Broncos Take Air Out of Football and the Eagles, 33-7

L.A. Times Archives

Sept. 22, 1986 12 AM PT

<i> From Times Wire Services </i>

PHILADELPHIA — With Philadelphia primed to stop John Elway’s passing, the Denver Broncos put the Eagles on the run.

With Sammy Winder and Gerald Willhite gaining 196 yards on the ground, the Broncos rolled past the Eagles, 33-7, Sunday for their third straight victory.

“It was the first time we came close to resembling a running game,” said Denver Coach Dan Reeves, who had the Broncos work in camp on their ground attack without apparent success. “I don’t know the last time we ran so well.

“I don’t think we expected to run like that.”

The Broncos, who came into the game ranked 26th rushing, ran so well that Elway needed only to complete 7 of 12 passes for 96 yards before leaving the game with 9:03 to play.

Elway said the running game took pressure off him.

“I was just calling the plays and handing it off,” he said.

Reeves said both defenses played a role in the Broncos’ offensive game plan.

It was important to run the ball well against Eagle Coach Buddy Ryan’s 46 defense, he said, and Denver’s defense made things easier by having a hand in the Broncos’ first four scores.

“I had a feeling that the 46 was going to be real tough to run against,” Winder said. “I was kind of surprised we were able to run against it so well.

“I wouldn’t say it was so easy all day, but our execution, our offensive line and our play selection made the big difference.”

Denver led from the opening kickoff when special team player Mike Harden knocked the ball loose from returner Junior Tautalatasi and it rolled out of the end zone for a safety.

After the Eagles’ free kick, the Broncos, with Winder running 31 yards and Willhite 12, drove to the Philadelphia 12 and Rich Karlis kicked a 30-yard field goal for a 5-0 lead.

Harden intercepted a pass and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown to make it 12-0.

After recovering a fumble in the second period, the Broncos drove 51 yards in 6 plays, with Elway tossing a two-yard touchdown pass to Dave Studdard on a tackle-eligible play that made it 19-0.

Winder added scoring runs of 4 and 17 yards as Denver built the lead to 33-0 before Philadelphia (0-3) scored on Ron Jaworski’s 29-yard pass to wide receiver Kenny Jackson.

“I’m embarrassed and my team is embarrassed,” Ryan said. “They kicked the hell out of us.

“We didn’t make things happen. We haven’t come close to stopping the rush and we didn’t pass well, two things we set out to do this season.”