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Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer, shown with head coach Mike Shanahan, has thrown 12 interceptions to go with 11 touchdowns, and he’s completed 55.6 percent of his passes for a meager 6.33 yards per attempt and a middling quarterback rating of 70.5.

Not that Cutler would want Elway’s rookie debut. The Hall of Famer was 1-of-8 for 14 yards and one interception against Pittsburgh on Sept. 4, 1983. Denver did win 14-10.

Shanahan thinks Cutler’s situation is different from what Elway went through.

“You look at a quarterback (in Elway) that really didn’t have, at least in my opinion, a great supporting cast,” Shanahan said. “All the pressure was on the quarterback. I think it’s almost impossible for a guy to come in his first year without a supporting cast and be successful.”

The Broncos have the supporting cast. This is the same basic team that went to the AFC championship game last year.

“Sometimes things like this are a wakeup that everyone’s got to look at themselves in the mirror and say, ‘What can we do better?”’ safety John Lynch said. “Everyone’s got to do their job better.”

In his first practice as the starter, Cutler was pumped up, sending several passes over the heads of receivers. There was no question he had extra velocity on his throws.

“Everyone’s saying he’s a young Brett Favre,” said Walker, who played with Favre in Green Bay. “You can see that in the strength of his arm. It gets there in a hurry. After the more reps we get together, it should work out.”

Shanahan said he won’t scale back the playbook for Cutler.

“For us to make the decision we’ve made, we feel very comfortable he’s got complete knowledge of the offense,” he said.

Plummer will be relegated to backup duty for basically the first time in his 10-year career. He’s 39-15 as Denver’s starter in the regular season, 1-3 in the playoffs. Shanahan and Plummer have the fifth-best regular-season winning percentage — with a minimum 50 starts — since 1970.

Cutler said he and Plummer spoke after they were informed of the flip-flop in their roles.

“He told me it didn’t change anything between me and him and he’s going to be here for me,” Cutler said.

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Plummer wouldn’t talk with reporters after practice.

Plummer has thrown 11 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions this season. He threw only seven interceptions last year.

“I don’t think he obviously likes the move,” Shanahan said. “Any competitor would not like the move. He’s going to do everything he can to help this football team.”

Plummer has three years left on his contract, but no guaranteed money after this season.

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“Would I like him here long-term?” Shanahan said. “As long as he’d like to be here. I’d love him in that (backup) role if he wants to be in that role. I think time will tell.”

The Broncos, coming off two straight losses for the first time in two years, host the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night. Shanahan doesn’t think the prime-time game will rattle the rookie.

“What’s the difference? A game is a game,” Shanahan said. “You’ve got to go out there and perform. He’ll handle it well.”

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