NFL PLAYOFFS : Elway Shifts Into Overdrive : AFC: He leads Broncos to key score again, but this time does it without timeouts as Broncos defeat Oilers, 26-24.

The Drive was the Denver Broncos’ defining moment, all but etched in stone since it took place on a football field in Cleveland five years ago.

But quarterback John Elway proved Saturday that history can repeat itself, or maybe go itself one better.

On Saturday, at Mile High Stadium, with the goal posts pressed against his back, Elway drove the Broncos from their two-yard line all the way to the AFC Championship game as David Treadwell’s 28-yard field goal with 16 seconds remaining gave Denver a 26-24 victory over the Houston Oilers.

It was a series that, by comparison, reduces The Drive into The Stroll in Elway lore. In the AFC title game of 1986, Elway took the Broncos 98 yards in 15 plays to score a last-second touchdown that tied the score against Cleveland. The Broncos won in overtime, 23-20.

But Elway had three timeouts to start that drive. Against Houston, Elway had nothing but the off-season ahead of him.

The Oilers made one crucial mistake against Elway. They punted for the first time with 2:07 to play. Greg Montgomery lofted a 44-yard kick that angled the ball out of bounds at the Denver two.

Elway looked at the clock, the score, and headed for the huddle.

“I was going out saying, ‘Whoa, what a great punt,’ ” Elway said.

Wide receiver Michael Young, a former Ram, watched the other Drive from his couch. This time, he was in the huddle.

“His eyes got real big,” Young said of Elway. “I mean saucers. I’m telling the truth. It was great. You could see the adrenaline going through him.”

Still, there were doubters. Down by a point, 98 yards to go, no timeouts?

“If I had to bet my life, I would not have guessed we could have pulled it out,” Young said.

Elway popped his head into the huddle, calmly said, “Let’s go, this is it,” and called Young’s number. Elway threw a 22-yard pass to Young, and the march was on.

Elway then averted one disaster after another. Facing fourth and six at his 28, he broke free out of the pocket and scrambled seven yards for the first down with 1:38 to play.

The huddle came alive. Denver center Dave Widell, who watched quarterback Doug Flutie pull off a few miracles while both were at Boston College, remembered the look.

“It’s indescribable,” Widell said of Elway. “But I’m glad he’s got it.”

With 59 seconds to play, Elway faced fourth and 10 at his 35. One slip and the game was over. Elway’s first idea, a pass to Vance Johnson, was foiled, so he did what he does best--he improvised. When it appeared Elway was going to run again, the Oiler defense charged the line to meet him.

But Elway stopped short of the line of scrimmage and floated a pass to Johnson, whose defender had left him open in the left flat.

“It wasn’t the prettiest pass,” Elway said, “but I got it to him.”

Johnson turned and went 44 yards down the sideline to the Houston 21 with 50 seconds to play.

The Broncos were in field goal range. Young remembers looking at Elway after the fourth-down conversion.

“He didn’t even look surprised,” Young said. “It was like something he does everyday.”

The game was left to a short field goal attempt by Treadwell, but this was no given. Treadwell had missed an extra point attempt and is known for having a low trajectory on his kicks. James FitzPatrick of the Raiders blocked a last-second kick by Treadwell to save a 17-16 victory this season.

Also, Denver’s starting center, Keith Kartz, was so bothered by a thigh pull that he couldn’t play in the regular offense. But he did hobble out to snap for field goals and extra points.

The stage was set for Treadwell.

A 10-yard run by Steve Sewell put the Broncos on the Oilers’ 11. When Houston called time out with 20 seconds left, Denver sent Treadwell on the field.

“I stay in my own world. I stay away from everybody,” said Treadwell, describing his pre-kick preparations.

Had Treadwell missed, isolation would not have been a problem.

Sure enough, the kick raised goose bumps. Kartz’s snap skidded to holder Gary Kubiak, who gathered up what leather he could and slapped it to the turf.

Treadwell hesitated.

“I double-clutched it,” he said. “I just kicked what he gave me.”

Like a golf shot from a bunker, Treadwell chipped the ball through the uprights.

The Oilers attempted three passes on a desperate final drive that began from their 21 with 12 seconds left, but the game ended with a long incompletion.

Elway, in his jubilation, raced toward the stands and heaved a ball into the crowd. It will cost him.

“That’s a fine?” he asked. “Really? After a game?”

Denver Coach Dan Reeves wore the complexion of a ghost.

“I’m exhausted,” Reeves said.

Before Saturday, Elway had led his team to 18 fourth-quarter comeback victories. But never one like this one.

“When you’ve got No. 7, anything is possible,” Reeves said. “The guy is unbelievable. I don’t think I have been involved in the years I’ve been in the game--26 years or whatever it’s been--that I’ve seen a team go 97 yards with no timeouts to win a game.”

The shame of it all was that Warren Moon had to witness it. The Oiler quarterback was magnificent in defeat, completing 27 of 36 passes for 325 yards and three touchdowns. On one spectacular play in the third quarter, Moon pitched a pass forward with his left hand while stumbling forward to the turf.

The Denver defense could not stop Houston’s run-and-shoot, which amassed 422 yards. On defense, the Broncos attacked the Oilers by using a front that featured one defensive lineman--nose tackle Greg Kragen--and two linebackers, Karl Mecklenburg and Simon Fletcher. The Broncos sacrificed strength for quickness and paid the price.

Denver’s only hope was to slow Moon. And while the Oilers were held to three points in the second half, they really had themselves to blame. Their first drive in the third quarter ended when Al Del Greco missed a 33-yard field attempt.

Early in the fourth quarter, Haywood Jeffires dropped a pass in the end zone and Houston had to settled for a field goal.

At 35, Moon may not get another chance.

“I congratulate the Broncos,” he said. “It was a classic drive.”

Some Oilers were left stunned, but not silent.

“I have to say that I honestly believe that they are not the better team,” Houston cornerback Cris Dishman said.

Funny, that’s what a couple of Browns said once in Cleveland.

The Drive II

Play-by-play of the Denver Broncos’ winning drive in their 26-24 victory over the Houston Oilers:

D-YTG-YL Time Play *1-10-D2 2:07 Elway 22-yard pass right side to Young. *1-10-D24 1:58 Elway incomplete, intended for Young. *2-10-D24 1:52 Elway incomplete, overthrew V. Johnson deep. *3-10-D24 1:47 Elway four-yard pass left side to Nattiel. Young injured on play, officials run 10 seconds off clock. *4-6-D28 1:28 Elway seven-yard scramble left, out of bounds. *1-10-D35 1:17 Elway incomplete, pass tipped at line of scrimmage. *2-10-D35 1:14 Elway incomplete, overthrew Russell deep. *3-10-D35 1:08 Elway incomplete, overthrew V. Johnson deep. Houston calls timeout. *4-10-D35 0:59 Elway 44-yard pass left side to V. Johnson, out of bounds. *1-10-H21 0:50 Sewell 10-yard run around right end. *1-10-H11 0:22 Elway spikes ball to stop clock. *2-10-H11 0:20 Treadwell 28-yard field goal.

LEGEND: D: Down; YTG: Yards to go; YL: Yard line (initial preceding number indicates team side of field.