Broncos Desperately Need a Victory : Pro football: Denver goes into Monday night game against Buffalo with an 0-3 record.

Somewhere along the path that the Denver Broncos are traveling is a line that separates the bad starts from the bad teams.

Maybe it’s 0-4, which is what the Broncos will be if they lose to Buffalo on Monday night; maybe it’s farther along. Either way, they don’t want to find out.

“We’d play just as hard if we were 3-0,” tight end Shannon Sharpe said. “It just happens that we’re 0-3, and we really need this victory.”

Denver has lost its last six games, allowing an average of 34 points. After 3-point losses to both San Diego and the Jets to open the season, the Broncos were embarrassed 48-16 by the Raiders last week.

It was their worst home loss since 1968. Coincidentally, that also was the last time Denver started 0-3.

Now, the Buffalo game looks like a must-win for Denver and coach Wade Phillips, who was pelted with chants of “Wade must go!” as he left Mile High Stadium. Speaking to the Buffalo media on Wednesday, Phillips sounded depressed.

“We just didn’t play well against the Raiders,” he moaned. “The whole team didn’t.”

Although the Bills have plenty of reasons to be overconfident, they aren’t likely to be caught by surprise. After a 23-3 loss to the Jets in Week 1, Buffalo isn’t likely to take any opponents too lightly.

“I think our players understand that pretty well by this time. And I’ll refresh their memory,” coach Marv Levy said. “It’s not the thing we’re going to spend all week wrangling with. . . . We just remind them, ‘Don’t be misled by big scores.’ ”

Levy seems to have gotten his point across, because wherever you saw Bills players last week, you heard them saying the same thing: “The Broncos could just as easily be 2-1.”

“This team is definitely better than 0-3,” Bills defensive end Bruce Smith said. “The fact that they do have that record . . . I sure they’re going to take out their frustrations on us.”

Tackle Glenn Parker predicted that it would be the toughest game of the season.

“I’ve always been told that a wounded dog is a lot more dangerous,” Bills center Kent Hull said. “That’s the reason why we’re so alert for them coming in here.”

“Sometimes you’d almost rather play a team that’s 3-0, than a team that’s 0-3,” agreed quarterback Jim Kelly. “They’re looking for that little spark to get back in it.

“I think one of the keys for us is to get up on them quick, get them thinking about the past three weeks. But it’s going to be a tough game.”

Phillips, a former defensive coordinator, said he would take over the signal-calling when Buffalo has the ball. He will also get help from the roster.

Running back Rod Bernstine, who missed last week’s game with a strained right hamstring, is expected back, as is linebacker Mike Croel. Sharpe, who played sparingly last week because of a sprained right knee, will be close to 100 percent, Phillips said. The Broncos also re-signed veteran safety Dennis Smith.

Sharpe said he would call a team meeting for Monday in an attempt to get the Broncos focused on winning again. He hopes it will be enough.

“I really think we have the right players, the right game plan, it’s just a matter of executing,” Sharpe said. “We’re just doing the wrong things at the wrong time.”