DENVER (AP) - In a desperate grasp at a miracle ending, Broncos kickoff returner Charlie Adams flipped the ball backward and a Giants player grabbed it and ended the game.

It was Denver's first turnover in five games - a moment that signaled the end of a five-game winning streak and illustrated the point that the careful, mistake-free football the Broncos have played of late is only part of a winning formula, not the whole formula itself.

They also have to make big plays at big moments. With few exceptions Sunday in their 24-23 loss to New York, that simply didn't happen.

In one of his few moments of candor during Monday's breakdown of the game, coach Mike Shanahan disputed the notion that the Broncos (5-2) played too close to the vest after they went ahead 23-10 in the fourth quarter.

``If you say we played cautiously in this game that means you weren't at the game,'' Shanahan said.

Yes, the Broncos threw the ball 29 times and yes, the defense took chances, even bringing a blitzer on the play that lost them the game - Eli Manning's 5-yard pass to Amani Toomer with 5 seconds left.

But where were the big plays?

On defense, the revamped line has been getting deserved credit for putting constant pressure on quarterbacks, drawing holding calls, intentional groundings and forcing quick throws. But the bottom line is this: no sacks in the last three weeks and only eight for the season, which ties Denver for last in the league with - guess who? - Cleveland.

``If you really studied the film, you'd feel pretty good about our rush,'' Shanahan insisted. ``Obviously, you'd want more sacks. If you studied our guys and how hard they're working, those sacks will come.''

On offense, Jake Plummer extended his streak without an interception to 21 quarters, a span of 136 throws. Since Adams committed the turnover on special teams, it can still be said that Denver's offense hasn't coughed it up in more than five games.

But at what price?

After hitting for big plays the week before against New England, Plummer completed only two passes of more than 30 yards against the Giants. Take those out, and he averaged 7.6 yards on the other 16 of his completions. He finished with 194 yards, the fourth time in the last five games he has failed to crack 200.

More importantly, the Broncos couldn't make key first downs when they had to. Ahead 23-17 and driving with about 6 minutes left, George Foster got hit with a holding call that stalled a drive. The result was a missed field goal.

Denver got the ball back off Champ Bailey's interception, but the Broncos gained only 5 yards and had to punt. The Giants then drove 83 yards in 3:29 for the win.

``We've got to keep our focus and grind it out for 60 minutes,'' Shanahan said. ``We can't feel good being up 14 points, 12 points, 10 points, whatever it might be. In the middle of the third quarter, we have to finish teams.''

Denver had chances to close this one out, but couldn't, which brings up another disturbing trend.

The Broncos have been outscored 68-29 in the fourth quarter this year. They staved off comebacks by Washington and New England the last two weeks. This time, though, they did not.

``That's something we're going to have to focus on and today it came to light,'' safety John Lynch said.

Shanahan promised the Broncos would work on it in practice.

``Hopefully, we've got the same opportunity next week,'' he said. ``I'm hoping that we're up by 14, 21 points so I can find out if my words of wisdom have sunk in or not. That's the problem I want.''Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.