Ailing Elway Strong-Arms Browns, 17-7 : AFC: Despite sore shoulder, Bronco passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns.

For those still questioning the strength of John Elway’s banged-up arm, catch a replay of his pass to Steve Sewell in the fourth quarter of the Denver Broncos’ 17-7 victory over the Cleveland Browns Sunday.

“I don’t know how far the ball went, but it looked like it went about 60 yards in the air,” Coach Dan Reeves said. “He made a great throw, which was probably the biggest play of the game.”

Elway, sore shoulder and all, passed for 221 yards and two touchdowns as the Broncos (10-4) ensured themselves at least a wild-card playoff berth and kept themselves in position to win the AFC West. The Broncos lead the Raiders (9-5) by one game with two to play.

Elway’s 60-yard completion to Sewell set up a 37-yard field goal by David Treadwell that clinched the victory with 3:29 to play.

The long pass was an aggressive call for a team that was holding a seven-point lead but was backed up at its own 17.

“I had Sewell on a safety,” Elway said. “Any time I get Sewell on a safety, I know I’ve got a mismatch. He just made a great catch. I thought it was a good call. It was a chance for us to get a big play. We need to do more of that.”

The bomb eliminated any doubt that Elway can still throw deep. He cut back on his throwing in practice because of a bone spur and tendinitis in his shoulder, and his elbow was wrenched when Clay Matthews hit him on the Broncos’ first series.

“It’s probably going to be pretty sore this next week, too,” Reeves said.

Elway said he had some numbness in two fingers for a couple of series after the elbow was hit, but he felt fine by the end of the game.

Elway threw a first-quarter interception that set up Cleveland’s only score, but he rebounded in the second quarter to throw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Michael Young, who made a diving catch in the end zone.

“Those are catches that 50% of the time you don’t come down with,” Young said. “I was fortunate this time.”

Elway also threw a six-yard touchdown pass to Vance Johnson with 8:54 left to play to put Denver ahead for good. It capped a 16-play, 54-yard drive that consumed more than eight minutes. The Broncos converted four third-down plays on the drive, the most critical coming when Cleveland cornerback Frank Minnifield was penalized for illegal contact on third and 16.

Minnifield’s penalty came one play after Bronco tight end Clarence Kay caught an apparent 17-yard touchdown pass but was whistled for offensive pass interference.

Denver, which presented Reeves with his 100th regular-season victory, sacked Bernie Kosar five times, intercepted one pass and did not allow the Browns past midfield in the second half. Kosar completed 12 of 24 passes for 110 yards; Elway was 16 for 29 and was sacked four times.

Cleveland led early when Kevin Mack ran three yards for a score in the first quarter. It came four plays after Cedric Figaro stepped in front of Johnson and intercepted an Elway pass, returning the ball nine yards to the Denver 37.

The Broncos came back immediately, going 71 yards in seven plays on their next possession. Elway’s 21-yard pass to Shannon Sharpe set up Young’s diving touchdown reception.

The Broncos’ defense held up its end by holding the opposition to fewer than 21 points for the 13th time in 14 games.

“Our nickel defense was terrible last year,” linebacker Karl Mecklenburg said. “We had so many guys injured. Now we’ve got healthy DBs and we’re getting good pressure.”

The Browns (6-8) pretty much are without any playoff hopes.

“We felt we had to win all three games to have any kind of shot,” Matthews said. “Even then, a long shot.”