It’s Like Old Times for Elway in Victory

DENVER — In a battle of NFL graybeards, youth was served. John Elway, a frisky 37, outdueled Warren Moon, a still spry 40, in what proved to be a historic day for the Denver Bronco quarterback Sunday.

Elway, who threw two touchdown passes to Moon’s three, completed a 49-yard pass to Shannon Sharpe to set up Jason Elam’s 22-yard field goal with 7:28 left, lifting the Broncos to a 30-27 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.

Denver (8-1) took a 20-10 lead on the opening play of the second half, but thanks to two Bronco turnovers, the Seahawks (5-4) twice drew into a tie, the last time at 27-27 on Moon’s 8-yard scoring pass to a wide-open Brian Blades with 12:02 remaining.

Denver then went 69 yards for what proved to be the clinching field goal. With NFL rushing leader Terrell Davis throwing two downfield blocks, Sharpe turned a short pass into a 49-yard gain on the first play of the drive.

Both teams mounted scoring threats after that, reaching the opposition’s 36-yard lines, but were forced to punt.

The Seahawks reached their 46-yard line on their last possession, but on fourth down Blades tipped a pass apparently intended for teammate Joey Galloway, and it fell incomplete with 1:02 left.

Moon completed 28 of 46 passes for 256 yards, and Elway was 19 of 30 for 252 yards. Davis, despite losing 10 yards on a fumbled pitchout on his last carry, rushed for 101 yards in 21 carries.