ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Jake Plummer hasn't talked to John Elway recently, and he is done talking about the Hall of Fame quarterback.

"I think I've done plenty of interviews (on Elway), talked about our relationship," Plummer said on Wednesday. "Let's keep it on the (Pittsburgh) Steelers, man."

But Plummer hasn't finished hearing about Elway.

It has been nearly seven years since Elway took a snap for the Broncos, but he remains a Mount Rushmore-like presence in Colorado, looming over the state and its sports scene.

He received a pair of thunderous ovations at the Pepsi Center during Tuesday night's Colorado Avalanche game — once when he was introduced before the start of the game and once when his face appeared on the scoreboard's big screen during a break in the action. His car dealerships dot the landscape — there's one just up the road from the Broncos' headquarters. And fans still wear his No.7 to games.

Filling Elway's cleats in Denver is like filling Patrick Roy's skates. Times 10.

"It's always tough following a legend, I don't care what sport you're in," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "Obviously, the expectations are very high."

Brian Griese struggled under them for four seasons, and it seemed as if Plummer would fare no better after his first two years in Denver.

Mistake-prone and not necessarily fan-friendly, having shot a middle finger toward the stands at Invesco Field last season, Plummer had a shaky first two years in Denver, both of which ended with wild card playoff defeats to the Indianapolis Colts.

"The last person that was successful here really at an extreme level was John Elway," said Bradlee Van Pelt, Plummer's backup. "Anyone that comes to this football club in Denver is going to have to fight it."

According to his teammates, Plummer is winning that fight.

"Jake's his own guy," tight end Jeb Putzier said. "I know (Elway's legacy) doesn't bother him. He knows who John Elway was, and he knows it's a big thing, but Jake's Jake. He has his own things that he wants to accomplish, not just because John did it, he has to do it. But Jake's a great quarterback, and I think this year it's finally coming out that everyone's seeing that."

Everyone's seeing it because Plummer largely has avoided the errors that plagued him during his first eight years. A year after throwing 21 interceptions in 16 regular-season games and one playoff game, Plummer has thrown eight this season. And last week he was quietly effective in managing the Broncos' offense during a 27-13 victory over two-time defending Super Bowl champion New England.

"People keep waiting for the big blow-up," Denver receiver Charlie Adams said. "That's not gonna happen."

Last week's victory was Denver's first in the playoffs since Elway retired. Though Plummer has far to go to catch up to Elway in terms of state popularity, two more victories could make up much of the distance.

"Nobody talked about (New England quarterback) Tom Brady before he won a championship," Broncos fullback Kyle Johnson said. "Everybody's gonna be growing beards all across America if we keep winning football games."