CAN ELWAY BEAT THE CHAMPS? IT'S BRONCOS, PACKERS IN SUPER BOWL.

Byline: Frank Luksa The Dallas Morning News

He's the best actor never to win an Academy Award, the lifetime .350 hitter whose team failed to capture a World Series and the all-time great golfer who retired without claiming the U.S. Open title. He's won everything except the last game of the season, the final series of the year and the most prestigious championship.

Now he's old, and dusk descends on his days as an athlete. And he has another chance. Probably the last one for 37-year-old John Elway to win the only credit missing from his marvelous NFL career - a Super Bowl. Not entirely by chance, Elway helped qualify the Broncos for Super Bowl XXXII with a 24-21 victory Sunday over Pittsburgh in an AFC Championship Game tilted by quarterback performance.

Elway was steady and clutch-cool flawless. Kordell Stewart, Pittsburgh's too-young gun, proved brilliant at times but prone to rash bumbles. In a game otherwise even, and as it should, wisdom beat immature impatience.

Elway had his single error, an early game interception, negated when Norm Johnson yanked wide on a 38-yard field goal attempt for the Steelers. Stewart's glitches were glaring in contrast. He accounted for four turnovers - the most damaging end-zone interceptions into a nest of defenders from the Denver 33 and 5, plus a fumble at the Broncos' 41.

An aura of sentimental favorite clings to Elway as he nears completion of his 15th NFL season. Stewart's time will come. He just tried to rush it at Three Rivers Stadium. For Elway, there's not much time left to avenge three previous Super Bowl losses.

So what are his chances of success when Denver faces Green Bay, a 23-10 NFC Championship Game winner over San Francisco, on Jan. 25 in San Diego? Better than ever if a qualifier is applied: Compared to odds on other Elway teams that went to the Super Bowls, they have to be improved almost by default.

Those Broncos lost by ever-increasing margins of 19, 32 and 45 points. They got worse for the experience in defeats by the New York Giants (39-20), Washington (42-10) and San Francisco (55-10). All were underdogs whom Elway almost alone lifted to the pinnacle where their flaws were exposed and magnified.

Elway today is a different operator than the one who appeared in his last Super Bowl eight years ago. He doesn't run much anymore. But he still throws the tightest, fastest pass in the NFL when necessary. The major difference is that Elway brings a cerebral quality to a task that was once an all-arm approach.

``He's older. He's not as fast, but he's playing the game the best I've ever seen him,'' said Denver coach Mike Shanahan. ``He's determined. There's a sense of urgency and resolve about him.''

Elway agreed with Shanahan's analysis:

``I'm a different player. I don't do all that running around. What I've lost physically, I've made up mentally. Plus, I think this offense fits me better.''

So it does. This is Denver's top Super Bowl offense during the Elway era. Shanahan has built a fit if not fearsome line. All-Pro and AFC rushing leader Terrell Davis, who gained 139 yards against the Steelers, offers a sustained ground threat that Elway often lacked in the past. The best of some of the rest were one-time Pro Bowlers such as Sammy Winder and Bobby Humphrey.

Elway's receivers are a deceptive lot and underrated beyond headlined tight end Shannon Sharpe. Ron Smith (six catches for 87 yards) and 6-5 beanpole Ed McCaffrey (5 for 37, 1 TD) are steady challenges for a secondary.

Does Elway think this is his best chance at winning a Super Bowl?

``Yes, because it's the next one. I also think this is the best all-round team I've been on and hope we've saved our best for last,'' he said.

Denver's run defense remains suspect after coughing up 161 yards to Pittsburgh, 105 of it to Jerome Bettis and 33 more on Stewart's touchdown ramble. But this can be said of the Broncos against that nit-pick: Winning playoff games where home teams Kansas City had been unbeaten during the regular season and the Steelers owned an eight-game winning streak removed Denver from the AFC patsy class.

``It's tougher to do, and it proves you have a better team to win on the road,'' Elway said.

Good enough to beat the Packers? Doubtful, but always possible when Elway is involved with a last chance at stake.

CAPTION(S):

3 Photos

PHOTO (1 -- color) Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre flashes the No. 1 sign.

(2 -- color) John Elway of the Denver Broncos, firing a pass against Pittsburgh, is back in the Super Bowl.

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(3) John Elway was a standout at Granada Hills High.

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