Broncos Find Way to Win After Losing 14-Point Lead

DENVER — Frittering away a 14-point lead just as they squandered a 12-point lead a week ago, the Denver Broncos seem to be advocates of winning football games the hard way.

“I really believe we’re getting tested,” quarterback John Elway said. “We never make anything easy. We’ve done this so many times now that we’re getting used to it.”

And for the second straight week, it was David Treadwell who provided the margin of victory. Treadwell, who kicked a 22-yard field goal on the final play of Monday night’s 24-23 victory over Kansas City, converted a 25-yarder 9:14 into overtime Sunday to lift Denver past the Seattle Seahawks, 34-31.

The Broncos had taken a 21-9 lead into the fourth quarter of the Kansas City game, only to fall behind 23-21. On Sunday, Elway’s three touchdown passes staked the Broncos to a 28-14 halftime lead.

But the Seahawks rallied to tie it on Derrick Fenner’s third touchdown of the game, and Norm Johnson had two chances to win it. Johnson was wide right on a 39-yard field goal with three seconds left in regulation. Then he was wide right on a 44-yarder five minutes into overtime.

Given a reprieve, Elway completed three passes and Bobby Humphrey ran 26 yards on a draw play on a 66-yard drive that produced the clinching field goal.

“They gave us an opportunity to win it by missing two field goals, and we won it,” Denver Coach Dan Reeves said. “In the end, the good Lord smiled on us and we were able to drive it down, and David won the game.”

The Seahawks, and Johnson in particular, must have experienced a painful sense of deja vu Sunday. Johnson also missed a 40-yard attempt in overtime against Denver last season in the Kingdome, and Treadwell eventually won it with a 27-yarder.

Treadwell himself missed a 49-yarder with 38 seconds left in regulation Sunday that might have clinched it. He was roughed up on a conversion in the first quarter and left the field with a bruised right thigh.

“No, my thigh had nothing to do with it (the miss),” Treadwell said. “It’s always great to get a second chance.”

Of Johnson’s two misses, Treadwell said: “I wouldn’t wish that on anybody.”