Eagles Get to Elway, Win, 31-13

The Philadelphia Eagles delivered a knockout punch to John Elway and the Denver Broncos couldn’t get off the ground.

Rodney Peete ran for a touchdown and threw for another, and Ricky Watters had two short touchdown runs as the Eagles beat the Broncos, 31-13, Sunday night after Elway sat out most of the game’s final three quarters because of a concussion.

Elway was caught between Mike Mamula and William Fuller as he threw the ball early in the second quarter, with Mamula hitting Elway helmet to helmet.

The Broncos had said Elway would return, but he remained on the bench the rest of the game, replaced by Hugh Millen. Elway finished two for three for 54 yards, including a 46-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Miller.

The Eagles (6-4) were ahead, 14-7, at the time Elway left the game five seconds into the second quarter, and Millen was unable to bring the Broncos (5-5) back. Millen was 20 for 29 for 127 yards and was sacked three times.

The Eagles converted their first eight third-down situations and pulled away in the fourth quarter with Watters’ second touchdown, a one-yard run, and Gary Anderson’s 39-yard field goal.

Denver’s second drive of the second half stalled and the Broncos settled for Jason Elam’s second field goal, a 48-yarder that made it 21-13 with 1:54 left in the third quarter.

Peete increased the Eagle lead to 21-10 when he rolled out and scored from two yards out early in the second quarter.

Watters completed a 73-yard, 12-play drive by carrying Ray Crockett into the end zone on a five-yard scoring run in the first quarter.

Just after Elway left the game, Denver closed to 14-10 on Elam’s 44-yard field goal.

The Eagles, with the worst passing offense in the NFC, took the opening kickoff and confused the Broncos by throwing eight times on an 11-play drive that ended with Peete finding Reggie Johnson for a one-yard touchdown pass.