DENVER (AP) -Jason Elam hit a 37-yard field goal to give the Denver Broncos a 3-0 lead over the Seattle Seahawks after the first quarter on Sunday night.

Tatum Bell, back after missing three of the last four games with turf toes, rushed for 45 yards on six carries.

The Jay Cutler Era officially kicked off Sunday night and the crowd gave him a standing ovation as he took the field. A fan held up a sign saying, ``Separated at birth?'' and had a picture of Cutler and Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway.

Coach Mike Shanahan elevated the rookie to starting quarterback last Monday, sending Jake Plummer to the bench. Cutler, the 11th overall draft pick out of Vanderbilt last April, hasn't taken a snap since the preseason. Denver (7-4) has lost two straight games.

Cutler's first pass was intended for Javon Walker, but was broken up by Marcus Trufant. He was 0-for-2 and was sacked once by Russell Davis in the first quarter.

There were five punts in the opening 7:31 of the game.

Seattle went three-and-out on its first three possessions. Matt Hasselbeck was 4-for-8 for 20 yards and Shaun Alexander carried six times for 10 yards.

The Seahawks (7-4) are as healthy as they've been all season. They're 4-0 this season when Hasselbeck and Alexander have been on the field at the same time. The defending NFC champions are trying to capture their third straight NFC West crown. They were without center Robbie Tobeck, out with a hip injury.

Hasselbeck, who returned last Monday night against Green Bay after missing four weeks with a sprained right knee, played with a bruised finger on his non-throwing hand. Alexander is coming off a 201-yard performance against the Packers. He missed two months with a broken foot.

Plummer was relegated to backup duty for 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.

Cutler is the eighth Broncos rookie to start at quarterback. The previous rookies quarterbacks have combined for a 5-2 record in their first starts. Cutler is the first rookie to start at quarterback for Denver since Tommy Maddox on Dec. 12, 1992.

This was Seattle's first trip to Denver since the team moved from the AFC West to the NFC West in 2002. The Broncos are 20-4 at home against the Seahawks.

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