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Orchard Park, N.Y. • There have been classic rematches. Highly anticipated rematches.

And then there is the dreaded face-off: Kansas City's Kyle Orton​ vs. Denver's Tim Tebow.

Tebow wins and the Broncos go to the playoffs for the first time since 2005. Orton wins and the Broncos would leave their home field next Sunday, maybe for good, thinking: Where were you early in the season, Kyle?

"We knew it was a possibility," said John Elway​, the Broncos' boss of football operations. "So, here it is. We have to go out there and play well. It was best for the team, bottom line. We made that decision knowing this was a possibility. Now we have to do it."

After Denver was pummeled by the lowly Buffalo Bills​ 40-14 Saturday at one-third-empty Ralph Wilson Stadium, this should be an anxious week for the men upstairs at Dove Valley.

If the 8-7 Broncos beat 6-9 Kansas City in the season finale at Sports Authority Field on New Year's Day, they will win the AFC West Division title on a tiebreaker against the 8-7 Oakland Raiders. If the Broncos lose to the Chiefs, Denver could still backdoor into the playoffs if the Raiders lose next week at home to the Chargers.

But if the Broncos lose to the Chiefs and the Raiders beat San Diego, then Oakland would win the AFC West. The Broncos cannot win the wild card, so they would go home early for a sixth consecutive season.

"It'll be interesting," said Broncos guard Chris Kuper and perhaps Orton's closest friend on the team. "I've always said he's a good quarterback."'

The Broncos' performance Saturday against a Bills team that came in with a seven-game losing streak will not exactly leave the bosses dripping with confidence. The defense has played poorly two weeks in a row, and Tebow delivered the worst performance in his career.

Tebow threw a career-high four interceptions — doubling his total from his first nine games as a starter. Two of his picks were returned for six — Jarius Byrd​ had the conventional 37-yard return and, after Tebow was whacked on his arm from behind by Chris Kelsey, Spencer Johnson nabbed the ball hanging in the air and returned it 17 yards. —

Highlights

R Denver QB Tim Tebow throws a career-high four interceptions, two of which the Bills return for touchdowns.

• The Bills snap a seven-game losing streak, and Denver slides into a tie for the AFC West lead.