DENVER — They were among the final few players to emerge from the giant, inflatable horse's head as the Denver Broncos took the field for the first time in their glitzy new stadium.
Brian Griese and Terrell Davis, together again — but for how long?
Since Griese succeeded John Elway as Denver's quarterback in 1999, he and Davis have been in the starting lineup together just eight times, preventing the Broncos from seeing what kind of offensive electricity can be sparked by two talented but injury-prone players.
If Saturday night's 31-24 victory over the New Orleans Saints is any indication, the future is bright as the Broncos enter a new era at Invesco Field at Mile High.
Griese threw for 228 yards and three touchdowns in his last significant test before the regular season opens in two weeks, and Davis ran for 34 yards in his first game in nine months.
"To be able to leave the game and say, 'I'll live to fight another day,' I did that," Davis said.
While Davis gradually works his way back into shape after missing the second half of the 2000 season with a stress fracture in his left leg, Griese shows no sign of having reconstructive shoulder surgery in January.
Griese, the NFL's top-rated quarterback last year, threw a 58-yard touchdown pass to Ed McCaffrey in the second quarter. The strong throw said much more than words.
"My arm has felt great. I continue to answer these questions," Griese said as he joked with reporters. "Maybe that will answer some of your questions, because obviously my answers don't."
Griese and most of Denver's starters are expected to play one or two series in the team's final preseason game Friday against the San Francisco 49ers.
Davis will be among the exceptions as he tries to improve his stamina in advance of the Sept. 10 regular-season opener. He came out briefly after carrying the ball five times in seven plays on Denver's opening drive.
"My legs were heavy before the game," Davis said. "I tried to stay in the game as long as I could, but I just got a little winded. I think you exert too much energy sometimes. You have to know how to use it. That just comes with playing games."
With Davis and the Denver offense headed in the right direction, the defense had mixed results against the Saints.
The Broncos managed to sack New Orleans quarterback Aaron Brooks twice but often surrendered extra yards because of missed tackles that proved destructive last season.
Two of the Saints' touchdowns came as a result of special teams mistakes.
Kevin Kasper muffed a punt at his own 10-yard line, setting up a 6-yard touchdown run by Brooks in the first quarter, and Michael Lewis returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown early in the third.
Lewis' return was the second-worst moment of the night for rookie punter Nick Harris, who is trying to unseat veteran Tom Rouen. Harris, Denver's fourth-round pick in the April draft, later missed a chance to pin New Orleans deep when he shanked a punt 22 yards.
"I scraped the ground for some reason," Harris said. "I don't know if the snap took me right and I was off-balance. For some reason, I just scraped it."
Rouen has not punted since the first preseason game and could end up winning the competition by default if Harris does not bounce back Friday.