With the obvious fact that Super Bowl XLV pits two legendary franchises with already illustrious championship game histories, let’s take a moment to note that the Denver Broncos also have a storied Super Bowl history.
While it has not been added to in recent years, I was reflecting the other day on my 34 years with the Broncos and on my years as a season ticket holder preceding employment.
Any fan who has been following the Broncos since that first playoff game in 1977 (and many newer fans likely do not even realize that in the first year the Broncos made the playoffs, they also advanced to the Super Bowl) we have seen it all.
This does not mean we do not care if we see it again-quite the opposite, in fact. But Broncos fans have watched their team win, and lose, the Super Bowl as a favorite, as an underdog, as the home team, and as the road team.
The only thing we have not done in the game is produce a tie, which is impossible!
In Super Bowl XII in New Orleans, the Broncos were the home team, wearing their orange, big underdogs to the Dallas Cowboys, and Broncomania had the skids put on it momentarily when Dallas thumped a Denver team that was not as good, but which also was victimized by turnovers all day long. Dallas, 27-10
In Super Bowl XXI Denver was again an underdog, this time to the New York Giants at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, the Broncos were the road team wearing white, and took an early lead. Things really looked good when the Broncos had a first and goal at the Giants’ one, but Denver could not get the touchdown and then Rich Karlis set a Super Bowl record-a bad one-twice in the same quarter. He missed the shortest field goal attempt in Super Bowl history at the end of that fourth and goal, and then, still in the second quarter, beat his own record with a shorter miss!
Then the Giants scored a safety just before the half, and momentum was switching. The league wanted to play a song symbolic of each region at halftime, and the Broncos really got the short end of the stick on that event. John Denver’s “Rocky Mountain High” was played as the teams headed into the locker room, and then, as both teams came back onto the Rose Bowl field for the second half, Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” was played and the Giants fans in attendance went crazy. The second half was all New York. New York, 39-20.
The following year we went back, this time Denver as a four-point favorite, the “home” team playing the Washington Redskins in San Diego.
Denver scored quickly and had a 10-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
I remember vividly that Redskins general manager Bobby Beathard happened to sidle up to me as the second quarter began and noted, “Boy, you guys are kicking our butts.”
As in on cue, the Redskins woke up behind Doug Williams. Washington had the lowest scoring offense ever to get to the Super Bowl, so naturally (?) the Broncos just could not stop them, and Washington went on to rout the Broncos with 35 unanswered points in the second period. The 35 points came without benefit of a turnover or a big kick return-just one of those crazy quarters you cannot explain. Redskins, 42-10 final.
Still, the Broncos were the only AFC team to make consecutive Super Bowls in the 1980′s.
Denver was back again in 1989, this time in New Orleans once again, and this one was really no contest, as San Francisco was way too much for Denver in a crushing 55-10 contest.
But the Broncos had made the Super Bowl three times n four years, a tremendous accomplishment which remains underrated in its own right.
Much like the Buffalo Bills going four times in a row-does anyone really have any idea how hard that is to do, with the sting of heartbreak still so vivid, repeating another championship year?
It all turned for Denver, as everybody knows, with one of the greatest teams in the history of pro football. The Broncos, as everyone knows, won back-to-back world titles in 1997 and 1998.
In the 1997 game Denver was the biggest Super Bowl underdog to win the championship since the Joe Namath-led New York Jets in Super Bowl III. Denver was a betting underdog by 13 (or more) points to Green Bay, but that was a superlative Broncos team that knew just how good it was.
I can still remember Mike Shanahan’s pregame speech as he sent the Broncos out to win Super Bowl XXXII. He just looked around the room at a team that was very confident in what it was about to do, and he said, “Okay, let’s go show the world what this team is about.”
On that day, Green Bay had no idea what was coming its way. Local San Diego hero Terrell Davis ran for 157 yards and three touchdowns on his way to the most valuable player trophy in his hometown-a true storybook ending to a fantastic season. Denver became the first AFC team to win the game in 14 years. Broncos 31-24 as an underdog, but home team wearing home jerseys in a very familiar “home” stadium, the AFC West friendly San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium.
The following year everyone knew the Broncos were the best team in football so there were no surprises.
The Broncos went a calendar year-that’s right, a year-between defeats from late 1997 until December 1998-and they were installed as a big favorite as the visiting team, over Atlanta in Miami’s Pro Player Stadium.
It was a thumping by the Broncos, 34-19.
