Q

DENVER

BRONCO TIGHT END BYRON CHAMBERLAIN

Q: What were you thinking after Shannon Sharpe was hurt and you got more playing time?

A: “I knew I had to step my game up. I knew in the passing game that it was going to be coming to me. I knew the tight end was going to play a big role. When he went down, guys just came up to me and said, ‘Hey, you’ve got to step up and fill Shannon’s shoes.’ ”

*

BRONCO LINEBACKER SETH JOYNER

Q: How does this compare to being on the losing side with the Packers last season?

A: “The big one is the one you want. Last year, I think I celebrated winning the NFC championship and just going to the Super Bow. This time, I wanted to make sure we got it done. Winning the AFC championship, that’s fine, but to win the Super Bowl, that’s the ultimate. I didn’t allow myself to let up until it was done. I’m going to enjoy this for a while.”

Q: How does it feel to win the Super Bowl in your 13th season?

A: “It’s been a long time coming and I’m just happy to get it before everything is said and done. This has to be the happiest day of my life.”

*

BRONCO CORNERBACK DARRIEN GORDON

Q: What’s next for the Broncos?

A: “A three-peat! If we can keep everybody around and maybe John [Elway] will come back for one more year, I think we have a great chance next year of coming back here.”

*

BRONCO LINEBACKER BILL ROMANOWSKI

Q: Did you expect to dominate Atlanta’s offense as much as you did?

A: “At times it wasn’t pretty. We felt like we were trying too hard out there. We came in at halftime and said, ‘Let’s blow these guys out of this stadium.’ Well, they kept hanging in, but we kept giving the ball back to our offense and they kept doing great things with it.”

*

ATLANTA

FALCON CORNERBACK RAY BUCHANAN

Q: Do you regret having guaranteed an Atlanta victory?

A: “I’m not going to apologize. I had the guarantee and the confidence that this football team could win. There was no doubt in my mind. I’ll never take that back. I looked at these players and looked at their faces and you could see the confidence. We were ready to play. We were prepared. We went out there and fought hard. The Denver Broncos were just a better football team when we were out there on the field.”

*

FALCON LINEBACKER CORNELIUS BENNETT

Q: Does Sunday’s loss detract from the Falcons’ remarkable season?

A: “Well, only slightly. You know, nobody expected us to be here in the first place. We made it to the Super Bowl probably faster than any team. I think that for the last year and a half, we’ve had a special, special year and a half. I’m so proud of my teammates and I told them so after the game.”

*

FALCON RUNNING BACK JAMAL ANDERSON

Q: What do you take from this season?

A: “I’m playing with a great group of guys. I’m not sad. Don’t be sorry for Jamal Anderson. I’ve been playing football since I was 7 and I’ve never played with such a great group of guys.”

*

FALCON LINEBACKER JESSIE TUGGLE

Q: How do you feel after a great season but a loss at the end?

A: “It’s a great feeling but also the ultimate low. This is a game you dream about as a kid. It’s Super Bowl 33. We wanted to win, but it didn’t happen. But still, this year was a great year.”

*

FALCON KICKER MORTEN ANDERSEN

Q: What did you learn from Sunday’s game?

A: “I learned that you do get nervous. . . . I felt pretty relaxed, but there were a couple of times when you looked around, especially during the anthem with the jets flying over, it was intense. The whole experience, especially since I had seen it from the [broadcast] booth, was much more powerful on the field.”