‘Q’ Helps the Broncos Post a ‘W’

A little “Q” might be all the Denver Broncos need to replace Clinton Portis.

Darting and dashing his way through Kansas City’s defense, Quentin Griffin ran for 156 yards and scored three touchdowns in his first game as Portis’ replacement, lifting the Broncos to a 34-24 victory over the Chiefs on Sunday night at Denver.

“He really stepped up,” Coach Mike Shanahan said. “It’s nice to see Quentin come in and play at that level. It really didn’t surprise me.”

Denver traded Portis to Washington to get cornerback Champ Bailey, a potentially risky move because Portis rushed for more than 1,500 yards in each of his first two seasons.

But the 5-foot-8 Griffin seized the opportunity, running for touchdowns of 25 and 47 yards and catching a one-yard touchdown pass from Jake Plummer in the first quarter.

Bailey made the trade look even better.

He tipped away a pass to Tony Gonzalez in the second quarter on the first ball thrown in his direction and intercepted another just before halftime when Trent Green scrambled and tried to throw over his head. Bailey even got involved in the offense, catching an 11-yard pass in the first half.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play with a guy like that,” Plummer said. “He’s one of the great players to play in this league.”

Plummer threw for 230 yards and two touchdowns. In all, Denver finished with 413 yards. Priest Holmes of the Chiefs rushed for 151 yards and three touchdowns.

Pittsburgh 24, Oakland 21 -- Jerome Bettis ran for three touchdowns, Duce Staley had 91 yards, and Jeff Reed’s 42-yard field goal with seven seconds remaining won it for the host Steelers.

Bettis was used only in goal-line situations but tied his career high in touchdowns.

The Steelers led, 14-0 and 21-10, but the Raiders tied it on Alvis Whitted’s fingertip catch of Rich Gannon’s 38-yard pass and Gannon’s two-point conversion pass to an uncovered Whitted with 4:51 remaining.

Gannon completed 20 of 37 for 305 yards but lost a fumble and had two interceptions.

Cleveland 20, Baltimore 3 -- For the first time since their rebirth in 1999, the Browns opened the season as winners.

Jeff Garcia threw a 46-yard touchdown pass and ran for another touchdown at Cleveland in his debut with the Browns.

Cleveland stole the spotlight from Deion Sanders, who came out of retirement for a chance to win another Super Bowl ring, and NFL rushing leader Jamal Lewis. Lewis, who had a league single-game record 295 yards rushing last season against Cleveland, gained only 57 yards in 20 carries.

Jacksonville 13, Buffalo 10 -- Byron Leftwich was best when it counted most, stealing a victory with a touchdown pass as time ran out at Orchard Park, N.Y.

Ernest Wilford came down in traffic with Leftwich’s seven-yard pass to cap an 80-yard drive in the final 2:07.

It was a remarkable effort from Leftwich, who had struggled all game and raised questions about his readiness to lead the Jaguars after failing to generate a touchdown drive in four exhibition games.

Leftwich shed the doubts when facing fourth and goal from the seven with four seconds remaining. He threw to the back of the end zone, where Wilford out-muscled three defenders and came down with the ball. Leftwich completed 18 of 36 passes for 147 yards. Two of his passes were intercepted and led to touchdowns.

San Diego 27, Houston 20 -- LaDainian Tomlinson ran for 121 yards and a touchdown, and the Chargers used a mistake-free passing game and an opportunistic defense to win at Houston. Drew Brees was 17 for 24 for 209 yards and two touchdowns for the Chargers. He connected with Eric Parker on a 19-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.