Good as Your Last Pass

Brian Griese passed for 363 yards Sunday and has led the Denver Broncos to two consecutive victories, but that doesn’t mean his hold on the starting quarterback position is any more secure.

Coach Mike Shanahan said he will continue to evaluate Bubby Brister’s availability as well as Griese’s progress as a first-year starter.

“Let’s take this thing week by week,” Shanahan said. “Hopefully, he’ll keep on playing like he’s played. I’m going to have to make decisions in the best interest of the team, and it’s hard to say right now when you’re 2-4.”

Griese understands.

“I’ve come to learn that if you’re given the starting job and have an opportunity to play, you need to respect that because it’s not always going to be there and it’s dependent on your performance,” he said. “I’m going to do everything I can to continue to prove [Shanahan] right.”

Quarterback Erik Kramer of the San Diego Chargers, who used to play for the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears, is 2-6 against the Green Bay Packers, and has six consecutive losses. He sat out both of the Bears’ games against the Packers last year because of injuries.

“I don’t look at it as a personal battle,” said Kramer, who gets another shot at the Packers on Sunday at San Diego. “This is a completely different team I’m on. I like our chances.”

He might like them more if he were playing a little better. He hasn’t passed for a touchdown since Oct. 3, and threw four interceptions in the second half of Sunday’s 13-10 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.