Bills Make Broncos Pay the Price, 29-28 : AFC: Denver’s mistakes enable Buffalo to score three touchdowns in a span of 1:17 during the fourth quarter.

The Buffalo Bills stunned, staggered and stopped the Denver Broncos Sunday in a speedy turnaround that Buffalo’s players said was the wildest they had seen in their football careers.

Denver went from near-certain victors to sudden losers as the Broncos, who have lost leads late in their last three games, collapsed again during a 29-28 Buffalo victory.

“I’ve been in this league four years and that’s the first time I’ve ever seen something like that,” defensive end Leon Seals said of the 1:17 span in the fourth quarter when the Bills scored three touchdowns.

Players in both locker rooms were having trouble describing what they felt about that pivotal point in the game. Denver offensive guard Doug Widell expressed the prevalent emotion among the Broncos: “Shock.”

If victory can be snatched from the jaws of defeat, then this was a case of the Bills reaching into Denver’s throat and pulling it from near digestion.

“We were ready to go up 24-9 and we felt pretty good about the situation,” John Elway said. “That’s when the roof caved in.”

With the Broncos leading 21-9 and moving the ball without much resistance, Denver’s David Treadwell lined up for a 24-yard field goal with 10:27 left in the game. Buffalo defenders, who hadn’t done much to stand out through most of the game, keyed the sequence of events that followed.

Cornerback Nate Odomes broke through to block Treadwell’s attempt and the ball bounced to linebacker Cornelius Bennett, who ran untouched 80 yards for the first touchdown of his four-year NFL career.

On Denver’s next play from scrimmage, John Elway’s pass was tipped at the line by Seals. Strong safety Leonard Smith caught the ball and weaved through the Bronco offense into the end zone from 39 yards out. Buffalo, which once trailed 14-0, now led 22-21.

The noise became overwhelming, causing referee Bob McElwee to caution the crowd to quiet down and allow Denver to call a play. With the ball sitting at the Denver five, Elway and center Keith Kartz crossed signals and the ball squirted over to Bennett.

He recovered on the two and on the next play, Ken Davis ran for the touchdown.

“It just squirted out on me,” Elway said. “The ball was wet and I only got one hand on it and it was gone.”

Elway brought the Broncos (2-2) back, throwing a 10-yard touchdown pass to Ricky Nattiel, but an onsides kick was recovered by the Bills (3-1).

“I told our players, ‘If you don’t quit, sometimes you get lucky,” ’ Bills Coach Marv Levy said. “I think that prevailed.”