Big Returns Are In for Broncos

On a snowy day when the NFL’s second-best offense was nearly punchless in the point department, punt returner Darrien Gordon provided the knockout blows.

Gordon, the NFL leader in career punt-return average, added to it, returning punts 82 and 75 yards for touchdowns in the first quarter Sunday as the Denver Broncos routed the Carolina Panthers, 34-0.

Safety Tyrone Braxton returned an interception 27 yards for another touchdown and John Elway accounted for the lone touchdown by the Denver offense on a 20-yard pass play to Rod Smith.

Denver (9-1), which led at halftime, 17-0, summoned a dominating performance that Coach Mike Shanahan called “our most complete game of the year.”

Carolina (5-5) was shut out for the first time in its three-year existence and mounted only two scoring threats, both ending on turnovers inside the Denver 20-yard line.

Elway completed 14 of 23 passes for 227 yards, and tight end Shannon Sharpe had eight receptions for 174 yards. NFL rushing leader Terrell Davis had 104 yards in 21 carries.

Carolina quarterback Kerry Collins was 13 for 29 for 141 yards with three interceptions and was sacked four times.

The Panthers, seemingly paralyzed by a light snow that fell during most of the game, finished with only 147 yards compared with Denver’s 393. Rookie running back Fred Lane, who set team records with 147 yards rushing and three touchdowns last week, was held to 18 yards in eight carries.

Carolina had only 34 yards rushing in 14 carries--a 2.4-yard average against a Denver defense that came into the game ranked last in the NFL.

Meanwhile, Gordon finished with five punt returns for a team-record 168 yards, raising his career average to 14.1 yards per return.