Broncos Get First Victory, 16-9 : AFC: Denver breaks seven-game losing streak dating back to last season by defeating Seattle, leaving Cincinnati as the only winless team.

The Denver Broncos took a lot of pressure off themselves and their embattled coach, Wade Phillips, on Sunday.

At least for a week.

They got their first victory of the season--breaking a seven-game losing streak dating back to last season--by defeating the Seattle Seahawks, 16-9, Sunday. The Broncos’ victory left Cincinnati, which had a bye this week, as the NFL’s only winless team.

In Denver, Phillips’ job was rumored to be in jeopardy. So after several weeks of taking the heat, the Broncos savored the win, their first since last Dec. 18 at Chicago.

“It feels great,” John Elway said. “It’s been a long time since we won a game. It’s an especially big win if we build on it next week,” when Denver plays Kansas City on Monday night.

Elway scored on a short run and Jason Elam kicked three field goals for the Broncos (1-4).

Elway, Elam and the Broncos got plenty of help from the Seahawks (3-3), who went into the game No. 1 in the NFL with a plus-nine in the takeaway-giveaway ratio. But on Sunday they committed five turnovers.

The Seahawks lost three fumbles, two by Michael Bates, and Rick Mirer was intercepted twice. Three of the five Seattle turnovers led to 13 of Denver’s points. Steve Atwater, Denver’s four-time Pro Bowl free safety, had an interception and a fumble recovery.

The 34-year-old Elway scored on a two-yard run with 43 seconds left in the first half.

Elway’s touchdown proved to be the difference as Elam kicked field goals of 26, 33 and 37 yards.

The Seahawks got their points on John Kasay field goals of 37, 36 and 42 yards. It was the first time since Dec. 20, 1992, a 10-6 loss to the Broncos, that Seattle failed to score a touchdown.

The Broncos led, 10-3, at halftime on Elway’s touchdown run on a rollout around right end. Elway eluded Rafael Robinson in the flat on a play-action play and went into the end zone untouched.

“I was lucky the defensive back (Robinson) fell down so I could use my 6.3 speed to get in there,” Elway joked.

A Robinson holding penalty nullified a sack of Elway at the Seahawks’ 12 on a third-down play that would have forced Denver to kick a field goal. Instead, Robinson’s penalty gave the Broncos the ball on the Seattle 2 and Elway scored on the next play.

Denver drove 70 yards in eight plays in 1:36 for its first-half touchdown after Atwater recovered a Bates fumble after he caught Mirer’s pass at the Denver 13 and returned it 17 yards. The drive featured a 32-yard pass from Elway to Sharpe.