben Hamilton added, when asked whether San Diego's comeback from 21-3 down had a trickle-down effect. "I didn't sense a letdown coming or anything. The game was definitely on, but I don't think it affected us that much. I don't know what happened. We started off OK. We just sort of fizzled."

Shanahan took some of the blame for Sunday's lackluster showing by saying he "did a bad job preparing these guys to play," adding, "We're better than that."

The Broncos need to demonstrate it at home against a Bills team that has lost seven of eight games but narrowly was beaten Sunday by the New York Jets 31-27.

Denver has been inconsistent at home this season, losing consecutive games to Jacksonville, Miami and Oakland before squeaking past Kansas City on Dec. 7. It has played down to supposedly inferior competition and played up to some NFL powers.

And against Carolina, which is battling for home-field advantage in the NFC, the Broncos were fortunate the score wasn't more lopsided, with the Panthers dropping several easy interceptions.

"I think we'll respond well. We have to. There's no other choice," linebacker Jamie Winborn said. "The time has come. You don't want to keep letting stuff get down to the wire. And you'd hate to be home in January saying, 'We were almost there with three games left and all we had to do is win one game.' You don't want to feel like that. It's the worst feeling in the world to feel like you should be there and you don't get there."

Denver has missed the playoffs two straight seasons but had a chance to advance in 2006, with a home game in the season finale against a 6-9 San Francisco team that had lost four of five games. The Broncos blew a 13-3 halftime lead and lost in overtime.

The situation is slightly different this time, since a loss to the Bills still would mean another game to decide whether the Broncos advance to the postseason.

But the 49ers game provided a lesson, regardless.

"We can take a lot from that," said Ebenezer Ekuban, one of only 14 players on the active roster still remaining from that 2006 loss. "The guys who are still here from that game - and it seems like yesterday where we quote, un-quote, 'controlled our own destiny' and still couldn't make plays to win the game, hopefully, the guys who are still here and remember that game will remind the guys that, hey, these opportunities don't come along very often."

And how's this for coincidence: There's a chance the Broncos' playoff fate will rest in the hands of old buddy Brian Griese, who subbed for Tampa Bay at quarterback Sunday and could again against San Diego.

It's a scenario almost tempting enough to watch.