A lot has changed since Jess did his ranking in 2012.
In June of 2008, I sat down to write an article for Mile High Report that looked back at the history of success within the Broncos franchise. In the 7-years since, Broncos fans have been given some new all-time great post season games and have had time to change perspective on others. It’s interesting to look at the list I formulated back in 2012 and compare it to the list I have today.
I now present you with the list from 2012. The justifications for each ranking can be found in the article, here.
10. January 8, 2012 - Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Denver Broncos - AFC Wildcard
9. January 14, 2006 - New England Patriots vs. Denver Broncos - AFC Divisional
8. December 27, 1997 - Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Denver Broncos - AFC Wild Card
7. January 4, 1992 - Houston Oilers vs. Denver Broncos - AFC Divisional
6. December 24, 1977 - Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Denver Broncos - AFC Divisional
5. January 17, 1988 - Cleveland Browns vs. Denver Broncos - AFC Championship
4. January 31, 1999 - Denver Broncos vs. Atlanta Falcons - Superbowl XXXIII
3. January 11, 1987 - Denver Broncos vs. Cleveland Browns - AFC Championship
2. January 1, 1978 - Oakland Raiders vs. Denver Broncos - AFC Championship
1. January 25, 1998 - Denver Broncos vs. Green Bay Packers - Superbowl XXXII
...and now for the updated list.
10. January 24, 2016 - New England Patriots vs. Denver Broncos - AFC Championship
So why this game and not the AFC Championship against the Pats in 2013? In comparing the two, these are the factors that stuck out to me. First, this was the Super Bowl Championship year and not the butt-whupping year against the Seahawks. Second, this post season game tightened-up at the end to the point where if Rob Gronkowski make a play here or there, Denver doesn’t advance and history isn’t as rosy in Broncos Country. It has all the drama, intrigue, and Brady tears of a classic. Plus, it was a tremendous win and was the final chapter in the Manning/Brady saga.
9. January 8, 2012 - Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Denver Broncos - AFC Wildcard
You moved it up?! Yes, and here’s why. When I published the first ranking in 2012, the Tebow playoff game was still fresh... as was the Broncos embarrassing defeat at the hands of the Patriots the following week. Surely, this game would be forgotten or overshadowed in the future, right? Well, if anything the coverage of Pat Bowlen’s passing has taught us that this win is still regarded as one of the greatest playoff wins in Broncos history simply because it was so dramatic, so surprising, and so... Tebow.
Think I’m wrong? Watch this (again) and tell me it doesn’t give you warm fuzzies.
Still think I’m wrong? Consider this, without Denver’s win over Pittsburgh, Elway would have had a harder time making the case to Peyton Manning that Denver was a team on the rise and one Manning could win with. Had this game not gone down the way it did, Peyton Manning might not have come to Denver. Thankfully, it’s a hypothetical we don’t have to ponder long if we don’t want to.
8. January 4, 1992 - Houston Oilers vs. Denver Broncos - AFC Divisional
Nothing against this incredible game, but time hasn’t been kind to it. Maybe it’s the limelight it has to share with “The Fumble” and “The Drive” or maybe it’s because it was against a team that no longer exists in city and name. I’m not sure why this game, for whatever reason, isn’t held with the same reverence as other incredible come-from-behind wins in the annals of Broncos history. It was amazing!
7. January 14, 2006 - New England Patriots vs. Denver Broncos - AFC Divisional
Who doesn’t love a playoff game where the Denver Broncos absolutely smash the New England Patriots? I didn’t move this up two spots for that reason. Of all the games that got away from Tom Brady, it was this one that still sticks most with Patriots fans. Just a month ago, our sister-site, Pats Pulpit aired their beef publicly over how they think they were jobbed on Champ Bailey’s insane 99-yard non-scoring interception during that game. They believe that had that play not happened the way it did, the Pats might have won (My response can be found, here). Here the Patriots were in the early part of their unprecedented success and the Broncos posted notice that no matter how good New England is, they won’t beat the Denver Broncos when it counts... and they still haven’t.
