It’s the NFL divisional playoffs this weekend and instead of watching the Chiefs, let’s instead review the greatest divisional playoff weekends in Broncos history. Here’s my top 5.
5. January 14, 2006. The two-time defending NFL champion New England Patriots visit Denver to face the 13-3 AFC West champion Broncos. Champ Bailey’s 100-yard interception return late in the third quarter is a 14-point swing in favor of the Broncos, who go on to win 27-13. It was the Broncos’ first playoff win since Super Bowl XXXIII, ending a seven-year drought. However, the Broncos fell to the Steelers in the AFC Championship game a week later and fell short of Super Bowl XL.
4. January 4, 1987. The Broncos host the defending AFC champion Patriots at Mile High. Denver clings to a 20-17 lead throughout the fourth quarter until Rulon Jones sacks Tony Eason in the end zone to clinch victory with less than two minutes remaining. This is the Broncos’ first playoff win since beating the Raiders on New Year’s Day 1978 - they had lost five playoff games in a row. The Broncos, of course, went on to beat the Browns the following week to advance to Super Bowl XXI.
3. January 4, 1998. The Broncos go on the road to face the top-seeded Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, a place that has been traditionally difficult for Denver, especially late in the season. The Chiefs overtook the Broncos for the AFC West lead late in the season, aided by a last-second field goal to beat Denver in November. In this one, the Broncos proved their superiority, with the defense holding off a late Chiefs drive to preserve a 14-10 win. It was only the second road playoff win in Broncos’ history. The Broncos won the third road playoff game in Broncos’ history the following week in Pittsburgh to advance to Super Bowl XXXII.
2. December 24, 1977. The Broncos host the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first playoff game in their 18-year franchise history. The Broncos own the AFC’s top seed thanks to their 12-2 record, but the Steelers are only two years removed from back-to-back Super Bowl titles. The two teams engage in a tight back-and-forth for three and a half quarters on Christmas Eve until Denver takes control late in the fourth. Following a turnover, Craig Morton connects with Jack Dolbin for the clinching touchdown in a 34-21 victory. Denver beats Oakland the following week to advance to Super Bowl XII.
1. January 4, 1992. The Houston Oilers visit Denver following a win in the wildcard round. Although Denver sported a better record than Houston, they had suffered a 42-14 loss in the Astrodome the previous October. Early on, this one was trending in the same direction, with the Oilers jumping to 14-0 and 21-6 leads in the first half. However, the Broncos steadily climbed back in the game and with just over two minutes remaining trailed 24-23 and had the ball at their own two-yard line. John Elway proceeded to execute “The Drive II” in which he converted two fourth downs. The second of these was a 44-yard pass to Vance Johnson to put Denver in position for the winning field goal by David Treadwell. The following week, the Broncos lost a heartbreaker to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship game, falling short of Super Bowl XXVI.
Pretty interesting that three of the five took place on January 4, and the other two games took place on dates ending with a 4. I don’t know what it means but it’s interesting.
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