Thomas Leads Way as Bills Drop Broncos to 0-4 : AFC: Running back scores two late first-half touchdowns and Buffalo holds on for 27-20 victory.

Buffalo and Denver know how to lose Super Bowls--seven of the last eight to be precise.

The Broncos, 0-4 and off to the worst start in their history, are learning how painful regular-season losses can be.

The latest one came Monday night when Thurman Thomas ran for two late first-half touchdowns and Carwell Gardner scored early in the third quarter as the Bills beat the Broncos, 27-20.

“The Bills looked like the same team they’ve been the last four years. They didn’t look any different to me,” Denver coach Wade Phillips said. “Our guys played hard but we made too many mistakes and it cost us the ball game.”

It might cost Phillips more than that.

The Broncos, considered Super Bowl contenders when the season started, have started 0-4 only once before, in 1964. And that got Jack Faulkner fired as coach, a fate that could be awaiting Phillips if Denver fans get their way.

The Bills took advantage of two turnovers during a winning spurt that spanned both halves, scoring 21 of their 27 points in 3:36.

Thomas, who gained 103 yards in 17 carries before leaving with an injured right knee early in the third quarter, went in from 16 yards with 1:54 left in the half.

He then scored from the 27 with 18 seconds left after Bruce Smith sacked John Elway and forced a fumble that was recovered by Cornelius Bennett. Coach Marv Levy said Thomas’ injury “doesn’t appear to be real serious.”

In addition to his fumble recovery, Bennett had six tackles, two sacks and forced Elway to throw high on the Broncos’ final play.

“We did get a momentum swing with the fumble,” he said. “But with John Elway at quarterback, you can never say you’ve got them licked.”

Gardner scored 1:42 into the second half to make it 24-7 after Mickey Washington’s interception, the fifth thrown by Elway this year.

Until then the Bills (3-1) couldn’t muster much offense against a team that had allowed an average of 37 points in its first three games and lost four starters to injury in the first 18 minutes--running back Rod Bernstine, cornerback Ray Crockett, offensive tackle Russell Freeman and defensive end Dan Williams.

Bernstine is lost for the season with a torn knee ligament.