Elway Gets the Broncos Going in a Hurry : AFC: He has big first half (230 yards) in 37-13 rout of Steelers.

John Elway completed 18 of 25 passes for 276 yards and a touchdown as the Denver Broncos routed the Pittsburgh Steelers, 37-13, Sunday.

“We knew they had a good defensive team,” Elway said, “but we felt if we went out and quit beating ourselves that there was no one that was going to stop us.”

The Broncos corrected some season-long indiscretions; they had no turnovers and only three penalties for 22 yards.

“I think that’s the best game we’ve put together against one of the best football teams in the league,” Elway said.

Elway, passing for more yards in the first half alone (230) than the Steelers had been yielding in total offense per game (225.9), staked Denver to a 20-0 halftime lead.

Elway’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Vance Johnson--Denver’s second touchdown in a span of 19 seconds in the third quarter--gave the Broncos a commanding 34-3 advantage.

Denver (6-4), drawing within one game of AFC West leader Kansas City, capitalized on three turnovers and four sacks. Pittsburgh (6-4) fell into a first-place tie with Houston in the AFC Central.

The Broncos, moving the ball effectively on the ground as well as through the air, scored on six of their first seven possessions and beat the Steelers at their own game--with defense and a clock-devouring offense.

“We dominated the game,” Denver Coach Wade Phillips said. “This might be the game that puts us over the hump. But we’re not a great football team unless we play like that every week.

“Maybe Pittsburgh let down a little bit coming off their Monday night game with Buffalo. But we played very well. Our players and coaches showed a lot of heart in a game that everyone knew was a big one.”

Steeler Coach Bill Cowher said the outcome hinged on “big plays--they had many, we had few. Denver was able to complete passes against our man-to-man coverage. My hat’s off to John--he played a great game.”

Denver scored on four of its five first-half possessions, generating 279 total yards in the half compared to Pittsburgh’s 85.

Elway completed his first four passes on the Broncos’ opening drive, setting up Jason Elam’s 48-yard field goal.

On its first possession, Pittsburgh blew its only scoring opportunity of the half when Leroy Thompson, replacing the injured Barry Foster, fumbled at the Denver five-yard line and cornerback Tyrone Braxton recovered.

Denver then drove 95 yards for its first touchdown. Elway passed 31 yards to tight end Reggie Johnson and had 18- and 27-yard passes to Derek Russell. Former Ram Robert Delpino scored from the one.

With 5:56 remaining in the half, Elway completed a long pass to a diving Shannon Sharpe, who caught the ball at the 20, got up and ran to the one for a 63-yard gain. Sharpe fumbled into the end zone when hit by D.J. Johnson, and Russell recovered for a 17-0 lead.