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John Elway was the quarterback for the Denver Broncos for all three Super Bowls they appeared in, and lost, in the 1980s. Source: https://www.profootballhof.com/players/john-elway/stats/ (May be subject to copyright) |
Nothing could better describe what happened to the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl in the 1980s better than that cartoon.
They were one of the most successful teams of the decade, but every time they made it to the Super Bowl, which was three times in four years, they could not win the championship. Worse, they lost by some of the widest margins in Super Bowl history.
Such is the legacy of the Denver Broncos in 1980s.
Prelude to a championship
The Denver Broncos had been a pretty good team in the AFC since their run to the Super Bowl in 1977. They became an instant contender in the conference when, through a trade with the Baltimore Colts in 1983, they acquired John Elway. He would become their franchise quarterback for the better part of 16 years.
The Denver Broncos had been a pretty good team in the AFC since their run to the Super Bowl in 1977. They became an instant contender in the conference when, through a trade with the Baltimore Colts in 1983, they acquired John Elway. He would become their franchise quarterback for the better part of 16 years.
Elway’s first season was 1983, when the Broncos went 9-7, finished third in the AFC West and qualified for the AFC Wildcard Game. However, they lost to the Seattle Seahawks by a score of 31-7.
In 1984, they finished 13-3, their best record in franchise history, and won the AFC West. However, they were upset by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Divisional Game.
The next season, 1985, they finished 11-5, good enough for second in the AFC West. However, in an incredibly strong AFC that year, they did not make the playoffs.
Still expectations were large going into the 1986 season.
Over one hump
The Broncos finally lived up to the expectations that had been placed on them. A year earlier, many observers had picked them to go to the Super Bowl, yet they didn’t even make the playoffs.
The Broncos finally lived up to the expectations that had been placed on them. A year earlier, many observers had picked them to go to the Super Bowl, yet they didn’t even make the playoffs.
Things changed in 1986.
Denver once again finished 11-5, but this time that was good enough for first place in the AFC West. Awaiting them in the AFC Divisional Game was the New England Patriots, the defending AFC Champions. The Broncos prevailed by a score of 22-17 and were off to their first AFC Championship Game since 1977.
They would face the Cleveland Browns in one of the most memorable games of the decade. The Browns led by seven points with about five minutes left, and pinned the Broncos inside their own two-yard line. Elway trotted out and led Denver straight down the field, tying the game with 39 seconds left on a pass to Mark Jackson. The Broncos then got the ball in overtime, after forcing Cleveland to punt, and drove 60 yards for Rich Karlis’ game-winning field goal.
That game-tying sequence became forever known simply as “The Drive”. I knew it was destined to succeed when, on one play, the centre snapped the ball early while a receiver was in motion. The ball skipped off the receiver but Elway managed to corral the ball and continue the drive.
The Broncos were heading to their first Super Bowl since 1977, and looking for their first championship.
Giant defeat
Standing in the way were the New York Giants who had a stingy defence led by Lawrence Taylor, and an offence led by Phil Simms. After Denver led 10-9 at the half, the Broncos fell apart in the second half. The Giants scored 30 points in the final 40 minutes. In response, the Broncos could only muster 10, as New York won their first Super Bowl by a score of 39-20.
New York quarterback Phil Simms turned in one of the best performances in Super Bowl history. He went 22 of 25, for 268 yards and three touchdowns. That included throwing the ball away once intentionally. He also carried the ball three times for 25 yards, on his way to being named most valuable player of the Super Bowl.
This time, I knew New York was destined to win, by two plays the Giants made for touchdowns. In one play, after tight end Mark Bavaro scored, he dropped to one knee in the end zone and made the sign of the cross. Only later did I learn that, not only was he a Catholic like me, but he attended my beloved Notre Dame. In the other play, Simms threw a pass to Bavaro. The ball went through his hands, but receiver Phil McConkey was right behind the big tight end in the end zone. He dove, catching the ball on the deflection for the touchdown.
The Giants were destined to win.
That 39-20 beating would be the closest Denver came to winning a Super Bowl in the ‘80s, and they would have more chances.
Capital offence
The following season, 1987, was plagued by a players’ strike that involved replacement players and shortening the season by one game. The Broncos still prevailed in the AFC West, finishing first with a 10-4-1 record and a date in the AFC Divisional Game. They would the Houston Oilers, who had defeated Seattle in the AFC Wildcard Game.
The following season, 1987, was plagued by a players’ strike that involved replacement players and shortening the season by one game. The Broncos still prevailed in the AFC West, finishing first with a 10-4-1 record and a date in the AFC Divisional Game. They would the Houston Oilers, who had defeated Seattle in the AFC Wildcard Game.
