Judgment on the great trade of stars arrived in a shivering, steady downpour.
No longer was the trade analysis left to coachspeak. The deal that sent running back Clinton Portis to the Washington Redskins for cornerback Champ Bailey and a second-round draft pick was a great trade for both teams, the coaches always said, seemingly because they were supposed to.
Finally put to the test Sunday afternoon when the Broncos held on to defeat the previously unbeaten Washington Redskins 21-19 at slippery, rain-soaked Invesco Field at Mile High, the swap developed an interesting twist.
Standing on the sideline with a bum hamstring, out of uniform, watching running back Tatum Bell pass by on another long touchdown sprint, Bailey momentarily became the trade’s throw-in. The draft pick no longer was an afterthought.
The draft pick acquired in the Portis trade became Bell, who came off the bench to score on two long touchdown runs that led to the Broncos’ fourth straight victory. The Broncos will bring a 4-1 record into their game Sunday against the two-time defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots.
“Tatum Bell was the difference in the game,” Portis said as he sloshed his way to the unfamiliar visiting locker room at Invesco Field. “That’s why they brought him here, these situations. He stepped up and made plays.”
Portis was a Bronco in 2002 and 2003, rushing for more than 1,500 yards each season. But soon after he went public with his desire for a more lucrative contract, Portis was dealt to the Redskins for Bailey and a second-round draft choice, which turned out to be Bell.
After the game, there were no hard feelings on either side. Portis had a nice day, rushing for 103 yards and catching two passes for 27 more. The Broncos beat a tough opponent in miserable conditions on the day the team inducted former safety Steve Atwater into their Ring of Fame.
“Hey, 26,” said a voice amid a sea of cameramen and microphones at soggy midfield. Out stepped Broncos coach Mike Shanahan. Beaming a smile bright enough to deflect attention from his soaked hair, Shanahan wished Portis luck.
A considerate gesture, but then, for one game at least, Shanahan had the better of the running backs wearing No. 26. Bell got his first snap on the Broncos’ first drive, replacing the more powerful running Mike Anderson on fourth-and- inches from the Redskins’ 34. Once Bell took the pitch and broke from the stacked line of scrimmage around left end, he was free to sprint to the end zone.
After touchdown passes were exchanged between Redskins quarterback Mark Brunell and the Broncos’ Jake Plummer – who connected with Ashley Lelie on a third-and-goal from the 5 – and a Washington field goal, Denver was leading 14-10. But the Redskins were dominating time of possession midway through the third quarter.
Again facing third down, Bell showed why speed and skill tend to trump well-laid plans. With moisture increasing from an early-game drizzle to a consistent rain, Bell broke free around the right end and ran 55 yards down the Broncos’ sideline for a touchdown.
The Redskins had 28 first downs to the Broncos’ 11. The Redskins controlled the ball 7 minutes and 38 seconds longer than the Broncos and had 190 more total yards.
Two bursts by Bell, though, gave Denver the win.
“My coaches have been on me a lot about not taking it the distance,” said Bell, who finished with 127 yards on 12 carries. “I told them the next time I will take it the distance and just go all out.”
The game’s other 26 was impressed. After his quick embrace with Shanahan, Portis returned to praising the Broncos’ defense and bemoaning the outcome.
“Lucky for them they found a way to hold on and get a win,” Portis said. “We got to take this long flight back to D.C. and think about what we did wrong.”
Lucky? The Broncos can’t deny victory came only after a safety was erased thanks to the tuck rule early in the third quarter, and linebacker Ian Gold saved another two points when he stuck his muscular biceps in the way of a conversion pass attempt with 1:09 remaining.
The two-point pass by Brunell was intended for receiver David Patten, who worked his way free in the back of the end zone.
“That play was Gold,” Broncos defensive end Trevor Pryce said. “Because that kid was open.”
By game’s end, no one was joking about Bell being the key to the trade instead of Bailey. The cornerback’s absence was felt during the final quarter when Brunell picked on a Broncos secondary that could have been flagged for too-many-rookies on the field.
With one rookie corner, starter Domonique Foxworth, on the sideline suffering from cramps, his replacement, rookie cornerback Karl Paymah, was flagged twice on the final drive. Brunell eventually hit tight end Chris Cooley for an 11-yard touchdown pass.
It was 21-19 with 1:09 remaining.
“I feel bad almost costing the team after we worked so hard,” Paymah said.