6. January 1, 1978 - Oakland Raiders vs. Denver Broncos - AFC Championship
This game’s slipping of four spots isn’t about the game itself, but how the perceived importance of other games have changed since 2012. Beating the Raiders to go to the Super Bowl is special, not just because it’s the Raiders and they haven’t even been to a playoff game since 2002, but because it signaled to the rest of the league the Broncos legitimacy as an NFL franchise.
5. January 17, 1988 - Cleveland Browns vs. Denver Broncos - AFC Championship
This one is still the fifth greatest post season Broncos game of all time.
4. January 11, 1987 - Denver Broncos vs. Cleveland Browns - AFC Championship
“The Drive” falls one spot not because it’s any less important, it’s just that there’s a big victory upcoming for which room needs to be made. Plus, it should be next to “The Fumble” anyway. It just feels right.
3. January 31, 1999 - Denver Broncos vs. Atlanta Falcons - Superbowl XXXIII
I’m sure I had my reasons back in 2012 why I put “The Drive” over a Super Bowl victory, but upon reflection, this needed to be higher. A crushing blowout win over Dan Reeves’ Atlanta Falcons is one thing, but John Elway’s last game as a Bronco is another. It was a game that made the Broncos back-to-back champions and it should never be taken for granted.
2. February 7, 2016 - Carolina Panthers vs. Denver Broncos - Super Bowl 50
Of all the changes on this list from 2012, this is the biggest one. It was the return of Gary Kubiak and Wade Phillips, the final game of Peyton Manning’s career, the Denver defense’s dominance over cocky Cam Newton, the underdog’s triumph over the favorite, and Von Miller’s light’s-out performance that made this a post season game for the ages. It was a win that showed that Elway could win as GM, that Kubiak was the genius we knew him to be, and that the Broncos were again winners without Elway under center.
1. January 25, 1998 - Denver Broncos vs. Green Bay Packers - Superbowl XXXII
Was there any doubt which game would end up at #1? This was the pinnacle. The was the as good as it could ever get, right? Rather than go into all the things that make it great, the helicopter, TD’s run with a migraine, the tit-for-tat play of John Elway and Brett Favre, let’s look at what would have to happen to unseat this games prominent position. There’s only one thing I can think of... The Broncos would need to win against the 49ers, Giants, Redskins, or Dallas and set a new record as the victor for blowing out an opponent in the Super Bowl.
Upon reflection, I don’t think there’s anything that could unseat this game at the top of the list. Frankly, this was Denver’s first and it will never be that good ever again... but I don’t mind efforts to challenge it.
HORSE TRACKS
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Kenny Young “trying to be the next man up” at linebacker in Baltimore – ProFootballTalk
Kenny Young didn't expect to be in position to challenge for a starting role on the Ravens defense this year. Young expected C.J. Mosley to re-sign with the team and said he was "shocked" when the linebacker wound up leaving for the Jets.
Syracuse LB Shyheim Cullen enters supplemental draft – ProFootballTalk
Former Syracuse linebacker Shyheim Cullen announced on social media that he has entered the NFL's supplemental draft. "Excited to be accepted into the 2019 NFL Supplement draft . . . July 10th," Cullen tweeted.
Alex Smith on playing again: That’s the plan – ProFootballTalk
Washington quarterback Alex Smith sat down for his first interview since a severe broken leg ended his 2018 season. Smith spoke to Angie Goff of FOX5 DC while getting a massage at a mall and said that he's steadily been able to do more activities as his recovery from the leg injury continues.
Odell Beckham: I wasn’t going to reach full potential with the Giants – ProFootballTalk
Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has gone silent on social media in order to step up his training for the coming season, but he took a trip to London to help kick off tryouts for the new NFL Academy in the United Kingdom before going dark.
Drew Brees wins $6.1 million in damages over diamond fraud – ProFootballTalk
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