The Broncos beat Houston 34-10, punching their ticket to their second straight AFC Championship Game where they would face – the Cleveland Browns.
Hungry for redemption after coming so close the year before, the Browns went toe to toe with Denver. Late in the game, trailing 38-31, Cleveland drove deep into Bronco territory and were poised to score the tying touchdown. Then, runningback Earnest Byner, fighting to score the tying touchdown, had the ball ripped loose and the Broncos recovered the ensuing fumble. They ran three plays then conceded a safety, making the score 38-33. They did not want to punt the ball out of their own end zone and give Cleveland good field position. Instead, the Browns got the ball back, but ran out of time, sending the Broncos back to the Super Bowl. That play became an another instant classic, dubbed “The Fumble” for all eternity.
Awaiting the Broncos in the Super Bowl was the Washington football club, denizens of the United States capital and champions of the NFC. I missed the first part of the game, but found out in line at the cafeteria that Denver led early on a long pass-and-run touchdown from Elway to Ricky Nattiel. I got in front of the TV in time to see Rich Karlis tack on a field goal, and give the Broncos a 10-0 lead after one quarter.
Then, one of the most improbable quarters in Super Bowl history unfolded. Starting with an 80-yard touchdown bomb from Doug Williams to Ricky Sanders, Washington reeled off a Super Bowl record 35 straight points in the second quarter to give the club a 35-10 halftime lead. After a scoreless third quarter, Washington tacked on one more touchdown in the fourth quarter to make the final score 42-10.
The Broncos suffered an even bigger blowout in 1987 then they had in 1986. It was certain they would be seeking some sort of redemption.
Blowout
It did not come in 1988, when Denver fell to 8-8, finishing second in the AFC West and out of the playoffs.
It did not come in 1988, when Denver fell to 8-8, finishing second in the AFC West and out of the playoffs.
So the 1989 season was not even as much about redemption in the Super Bowl, as just returning to respectability. They did just that, going 11-5, finishing first in the AFC West for a date with the surprising Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Divisional Game. The Broncos would outlast Pittsburgh by a score of 24-23 to advance to their third AFC Championship Game in four years.
Looming on the horizon was none other then their old foe – the Cleveland Browns. With memories of “The Drive” and “The Fumble” abounding, this game was not as close as its two predecessors. The Broncos took control early and cruised to a 37-21 victory and a third Super Bowl appearance in four years.
The task would be even bigger this time around. San Francisco was the defending Super Bowl champion and they had mowed through the NFC, with a 14-2 record. They faced no real resistance in the NFC playoffs either, and were gunning for a second straight Super Bowl, and fourth in nine years.
Meanwhile Denver was looking to put the ghosts of the two previous Super Bowls to resist.
It did not happen.
If at all possible, the Broncos were blown out even worse than the 42-10 debacle two years earlier. After San Francisco scored on their opening possession, Denver responded with a field goal to cut the 49er lead to 7-3. That was okay, right? San Francisco scored another touchdown but missed the point after, to lead 13-3 after the first quarter. Then things fell apart – again – for the Broncos. The 49ers would go on to score two touchdowns in each of the four quarters, while Denver responded with a touchdown in the third quarter to make the final score 55-10.
It was the worst margin of defeat in Super Bowl history and the most points scored in one Super Bowl by one team. San Francisco also became the only team in Super Bowl history to score two touchdowns in each of the four quarters of a game. It capped off the decade with a third one-sided loss by the Denver Broncos in three years.
Parting thoughts
The odd thing about the Denver Broncos' struggles in the Super Bowl in the 1980s, was that it was eclipsed by an even bigger spell of frustration. The next season and the three seasons after that, the Buffalo Bills went to and lost four straight Super Bowls. Except for the 1990 Super Bowl where the Bills could have won on a last-play field goal, they were blown out by large margins too.
The odd thing about the Denver Broncos' struggles in the Super Bowl in the 1980s, was that it was eclipsed by an even bigger spell of frustration. The next season and the three seasons after that, the Buffalo Bills went to and lost four straight Super Bowls. Except for the 1990 Super Bowl where the Bills could have won on a last-play field goal, they were blown out by large margins too.
It continued a streak of NFC dominance that would run until the 1997 season.
That season, a much older, wiser and determined John Elway led his Denver Broncos to an upset victory in the Super Bowl over the defending champion Green Bay Packers. For good measure, the Broncos repeated as Super Bowl champions the following season with a convincing win over Atlanta.
The Broncos finally had their Super Bowl redemption.
The Broncos finally had their Super Bowl redemption.
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