Denver became just the sixth franchise in NFL history to win back-to-back Super Bowls and, including the Broncos’ 13-3 record in their ill-fated 1996 campaign could boast the best three-year record in pro football history.
A great accomplishment for any franchise.
This time John Elway was the Super Bowl MVP, and I vividly remember saying to him as we headed for the podium after the game, “I’ve been waiting 16 years to say this to you, John, but after you celebrate tonight, you have an 8:30 press conference tomorrow to talk to the press, with the commissioner, and pick out your car.”
John, who by then had the ownership of approximately 17 car dealerships in the metro Denver area, threw back his head and could not help but laugh playfully at the thought that he was going to get a free car.
Those were some great days and great memories.
The memories are a part of Broncos Country forever, but part of forever is the future, and the future goal is unchanged.
There is a rekindled spirit within our franchise, and the past presages the future.
Tags: Super Bowl XLV
wow…. so many great broncos memories!! i remember watching most of those superbowls. not the 77 one tho.. wasnt born till 79.
i was in college when they won SB 32 and i remember calling my dad balling and he was crying too!! SUCH an emotional win for EVERY broncos fan… course the alcohol didnt help! 
BRING BACK THE ORANGE!!!
To this day John Elway is the only QB to take a team to 5 SuperBowls. No other QB can say that. Thats a pretty good feat for a QB. Something to be proud of as a Bronco fan.
Great article!
No matter what happens in the future, we will always have that glorious 2 year stretch where we exorcised our demons and sat atop the football world.
“TD standing, walking in for the TD”….ahh the good times
While the SB XXXII win was an incredible high and the feeling of finally winning a SB was fantastic, the electricity and excitement of the Bronco season and run to their 1st Super Bowl appearance will always be THE MOMENT in Bronco history. Like all firsts, it’s a momenmt in time that can never be duplicated or surpassed. I wish that there was a way that I could transport all Bronco fans too young to have experienced that season back in time to those magical moments. You can’t put into words the electricity, pride, stupifying amazement and utter awe of it all.
I’ve probably talked about it before, but one crazy example of how caught up in the Orange Crush people were was the true story of a gentelman who’d had no luck in selling his house. He painted it Orange and it solds in days!!!
Another crazy. If you had an Orange Bronco, you could ask any price for it and have several eager buyers.
Strandoftds ~ Thats an excellent point!
I was unfortunate, and only started following the NFL and the Broncos well after the SB wins. Although clearly its no comparison of being aware or, better yet, being at the games, I have managed to get my hands on a seasons highlights video a couple of years ago. Without a word of a lie, everytime I watch it, I can’t help but feel my heart beat faster, and a strong urge to hold back the tears. Hearing Elway talking in the pregame huddles is awe-inspiring and emotionally riviting.. “Lets play Bronco football and we’ll come out on top”
Oldsouthstander ~ if you ever find that time machine, I want a seat on the first trip!
Unfortunately the NFL’s list of the 10 most memorable performances by players in a Superbowl had half of them coming in games against the Broncos. At least Terrell Davis gave us our one positive.
Just a quick look through,
Im glad that it was a bronco fan that got in contact with the commisioner…Ive always thought no one takes football seriously like broncos fan
Freak30,
thx for the link to peterson…he is growing on me…but with all the hype surrounding him I feel like he may not live up too it. Kid is talented tho. Great speed and size and techniqure to boot. Also I have been talking about DT Phil Taylor from Baylor. The mans a mountain…and plays with great endurance for his size…been saying we should get him in the second but now that his stock is rising we may not be able too. Sure run stuffer there…
Samoan, my “Bronco support history” is very similar to yours! As well I started to get fully involved in the sport(and the Broncos, of course) after the SB wins! Patience and loyalty will be rewarded my friend, I sure know so! Our time will come and I have a feeling TT might be “The One” taking both of us to the promised land! There’s just something about that kid man, his first pass ever in the NFL was a TD, his first game at the new “Mile High” was a beautiful comeback and stuff like that has happened on and on years before in his career as we all know! And as you mentioned, very similar feelings when I get to see the greatest times in Broncos history(so far)! Very emotional, Something I trully want to be part of LIVE!!!
Watch the Orange Crush on our first SB ever would be a superb moment as well, no freakin’ doubt about it!
Get some solid defense so we give Tebow a chance to win games!
