The Denver Broncos are the best team in the NFL at the moment, which they savored after their 34-13 drubbing of the New England Patriots Monday night. But they have been here before.
Their 10th straight win over the previously undefeated Patriots, leaving the Broncos the last of the unbeatens, couldn’t erase the memory of watching the Patriots play in last year’s Super Bowl.
“We know what can happen. We have to keep this in perspective. We learned a lesson,” said running back Terrell Davis, who did some serious teaching Monday night with a 171-yard effort and two touchdowns.
Davis drilled a New England defense that was ranked fifth in the league against the rush. Davis carried a team that no longer needs to rely on the arm of John Elway.
Not often do the Broncos romp when Elway has an off day. It is what makes the Broncos so dangerous. Elway completed only 13 of 27 passes for 196 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. Davis’s 32 carries were so inspiring that Elway got into the act himself, scoring on a sneak and joining his running backs in an end-zone salute.
“This was a big win. I think it will have big implications down the line,” Elway said.
His coach, Mike Shanahan, kept reminding anyone who would listen that fast starts don’t guarantee fast finishes. The Broncos saw their 13-3 record last year evaporate at home in the playoffs against upstart Jacksonville, so they hope the way they won Monday night was an omen. After a fast 14-0 start, they clung to a 14-13 halftime lead before burying the Patriots in the third quarter.
Davis was the difference, pounding the Patriots in ways that New England’s great runner, Curtis Martin, wasn’t able to do or wasn’t given the chance in a game plan featuring quarterback Drew Bledsoe.
“Obviously, Denver was the better team tonight,” New England coach Pete Carroll said. “I liked our chances at halftime. Their running back was terrific tonight.”
Carroll thought the turning point was a third-and-10 scramble and 30-yard pass from Elway to Rod Smith on an 80-yard touchdown drive to start the second half.
Davis rushed for an amazing 13 first downs in his 32 carries. He admitted it was “a little bit” of a statement and a competition against his friend Martin, who had 66 yards on 15 carries. Martin was a third-round draft choice and Davis a sixth-rounder in 1995, the year of No. 1 pick Ki-Jana Carter and the Bears’ Rashaan Salaam among other first-rounders.
“I know I wouldn’t trade him for anybody,” Shanahan said.
“When we put people on their heels, he’s the best,” Elway said. “That’s when you want to put the dagger in and give it to him.”
The Broncos have beaten the Patriots by scores of 37-3, 34-8 and 34-13 the last three seasons. The Patriots are 0-10 against Elway.
“This was a big game for a lot of reasons,” Bledsoe said. “I’m very disappointed. Hopefully, we’ll get another shot at them.”
Davis now has 776 yards in six games, and the Broncos are the first 6-0 team since the 1992 Miami Dolphins, who didn’t win the Super Bowl.
The Broncos took a 14-0 lead after two big plays by second-year linebacker John Mobley, who forced a fumble by receiver Terry Glenn and returned an interception 13 yards for a touchdown.
Two interceptions by Patriots safety Willie Clay in the second quarter stalled the rout.
“I wasn’t in sync tonight,” said Elway, smiling like a man who knows he no longer has to be Superman.
The Broncos even got three sacks from a third-year free agent named Maa Tanuvasa and Smith’s 130 yards receiving on five catches was a career high.
“Games like this show what our team is made of,” Davis said.
“We still have a long way to go, but we like where we are,” Elway said.
