Elway Still Armed, Dangerous

DENVER — It has always been thought that John Elway had a golden arm. Apparently, it’s bionic as well.

Moments after leaving the game early in the fourth quarter with an injured right biceps--the same muscle in which he ruptured a tendon in the preseason--Elway returned to throw two of his four touchdown passes as the Denver Broncos routed the St. Louis Rams, 35-14, on Sunday.

“The linebacker hit me and I felt pain in the shoulder,” Elway said. “It scared me, because I didn’t know what it was. I went to the bench and, in time, it went away. It feels fine now.

“The doctor said if I keep tearing things, I’ll run out of things to tear. I never had any doubts about my arm. I took a pretty good shot today and it’s still hanging in there. So I get to play another week.”

Elway’s touchdown passes included plays covering 72 and 38 yards to Rod Smith. Darrien Gordon returned a punt 94 yards--the longest in Bronco history--for another touchdown.

Terrell Davis had his third consecutive 100-yard rushing game, gaining 103 yards in 21 carries.

Denver (3-0) overcame costly penalties--seven for 65 yards in the first quarter alone--in shredding the Ram defense for 377 yards.

The Bronco defense, meanwhile, sacked Tony Banks five times, two by Neil Smith, and held the Rams (1-2) to one touchdown until Ron Moore ran 27 yards for a meaningless score with 2:55 left.