GO BRONCOS!!! Supporting from Costa Rica!! SB on 2013!!! =)
Yea, I believe that with our first two picks, if they are there, we get Fairley and Taylor!!! That would increase our D-Line right into preseason and having Bannan and then Doom and Ayers as Ends…we could go to the last defense to the top 10 just like that!
Giving Tebow a top 10 defense is just about a guaranteed win! Look at the Gators defense ever since he’s been there! Tebow proved his first 3 starts that he could still win some with a terrible defense and terrible running game! Just think what he can do if we get those players in here!
Fairley
Taylor
Jones/Rudolph/Carter/Sturdivant/Black/Moore
Matthews/Black
Stocker/FB from Stanford
CB/S
That is my mock draft/wish list right there!! Some people are thinking that the Jets will take Taylor with their 30th overall pick! If he falls down to us, no ?, we take him! He has shown that he’s first round material and we need a sure brick wall at NT and he’s it!!
Honestly, I wouldn’t mind trading a 2nd and 3rd for next year to move back up in the 1st and pick him up at like 27 but that is just me! Some people may not like that move but as long as we move up and not spend any of this years picks, then that would be fine with me! Or, if we get a 2nd for Orton, then put that in the package for moving up as we would still have 2 2nd rounders to use!!
That’s my dream mock draft right there! What does everyone think about it??
I don’t like trading future draft picks,just because they usually bite you on the butt,plus we know we can’t build this team back up in just one draft.That’s why I think we need 2 years of good drafting to
GIT-R-DONE!!
1.Fairley/Dareus DT
2.Raheem Moore/Ahmad Black S
2.Greg Jones ILB
3.Stocker TE
I think our top 4 needs are DT/S/ILB/TE
If we get lucky enough to get a 2nd round pick for Orton,I would use that pick on Stephen Paea DT or Phil Taylor DT,just me!
But I wouldn’t count on trading players for picks this season because of the cba,and FA will not happen either,unless something changes!
Can you imagine how much those 4-5 players could impact our team!!
rayjr26, too funny man. I also missed the 77 superbowl, was born the next year and was in college for the first superbowl win. Your story is too funny, becuase I did the exact same thing. After the game I called my father, and he said I knew you would be calling soon, and we both balled our eyes out becuase of drukin happiness!! Can’t wait for it to happen again. hopefully one day soon.
BFE, just like last year I love your mock picks. That is exactly what I’m hoping for and think we need to move forward as a team. Hopefully the CBA deal will get done, and we can get that extra 2nd round pick for Orton. With only six picks we need the CBA deal to happen more than anyone!
Chicago is about to get hit with a blizzard bigger than the Cutler storm! Lol.
I got to shed tears with my younger brother following XXXII. My ma is a Steeler fan and dad is a Raider fan. Go figure. Lol!!!
If we don’t sign deangelo williams, I wouldn’t mind signing cedric benson since he’s an unrestricted FA. He’s another good running back that’s a FA. What do you guys think about that as a pick up?
@ broncwild… i think benson would be a fair pickup. runs tough and we REALLY need a tough runner. not sure if LenDale will be able to recover that well from his injury!
@ rebel… ya man it was crazy! totally blubbering. the second best part was that their was a guy who lived across the hall from me in the dorms who was a HUGE packers fan! (i was in an apartment by the time the super bowl came around) all he did was talk major crap to me for the 2 weeks leading up to the game. kept saying stuff like “elways going to choke again”. but i kept my mouth shut the whole time. guess where the first place i went after the game was… almost an hour later and he was STILL sitting in his room staring at the TV. TOTALLY dumbfounded! LMAO i got my crap talkin revenge then. and he kicked me out of his room! PRICELESS!!!
BRING BACK THE ORANGE!!!
Perfect BFE, lets draft them. I think that can happen.
I wouldn’t draft Jones if we could get Martez Wilson in the early second IMO but if we cant than either Jones or Shepperd.
did elway say that orton!!!!! is the startin qb nooooooooo!!!!!!!
NOT MANY TEAMS CAN CLAIM BACK TO BACK SB WINS.OF THE CLASS OF 83 QB’S ONLY BIG JOHN WON A SB ALL THE REST FELL SHORT. ALTHOUGH MARINO AND MACHINE GUN KELLY GAVE A VALIANT EFFORT.
Hello Mr. Saccomano,
Thanks for the memories.
I found this Article in the local paper here in Steamboat springs and I wanted to share it with Broncos Country. This was a True Fan.
http://www.steamboattoday.com/news/2011/feb/04/routt-county-remembers-rosa-devault-ultimate-bronc/
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