Broncos Get Old Bounce Back

Bill Romanowski was a yard away from the first touchdown of his 12-year NFL career when he fumbled.

He managed to recover in the end zone, then ended up in a wild celebration with his defensive mates, slapping them and letting them slap him.

“It was one of those days where the ball was bouncing the right way,” the linebacker said after the Denver Broncos’ 33-17 victory over the bumbling San Diego Chargers Sunday. “It was nice to have it happen to us.”

Romanowski’s slapstick touchdown seemed to set the tone. The Broncos (3-6) forced four turnovers that led to 17 points as they beat the Chargers (4-4) for the fifth consecutive time.

Denver’s offense, lacking its marquee players due to John Elway’s retirement and injuries to Terrell Davis and Shannon Sharpe, did all right.

Rookie running back Olandis Gary scored twice and rushed for 108 yards, the first time in 27 games that San Diego allowed a 100-yard runner. The last back to do it was Davis, who rushed for 178 yards in a 38-28 Broncos win here on Nov. 30, 1997.

Jason Elam kicked four field goals for the Broncos, who were down to third-string quarterback Chris Miller.

Miller, starting because Brian Griese and Bubby Brister are injured, completed 14 of 24 passes for 166 yards with no interceptions. He hadn’t played since Dec. 3, 1995, when he suffered the final of a series of concussions that forced him out for the next three seasons.

“For them to win this game, that’s a big surprise to me,” Charger linebacker Junior Seau said. “When you have a Denver Bronco team without major components of their game, you should perform at a higher level.”