DENVER (Dec. 23, 2000) — The Denver Broncos said goodbye in record-setting fashion.

In the final regular season game at Mile High Stadium, the Broncos scored on six straight possessions to rout the San Francisco 49ers 38-9 on Saturday.

As flash bulbs popped thruout the 52 year old stadium on the historic occasion, Gus Frerotte, replacing the injured Brian Griese, passed for one TD and ran for another, and Mike Anderson ran for two more scores.
The playoff-bound Broncos (11-5) stayed in contention for the AFC West title. If Oakland loses to Carolina on Sunday, Denver would win the division title and be assured of a home playoff game. If Oakland wins, Denver is a wildcard and plays on the road.

San Francisco (6-10), which had won four of its previous five games, averted a shutout when Wade Richey kicked a 44-yard field goal with 9:04 left. Jeff Garcia, who eclipsed the 49er season passing record of 4,170 yards set by Steve Young in 1998, later threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to J.J. Stokes.

Denver receivers Ed McCaffrey and Rod Smith finished with 101 and 100 receptions, respectively, becoming only the second NFL tandem to reach that level. Detroit's Herman Moore and Brett Perriman accomplished the feat in 1995.

McCaffrey's 101 catches broke the club record of 100 set by Lionel Taylor in 1961.

Anderson's two rushing touchdowns gave him 15 for the season, tying Cincinnati's Ickey Woods (1988) for the second-most by a rookie in NFL history.

Saturday's game also likely was the last game in a 49er uniform for record-setting receiver Jerry Rice, who wants to play another season but probably will do it for another team because of the salary cap.

After the game, Bronco fans cheered Rice as he headed for the locker room and shouted "Jerry, Jerry."

After a scoreless first quarter, the Broncos, who will move into a $364 million stadium nearby next fall, scored on three straight possessions to take a 17-0 halftime lead.

Griese, returning to the lineup after missing the previous five games with a separated throwing shoulder, lasted just five plays. On a short pass, Griese was slammed to the turf by defensive tackle Brentson Buckner, landing on his shoulder and leaving the game.

Frerotte relieved and eventually led Denver to its first score, Jason Elam's 20-yard field. Denver's 88-yard scoring drive included five penalties against San Francisco totaling 66 yards.

On Denver's next series, Frerotte was shaken up on a sack and left the game, and Griese returned to hand off to KaRon Coleman, who juked his way around the left side for a 24-yard scoring run with 7:33 left in the half. Griese did not play again, however.

Thanks to intimidating tactics by Denver linebacker Bill Romanowski — who shoved receiver J.J. Stokes after a reception and leveled Garcia just after the quarterback released a pass — a San Francisco drive stalled at the Denver 30, and Richey was wide right on a 48-yard field goal try.

Denver responded with a 61-yard touchdown drive. Frerotte, back in the lineup, completed a 15-yard pass to Byron Chamberlain, and Anderson ran the final yard.

McCaffrey's 25-yard TD catch early in the third quarter was his 101st, breaking Taylor's record set in the Broncos' second season.