Green Lifts Broncos Over Chargers, 27-19 : AFC: Former Ram running back gains 127 yards and scores three touchdowns to put Denver atop AFC West standings.

Gaston Green looked just like the running back the Rams hoped he would be when they selected him out of UCLA with their first pick in the 1987 draft.

Unfortunately for the Rams, Green’s impressive performance Sunday was for the Denver Broncos, and it helped his new team to a 27-19 victory over the San Diego Chargers.

Green, traded to Denver in the off-season, rushed for 127 yards and scored three touchdowns.

Until early in the fourth quarter, Green had been limited to 41 yards in 18 carries and had fumbled the ball away once, setting up a San Diego field goal.

But he had six carries for 86 yards after that, starting his rejuvenation by running 63 yards for a touchdown with 13:28 left. He added a 20-yard touchdown run with 2:46 remaining.

Green also had a five-yard scoring run in the third quarter, the first rushing touchdown of his four-year NFL career.

“Fumbling the ball away was really a low,” Green said. “But when I came in at halftime, my teammates told me not to worry about it, and I felt better in the second half. Our line was blocking really well, and I wanted to capitalize on it.”

The victory, coupled with the Raiders’ 21-17 loss to Atlanta, lifted the Broncos (3-1) into sole possession of first place in the AFC West.

The Chargers, despite a punishing ground attack that netted 171 yards, fell to 0-4.

The score was 6-6 when the Broncos went ahead for the first time on Green’s five-yard run up the middle that capped a 78-yard drive to start the third quarter.

The Chargers rallied for two field goals by John Carney, his third and fourth of the game, to pull within 13-12 less than a minute into the fourth quarter.

But Denver answered two plays later when Green scored on a 63-yard run.

“After I scored the first touchdown, it was a big relief,” Green said. “But the long one felt real good. As long as I’ve been in the pros, I haven’t had a long one.”

Said Elway: “I knew if we could find (Green) some space, he could go all the way.”

Marion Butts’ 27-yard touchdown run with 6:11 remaining made the score 20-19, but Green put the game away with his 20-yard scoring run with 2:46 left.