(3 of 3)
Denver's season turned around on a 21-14 loss in Buffalo that left the Broncos' record a meager 4-3-1. "I've never been the kind who's been a verbal leader," said Elway, 27, "but I guess I'm going to have to say something." He called the team to order. "I was so disgusted with the way I played in that game. The effort just wasn't there. I decided that my life in football is too short not to enjoy it. Every game should be fun, and when you're having fun, you play your best. I tried to get that attitude going on the team. Right now everyone is having fun."
But particularly the Three Amigos, Elway's merriest band of pass catchers: Vance Johnson, Mark Jackson and Ricky Nattiel. With Gerald Willhite among the fractured, honest workman Sammy Winder more or less constitutes Denver's running game (quarterback scrambles excluded). A lot depends again on the arm of Elway, though maybe also on the foot of Rich Karlis. If Karlis had made a couple of makable field goals in the first half of last year's Super Bowl, the game could have been much different. The Redskins' kicking game has been so shaky, Ali Haji-Sheikh and Jess Atkinson were still fighting for the job last week. The loser will have a hard time finding a ticket in San Diego.