NFL EXHIBITION : Broncos End Slump, Defeat Dolphins, 21-13
Rookie running back Greg Lewis scored twice, and John Elway passed 62 yards to Ricky Nattiel for another touchdown as the Broncos broke out of an offensive slump with a 21-13 exhibition victory over the Dolphins Monday night.
The Broncos (2-2), who had scored only one touchdown in their first three exhibition outings, showed signs of life on their first offensive play, when Elway hit Mark Jackson on a 46-yard pass play.
That series ended when safety Jarvis Williams intercepted an Elway pass at the Dolphins’ 12. But Elway later found Jackson on a 31-yarder to set up Lewis’ three-yard run for a 7-3 Bronco lead midway through the second quarter.
The Broncos scored two touchdowns 27 seconds apart in the third quarter.
Nattiel got behind cornerback Chris Green on a streak pattern and hauled in Elway’s long pass in stride at the 20, putting the Broncos up 14-6 with 6:59 left in the third quarter.
On the next play from scrimmage, Bronco linebacker Karl Mecklenburg stripped the ball from rookie running back Aaron Craver and defensive end Warren Powers recovered at the Dolphins’ 25. Lewis swept the right side on the next play for his second touchdown with 6:32 remaining in the period.
Elway, calling his own plays for the second straight game, completed seven of 15 passes for 185 yards.
Dan Marino, who had led the Dolphins to a pair of field goals by Charlie Baumann, gave way to Scott Secules after the Broncos’ third score, and Secules promptly engineered an 80-yard drive for the Dolphins’ lone touchdown.
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