Broncos Again Use Escape Clause

The Denver Broncos don’t particularly like late escapes. They like the results they’ve been getting though.

“I don’t know how many more weeks I can do this,” quarterback Gus Frerotte said. “It’s draining.”

Rookie Mike Anderson rushed for 195 yards in 30 carries and had an 80-yard touchdown run with 3:34 to go for the decisive score in the Broncos’ 38-31 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

Anderson, a sixth-round draft choice from Utah, also scored a 15-yard touchdown in Denver’s third-best rushing performance in a game (301 yards).

Anderson, filling in for the injured Terrell Davis, said all he could think of on his decisive touchdown run was to not get caught from behind.

“I got caught on one run earlier this year,” he said. “I just didn’t want to get caught again.”

The Broncos (8-4) won their fourth consecutive game, and their second since Frerotte replaced the injured Brian Griese as the starter. They also won despite five turnovers, four in the second half. The Seahawks (4-8) returned two fumbles for touchdowns for the first time in franchise history.

“We’re fortunate to come out of here with a win,” Denver Coach Mike Shanahan said.

After overcoming a 34-17 deficit with three touchdowns in the final 12 minutes to defeat San Diego, 38-37, last week, the Broncos again scored 21 points in the fourth quarter.

The Broncos first stung the Seahawks for the first of two long touchdown runs.

Wide receiver Rod Smith lined up in the backfield and took a pitchout from Frerotte and ran 50 yards for a touchdown to tie the score at 24-24 with 2:23 gone in the fourth quarter. It was Smith’s first career rushing touchdown.

“I’ve lined up in the backfield before, but I’ve always went in motion,” said Smith, who had become the Broncos’ all-time receiving yardage leader (1,314) earlier in the game.

Denver drove for its touchdown after Seattle Coach Mike Holmgren tried for a first down from the Denver 28 instead of attempting a field goal. But Shaun Alexander was stopped for no gain.

“It would have been a 46-yard field goal,” Holmgren said. “It was windy and I played the odds. I was disappointed that we didn’t make it.”

Denver took a 31-24 lead with 5:54 left when cornerback Jimmy Spencer intercepted a pass from Jon Kitna and ran it back 21 yards for a touchdown.

But the Seahawks used a 59-yard play on a screen pass from Kitna to Ricky Watters to set up a tying touchdown with 4:02 left, an eight-yard pass play from Kitna to Sean Dawkins.

Kitna had come into the game in the second quarter after starter Brock Huard left with a bruised kidney when he was sacked by linebacker John Mobley. Huard was returning as the starter after being sidelined three games with a concussion.