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NFL·ANALYSIS·October 16, 2026 10:22 AM ET

Broncos 168-yard win recalls Elway benching in 1983 debut

Denver edged Seattle 17-14 on Thursday night

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 1h1 min read
Post on X
Note: Elway was benched for Steve DeBerg before that game ended. Via @WerderEdNFL on X

What happened: Denver finished with 168 total yards in a 17-14 win over Seattle on Thursday, the franchise's lowest yardage in a victory since 1983. Elway exited that 1983 start before the final whistle, with Steve DeBerg closing the game.

Why it matters: The total kept Denver at 4-2 despite an inefficient offensive night. Winning with that little production remains an outlier across more than four decades of results.

By the numbers: Denver 168 total yards; 17-14 final over Seattle; fewest yards in a win since 1983.

What to watch: Denver moves forward at 4-2 with offensive output as the development to track.

Sources

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