Buckhalter: When You Don't Execute, You Don't Win

DENVER (CBS4) - A loss is a loss, but in the 4th quarter against the St. Louis Rams on Sunday, the Broncos proved they are still fighting.

The Broncos came out like gangbusters and scored on the opening drive and field goals on the next two drives. They scored 20 points in the 4th quarter. It's what happened in between that hurt them. Running back Correll Buckhalter said it was lack of execution that hurt their chances.

"Whenever you suffer a loss, no matter what anyone says, it's about execution. When you don't execute, you don't win," said Buckhalter, who was the guest on Xfinity Broncos Live!

It seemed as if the Rams made the right adjustments and the Broncos didn't, but Buckhalter disagreed with that notion.

"I think they just out-coached us offensively against our defense. It was a matter of about 12 plays that they had over 300 yards," he said. "I'm not saying that's the reason we lost the game, because we lost as a whole, but they just did a better job of coaching on that aspect and we have to do a better job."

The Broncos did, however, make a game of it by coming back. They could have quit after the 3rd quarter when they were down by 20 points.

"We're all men and we get paid to go out there and perform. At halftime Coach McDaniels let us know how he felt and guys took it upon their shoulders to go out there and play some good football."

When the team left the field at halftime, Broncos fans let the team know how they felt. CBS4 Broncos Insider Gary Miller asked Buckhalter how that made the players feel.

"We were just really worried about executing. You know when you're in a game like that you're fighting, so our attention is on the field and you're not too much worried about what's going on behind you. Everyone's focus was trying to get back in the ball game and try to win it."

Speaking of executing, the Broncos seemed to have a problem of getting in to third-and-long situations.

"That's been kind of a downfall for us offensively throughout this whole season … when you're at third-and-long you really don't win in this league. It's something that Coach McDaniels tries to instill in us week in and week out … we have to do a better job of staying out of those."

The Broncos travel to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs on Sunday -- a team the Broncos dismantled 49-29 in Week 10. Buckhalter said it's going to be a challenge, especially with the Chiefs coming off a big win against Seattle.

"We can't think in our minds that it's going to be that easy again. They're going to come out and give us their best shot. Kansas City is playing really good football right now, so it's a must that we go out and execute to the best of our ability."

The game starts at 11 a.m. on CBS4.

After the loss Late Monday many speculated that Broncos owner Pat Bowlen might fire Josh McDaniels. But late Monday evening FanHouse.com reported that Bowlen said in a telephone interview that McDaniels will be back for the 2011 season.

- By Matthew J. Buettner, CBSDenver.com