They say that the hardest things are forged out of steel. In football, that has proven true.
When the Denver Broncos host the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday afternoon for the right to advance in the National Football League playoffs, it will be a very tough assignment.
But it is not a task Denver has never faced before.
In fact, the one team that Denver has played most often in the playoffs is Pittsburgh—the always tough, solid, well-coached, hard-as-iron Steelers.
And so far, Denver and Pittsburgh have played six games, with the Broncos and Steelers tied at 3-3 in the toughest of playoff competition.
It’s not supposed to be easy, right?
The very first team Denver ever played in postseason was Pittsburgh, and Ring of Fame linebacker Tom Jackson intercepted Terry Bradshaw twice on Christmas Eve, 1977, as the Broncos won a 34-21 game that propelled Denver to its first AFC title and a berth in Super Bowl XII.
Denver ran smack into the Steel Curtain the very next year in Three Rivers Stadium and Pittsburgh was dominant in a 33-10 win on its own way to Super Bowl XIII, which the Steelers won.
In 1984, John Elway’s second year as a pro, he led the Broncos to a 13-3 record and a home game against a tough Pittsburgh team that won a hard-fought 24-17 game at Mile High Stadium. The Steelers went on to lose to the Dan Marino Dolphins the following week as Miami advanced to the Super Bowl.
Denver hosted Pittsburgh in a great game following the 1989 season, with the Broncos taking a 24-23 win here. Again, the Broncos went to the Super Bowl that year, beating the Cleveland Browns in Denver the following week.
One of the key plays in the Pittsburgh win was John Elway rushing for a key first down and being flipped literally onto his head—a play that brought the crowd to the feet in excitement and proved a precursor to one of John’s most famous plays, his diving, spinning first down against Green Bay in Super Bowl XXXII.
In 1997 the Broncos won our first Super Bowl and did it the hard way, winning as a wild card, which meant four straight playoff wins.
The AFC title game that year was at Pittsburgh and the Broncos prevailed, 24-21 to move on to that eventual date with the defending champion Packers.
And finally, most recently, the Steelers defeated the Broncos in Denver by a 34-17 score in 2005 to again advance to the Super Bowl, defeating Seattle for the world title.
So Denver and Pittsburgh are deadlocked at three wins apiece, with the winner going on to the Super Bowl in five out of the six meetings.
So if you are sure of this week’s result, you are wrong about being sure. Both teams have won at home, and lost at home, and won on the road, and lost on the road, and advanced to the Super Bowl home AND away, against each other.
Fans should take a cue from the players and tighten their chinstraps this weekend.
It is a matchup of historical postseason significance, and Sunday will be, as Yogi Berra says, déjà vu all over again.
Tags: Jim Saccomano, Pittsburgh Steelers, Playoffs, Wild Card
It is apart of the game. I will always blame Griese for TD’s knee injury.
Franklin is just a monster, no one can get around him, not even our own guys….
I blame an inspried Matt Lepsis for TD’s knee injury, if he would have just given up on that Interception play like most would have, TD would still played atleast 5 more years!!!
I blame the officials for everything!
How is Franklin and Dawkins on the field at the same time?
Lol baylin! I’m ok. Just trying to remain positive. Seems a lot of negativity has taken over today.
Understandably.
The way our defense is capable of playing…Pit has some injury concerns of their own…I’m not all that discouraged. Seems our offense is beating theirselves with these turnovers.
They just need a vote of confidence. We are the fans after all!
GO BRONCOS!
Yup Lepsis ran into TD’s knee irrelevant to the fact that Griese threw an easy pic on a simple read in front of his face.
Elway’s questions, next blog, find out everything you ever wanted to know about your Broncos, LOL.
I named my black lab Terrell. He is 13.
Lepsis? Thought it was Schlereth? Either way…freak injury!
Still won’t ever take away what he did accomplish for our team!
Sndvl, true that, he always delivered for us. (even when he couldnt see)!!
amazing that when you look at all potential FA QB’s , Orton might be the best 1 available…..lmao
It’s kind of a big deal that Mendenhall is hurt… Big Ben is not real Mobile at this point in the season…
I don’t see really any weakness to attack when it comes to their defense… Screens (if they are still in the playbook) seem to be affective against aggressive defenses… but that is common knowledge…
I know that this week I will be hoping for a victory, and cheering for a victory, but the practical person in me knows that we will definitely need to play as good as we ever have, and have some luck to really compete…
LMAO @ BONG!
We better have a game plan for Harrison, and Ben isn’t as mobile these days, but he’s not easy to bring down, we got to make sure we wrap up each tackle..
Drew Brees doesn’t have a contract for next year yet… not that the Saints will let him walk… but he is technically a Free Agent at season’s end…
I love Brees, but like u said, I doubt they let him walk.. Idk what will happen, but I will support whichever direction we go! I had fun on speculation Monday tho!
sndvl, apparently you didn’t watch the Alabama/LSU game this year. The good news is you can watch LSU come up with the win again next week.
Turtle, I’ll take that bong if you don’t mind. Unfortunately, our coaching staff doesn’t even know what a screen is. I’m pretty certain that all we’re gonna see is McGahee up the middle, Tebow deep to nobody, and punt on 4th and short. Kuper’s a big loss, Dawk’s a huge loss, Von still isn’t 100%, McGahee’s getting pretty sore, tired, and beat up, the officials are absolutely convinced that we must be cheating to be where we’re at, our coaches are still stupid to let Royal return everything, and Tebow’s just plain frustrated with everything at this point. I hope I’m wrong but I don’t think next week is gonna be pretty at all. We still have Fox and McCoy and they’ve shown us the very best they’ve got.
*obviously…I meant TOO stupid to let Royal return everything.
WELL WE ALREADY HAD 5 MIRACLES THIS YEAR, AND I MUST SAY IN THIS LAST GAME WE MORE THAN PAID THE PRICE FOR ANY AIRS WE MIGHT HAVE BEEN PUTTING ON….SO WHAT’S 4 MORE MIRACLES ….HEY IT COULD HAPPEN!!! GO BRONCOS!!! well so much for my 9-7 prediction who would of thought 8-8 would win it…oh wate , that’s 6 miracles already.
If we can generate some turnovers on defense and not turn the ball over ourselves we can beat the Steelers. Seems when the defense grabs the ball the offense really gets a change of attitude. The oppurtunity to win may be in or out of the hands of the Steelers having to play their second string RB. Get back to stripping the ball defense and wake up the offense with the excitement it creates. Go Broncos!
checking
The bandwagon Fans deserted you but God never did.When people say they ,”Believe” that Faith will be tested.Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. – Proverbs 3:5-6
You Have Blessed a child of God and God in return Has Blessed your Organization.Enjoy The Playoffs.
Our team has done exactly what we wanted them to do this season so far. It may not have been in the fashion most expected but who really cares? We’re in the playoffs.
a win this week would be massive—to defeat the STEELERS=