Gold spared his teammate further embarrassment by knocking down the two-point pass.
“Honestly, I wasn’t aware that somebody was behind me,” Gold said. “I just threw my hand up.”
Staff writer Mike Klis can be reached at 303-820-5440 or mklis@denverpost.com.
Extra points
TURNING POINT – Bell, Gold golden
Second-year running back Tatum Bell – taken with a throw-in draft pick in the Champ Bailey-Clinton Portis trade – broke his second long touchdown run of the game, a 55-yarder to give Denver a 21-10 lead with 6:27 to go in the third quarter. The Redskins came roaring back, and the Broncos needed Ian Gold to swat away a two-point conversion attempt with 1:09 remaining to seal the win. Bell’s long run was the key.
HIT OF THE DAY – Hello, Mr. Taylor
In the second quarter in the red zone, the Broncos gave the ball to Bell, who was immediately met by safety Sean Taylor – a second-year player who is fast becoming known as one of the fiercest hitters in the NFL. Taylor flew into Bell and drove him back. Bell was credited for a 1-yard gain, probably the most painful yard of his life.
CRAZY PLAY OF THE DAY – Follow the ball
In the third quarter, the Redskins were attempting a 38-yard field goal to cut Denver’s lead to 14-13. Defensive end Trevor Pryce blocked the attempt and kicker Nick Novak went for the ball, pushing it forward into the hands of Broncos linebacker Al Wilson, who brought it back to Denver’s 40-yard line. Bell scored on the ensuing possession.
BESTS – Brunell on the run
Open highway: With all his receivers covered in the second quarter, Washington quarterback Mark Brunell saw a hole the size of Denver International Airport and used it. Brunell zipped right down the middle of the field – with no defender within 10 yards during much of his journey – for a 14-yard gain.
First half: Brunell, who engineered Jacksonville’s stunning upset over the Broncos at Mile High Stadium in the 1996 playoffs, completed 10-of-11 passes for 86 yards and a touchdown in the first quarter.
Catch: Denver receiver Ashley Lelie made a terrific catch on a 5-yard fade route from Jake Plummer for a touchdown in the corner of the end zone to give Denver a 14-7 lead in the second quarter. The catch showed big-play ability from a receiver who has been quiet this season.
Relentlessness: Denver special-teams ace Keith Burns made back-to-back tackles on punts. The first tackle was nullified by a penalty, but the second stuck as Burns was credited for running more than 100 yards on the plays.
Challenge: In the third quarter, Denver quarterback Plummer was sacked in the end zone for a safety after the ball slipped from his hand and he recovered it. A safety would have made the score 14-12 with the Redskins getting the ball. However, the Broncos challenged the play, which was ruled an incomplete pass, and Denver punted.
WORSTS – Welcome to winter
Weather: It was raining hard for much of the game, resulting in several dropped balls because of the wet, cold conditions.
Reception: Every time Clinton Portis was announced, the crowd booed vigorously. It was a bit surprising, considering Portis played well for Denver in two seasons before being traded in 2004 for Champ Bailey and a second- round draft pick.
– Bill Williamson
Report card
Offense: B
Because Washington has such a stout run defense and often plays eight men in the box, the Broncos were hoping to unleash their long passing game for the first time this season. Indeed, it was the big play that won the game for Denver, but the big run play. Backup tailback Tatum Bell had touchdown runs of 34 and 55 yards for Denver, which had an efficient attack.
Defense: B
The Redskins rolled up 447 yards and made several key plays. But as it did in the past three games, the Broncos’ defense made the big stops when it needed to. That included Ian Gold batting away a two-point conversion attempt late in the fourth quarter that would have tied the game.
Special teams: C
A blocked Todd Sauerbrun punt in the fourth quarter allowed Washington to get back in the game, revealing that the blocking unit still needs work. However, the Broncos’ coverage units were decent.
Coaching: B
The Denver coaching staff continues to do enough, and the defensive adjustments were key. Defensive coordinator Larry Coyer used a “46” defense for about 10 plays to help get a better pass rush against the Redskins. The look helped Denver get more pressure. Offensively, sticking with the run was key.
Overall: B
Is it ideal to have to sweat out a two-point conversion with 71 seconds remaining? Of course not. But in a driving rainstorm against a team that fights to the end, coming away with a victory is crucial. Knowing the Patriots come to town next week, this was not an easy game. Survival was the key.
– Bill Williamson
