About five minutes before kickoff Sunday, Mike Shanahan reluctantly took the keys to the Ferrari away from John Elway. So Bubby Brister drove the Denver Broncos’ machine past the self-destructing Washington Redskins 38-16.
In his first start in four years, Brister proved the Super Bowl champions can win a game without Elway, who was sidelined with a hamstring injury. Brister was 16 for 24 for 180 yards and two touchdowns. Washington (0-4) is off to its worst start in 17 years.
“This is a machine and I’m just glad to have the opportunity to run it,” Brister said.
The Broncos (4-0), averaging 35 points a game this season, had lost seven straight without Elway, dating to a 1989 game at Washington when he had the flu and Gary Kubiak, now Denver’s offensive coordinator, filled in.
