No-Sneak Preview for Broncos

Quarterback John Elway understands the challenge ahead for the Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos.

“You’re not going to sneak up on anybody,” Elway said Saturday after the Broncos lost their exhibition final, 16-13, to the Tennessee Oilers at Nashville. “Everybody is going to give you their best shots.”

The Broncos, who open the season on Sept. 7 against the New England Patriots in Denver after going 3-1 in exhibition games, scored a touchdown in the only series that Elway played. Tailback Terrell Davis ran for 53 yards in three carries and Elway passed to tight end Shannon Sharpe for a 26-yard touchdown.

Rookie quarterback Brian Griese played the entire second half for Denver, but could only lead the Broncos to a 33-yard field goal by Jason Elam.

Al Del Greco kicked three field goals, including a 51-yarder, for Tennessee (3-1).

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Running back Michael Pittman’s third touchdown, a four-yard run with 44 seconds remaining, gave the Arizona Cardinals a 21-14 victory over the Raiders at Oakland. Pittman also had a one-yard touchdown run in the first quarter and a four-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter.

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Pete Gonzalez, the best of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ four quarterbacks during the preseason, led two fourth-quarter scoring drives in a 38-24 victory over the Carolina Panthers at Pittsburgh. While Gonzalez was moving the ball, Mike Quinn--all but conceded the No. 3 job behind Kordell Stewart and Mike Tomczak before camp began--was sacked five times while going seven of 13 for 56 yards. Gonzalez completed eight of 10 for 110 yards. The Panthers received a scare late in the first quarter when guard Jamie Wilson was injured in a pileup. He was strapped onto a stretcher and taken to a nearby hospital, but X-rays proved negative and he did not require hospitalization.

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Running backs were the story in the New England Patriots’ 24-7 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles at Foxboro, Mass. New England’s first-round pick Robert Edwards, who had sat out the previous three games because of a groin problem, didn’t get hurt and had 38 yards in 15 carries. The Eagles’ Charlie Garner, taking the starting job Ricky Watters had the last three seasons before joining Seattle, left because of a sprained ankle after the first series.