Broncos: The AFC championship journey

Friday, January 20, 2006

Week 1
Sept. 11 at Miami, 34-10 loss

Synopsis: Broncos have trouble inside the red zone, getting only one touchdown and one field goal on four trips inside the Dolphins' 20.

Key stat: Broncos go 1 for 12 on third downs.

Week 2
Sept. 18 vs. San Diego, 20-17 win

Synopsis: Trailing 14-3 at halftime, the defense tightens the clamps, Champ Bailey returns an interception 25 yards for a touchdown to start the rally and Jason Elam finishes it with a 41-yard field goal.

Key stat: Chargers have just 41 yards in the second half.

Week 3
Sept. 26 vs. Kansas City, 30-10 win

Synopsis: The Invesco Field magic returns for the Monday night game as the Broncos roll to a 17-0 lead with 2 minutes to play in the first quarter.

Key stat: The Chiefs are flagged 13 times for 118 yards in penalties.

Week 4
Oct. 2 at Jacksonville, 20-7 win

Synopsis: Jaguars quarterback Bryan Leftwich tries to attack the secondary, but to no avail. Rookie Domonique Foxworth has his coming out party with an interception, a fumble recovery and six tackles.

Key stat: Jaguars run 11 times for a franchise-low 12 yards.

Week 5
Oct. 9 vs. Washington, 21-19 win

Synopsis: Tatum Bell comes off the bench to ring up 127 yards rushing, including touchdown runs of 34 and 55 yards. They still need Ian Gold to knock down a two-point conversion pass to preserve the win.

Key stat: Washington had more yards -- 447 to the Broncos' 257 -- but not more points.

Week 6
Oct. 16 vs. New England, 28-20 win

Synopsis: The Broncos lead, 28-3, before the Patriots rally. Denver's offense, however, is able to burn much of the last eight minutes.

Key stat: Broncos have 247 yards of offense ... in the second quarter.

Week 7
Oct. 23 t N.Y. Giants, 24-23 loss

Synopsis: Holding a 23-10 lead with less than 10 minutes to play, Denver's defense is picked apart by Eli Manning, who has 114 yards passing in the fourth quarter including the winning TD pass.

Key stat: Broncos streak of no turnovers ends after 324 minutes, 21 seconds.

Week 8
Oct. 30 vs. Philadelphia, 49-21 win

Synopsis: Foxworth intercepts a Donovan McNabb pass in the end zone (a score would have tied the game), and Todd Devoe makes a 44-yard catch and run for a touchdown and a 35-21 lead on the ensuing drive.

Key stat: It's the first time in history a team has two 100-yard rushers (Mike Anderson 124 and Bell 107) and a 300-yard passer (Jake Plummer 309) in the same game.

Week 10
Nov. 13 at Oakland, 31-17 win

Synopsis: The Broncos' defense smothers quarterback Kerry Collins, who has minus-3 yards passing in the second quarter. Denver finishes with three interceptions and four sacks.

Key stat: The Broncos have a combined 227 yards in returns.

Week 11
Nov. 20 vs. N.Y. Jets, 27-0 win

Synopsis: The Broncos overwhelm the hapless Jets, who are shut out for the first time in nearly 10 years.

Key stat: Jets have just 21 yards rushing.

Week 12
Nov. 24 at Dallas, 24-21 win (OT)

Synopsis: Backup running back Ron Dayne leads the charge with a 55-yard run on the second play of OT to set up Jason Elam's winning 24-yard field goal.

Key stat: Plummer's streak of passes without an INT ends at 229.

Week 13
Dec. 4 at Kansas City, 31-27 loss

Synopsis: The defense gives up 21 points on communication errors. The offensive killer was Plummer's interception in the end zone with the Broncos at the Chiefs' 4.

Key stat: The Chiefs' Larry Johnson gets 140 yards rushing.

Week 14
Dec. 11 vs. Baltimore.....12-10 win

Synopsis: With only 96 yards rushing, the Broncos' defense picks up the slack and forces four turnovers and stop two series at their 5.

Key stat: Bailey snags his eighth interception of the season.

Week 15
Dec. 17 at Buffalo, 28-17 win

Synopsis: On a chilly night, the Broncos secure a playoff spot. Tied 7-7 at halftime, Anderson breaks out of his funk for a couple of second-half touchdowns.

Key stat: Rod Smith pulls in 11 passes for 137 yards.

Week 16
Dec. 24 vs. Oakland, 22-3 win

Synopsis: This time, the Broncos lock in a trio feats: AFC West title, No. 2 seed in the playoffs and an 8-0 record at home. Plummer throws for 209 yards by halftime.

Key stat: Raiders' Collins completes only one pass in the first quarter for 4 yards.

Week 17
Dec. 31 at San Diego, 23-7 win

Synopsis: John Lynch alone beats the Chargers, accounting for nine points by forcing two fumbles.

Key stat: The offenses combined for 477 yards.

Week 19
Jan. 14 vs. New England, 27-13 win

Synopsis: Bailey's 100-yard interception return gets the Broncos into their eighth AFC title game. The play swings from a potential 13-10 Patriots lead to a 17-6 Broncos advantage.

Key stat: Denver scores 17 points off the Patriots' four turnovers.

Denver: Title town?

Friday, January 20, 2006

When the Broncos reach an AFC championship game, history says they don't often lose. Seven times they've gotten this far; six times they have won. No AFC team has been to more Super Bowls.

Jan. 1, 1978
Denver
Broncos 20, Raiders 17
Recap: Quarterback Craig Morton connects with wide receiver Haven Moses for two touchdowns, including a 74-yarder in the first quarter that gives Denver the lead for good. The Orange Crush defense of Lyle Alzado, Randy Gradishar, Tom Jackson, et. al., does the rest.

Jan. 11, 1987
Cleveland
Broncos 23, Browns 20
Recap: John Elway rises to legend status in a game quickly defined as The Drive. Trailing, 20-13, with less than 6 minutes to play and backed up on his 2-yard line, Elway marches the Broncos 98 yards, finally connecting with Mark Jackson from 5 yards out to tie the score. Rich Karlis eventually wins the game with a 33-yard field goal 5:48 into overtime, and a Denver mini-dynasty is born.

Jan. 17, 1988
Denver
Broncos 38, Browns 33
Recap: If the previous season is remembered for The Drive, this game is equally remembered for The Fumble. Down, 21-3, at halftime, the Browns charge back behind quarterback Bernie Kosar (356 yards, 3 touchdowns). But after moving to the Denver 8 with less than 2 minutes to play and seemingly headed for a tying touchdown, running back Earnest Byner fumbles near the goal line, and the Broncos recover.

Jan. 14, 1990
Denver
Broncos 37, Browns 21
Recap: Elway throws for 385 yards and three touchdowns as Denver rolls up nearly 500 yards to win their third AFC title in four years.

Jan. 12, 1992
Buffalo
Bills 10, Broncos 7
Recap: Early opportunities, including a first-and-10 on the Buffalo 29, produce no points. The failures would haunt them when Buffalo linebacker Carlton Bailey intercepts an Elway pass in the third quarter and returns it 11 yards for the game's only touchdown.

Jan. 11, 1998
Three Rivers
Broncos 24, Steelers 21
Recap: Denver intercepts three Kordell Stewart passes, Terrell Davis runs for 139 yards and Elway throws two touchdown passes.

Jan. 17, 1999
Denver
Broncos 23, Jets 10
Recap: A 20-point third quarter erases a 3-0 Jets halftime lead. Terrell Davis rushes for 167 yards.