This week the Denver Broncos host the Pittsburgh Steelers in week three of preseason play, a Sunday night telecast sure to generate nice national interest via FOX.
The Broncos have an interesting history with the Pittsburgh franchise, and here are a few “franchise firsts” on the series.
After the AFL-NFL merger, the Steelers played the first game of the regular season in Denver in 1970 — of course, Pittsburgh was beginning its new life as an AFC team that year.
The Broncos won the first four games in this series — the Steelers becoming the first NFL (or former NFL) team to be defeated in the first four meetings with Denver.
In the offseason preceding the 1974 campaign, the NFL changed the rule about tie games, establishing overtime as a part of NFL games — and naturally, the first overtime game ever played in pro football’s regular season came in Denver, a classic battle that resulted in a 35-35 tie at the end of overtime, Broncos-Steelers at Mile High Stadium on September 22, 1974.
When the Broncos finally made the playoffs for the first time, the first opponent Denver ever faced in postseason was that great Pittsburgh team quarterbacked by Terry Bradshaw. Linebacker Tom Jackson intercepted Bradshaw twice as the Broncos recorded the first playoff win in Denver history on Christmas Eve, 1977 by a 34-21 margin. In my book, “Game of My Life-Denver Broncos,” Tom Jackson chose that game, the Broncos’ first playoff win, as his most personally significant performance.
On the way to the Broncos’ first Super Bowl victory in 1997, the road to the AFC title went through Pittsburgh, and Denver won at Three Rivers Stadium despite having lost in the same stadium just one month before. When the Broncos won that game, the best team won, as Denver showed the world two weeks later in defeating Green Bay for our first Super Bowl championship.
The only time the Broncos have ever lost an AFC title game at home it was to the Steelers in 2006, and they went on to win the world title.
The Broncos have faced Pittsburgh more times in postseason play than any other franchise. Denver and Pittsburgh have faced each other six times, three wins for each team.
The series stands at 13 wins and seven losses for the Broncos, with one tie in the regular season and three wins each in the postseason.
This week’s game marks the first ever for the two proud franchises in preseason play, and it does not count, but let’s see if it produces any “firsts” at INVESCO Field at Mile High Sunday night.
Tags: 2010, Denver Broncos, Jim Saccomano, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tom Jackson
This is awesome! Good stuff Jim
Great article, loved it, I was at the 2006 AFC title game, sad to see them loose of course but what a wild environment. I have been to many games but that was my first playoff game! I hope to go to many more playoff games soon!!
1977, the magic season if there ever was one, came out of nowhere to shock the world including all of us Bronco fans, obviously nothing like that will ever happen again.
Time to get back to being a winning franchise, after pausing for a few years……starts on Saturday…..
Thanks for all the facts!!! I didn’t know the first overtime game ever was Us… And still ended in a tie. Hilarious!
Great info here. Looking forward to their first preseason meeting (and some more firsts from more rookies and second year players)!
One persons job I would love to have had is Jim’s
All of the memories and things you were personally a part of.. sigh
I said it in a previous blog, I’ll say it again… I hope that Tebow-mania prevents Steelers fans from getting tickets to OUR stadium!
They are some of the most arrogant, disrespectful fans in all of football!!!
Last year it seemed over 50% of the stadium was waving their urine soaked thumb sucking towels.
We need the mile high magic back in Denver!!
This is BRONCOS COUNTRY!!!
Wildman347: Your 08:35pm entry just jogged some memories from the AFC Championship game in 2006 between Steelers/Broncos. It was the 4th qtr and Steelers were really taking it to us.
We’re in section #111 and a few Steelers fans decided to rub it in.
At any rate, they really fired me up plus several fans including the lady with the Orange Cowboy Hat ! A lifelong fan!
You hit the nail on the head with these folks as they’re super obnoxious.
Who Knew? Thanks Jim for that wonderful blog.
The first ever overtime game and ended in a tie …… I did not Know that
I remember…. 77 Craig Morton 06 Cowher …ugh ! yes it’s all coming back
What a Rivalry it’s a bit more than I realized