Steelers Have It All Their Way as Broncos Play Without Elway

The Pittsburgh Steelers capitalized on the absence of Denver quarterback John Elway by turning his replacement’s mistakes into points.

With Elway out with ankle and knee injuries, Gary Kubiak threw 3 interceptions and the Steelers beat the Broncos, 39-21, Sunday.

“I played poorly,” Kubiak said. “I don’t know what to say. They didn’t blitz. They dropped eight men back and only rushed three and let me make the mistakes.”

The Broncos, who have represented the AFC in the past two Super Bowls, fell to 4-4. The last time Denver lost more than 4 games in a season was 1983.

Gary Anderson kicked a club-record 6 field goals and Rodney Carter rushed for 105 yards to help Pittsburgh (2-6) break a 6-game losing streak.

Carter scored 2 touchdowns, on a 64-yard run and a 10-yard pass reception from Todd Blackledge. The long run gave Pittsburgh a 7-0 lead after 3 plays from scrimmage.

Linebacker Bryan Hinkle intercepted a Kubiak pass at the Denver 17-yard line later in the first period. Kubiak was looking for Ricky Nattiel across the middle, but Hinkle stepped in front to pick off his first pass of the year.

Carter threw 16 yards on a halfback option to Merrill Hoge on the first play after the turnover, moving the Steelers to Denver’s 1-yard line. Blackledge plunged into the end zone one play later and the Steelers led 14-0.

Anderson added second-quarter field goals, from 30 and 32 yards, the second following a Rod Woodson interception.

The Steelers also scored in the second quarter when Blackledge threw 10 yards to Carter with 10:47 left before halftime.

Blackledge, playing for injured starter Bubby Brister who has a dislocated thumb, completed 9 of 17 passes for 129 yards. He was intercepted once. Kubiak was 15 of 27 for 157 yards.

The Broncos finally scored with 10:37 remaining in the third quarter when Kubiak hit tight end Clarence Kay in the left corner of the end zone for a 17-yard touchdown. The score came 3 plays after safety Tyrone Braxton intercepted a Blackledge pass near midfield.

Denver added 2 fourth-quarter touchdowns, a 14-yard pass play from Kubiak to Kay and backup quarterback Ken Karcher’s 74-yarder to Nattiel.