Jacksonville Jaguars @ Denver Broncos; Through The Years

by Zappa on Oct 8, 2008 10:32 PM MDT in MHR Broncos History Lesson Comment 24 comments

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This week was easy for me. Sure, there were plenty of great games between these two teams, but none sticks out to me as much as the 1997 Revenge tour the Broncos took all the way to the Super Bowl. Now I by no means picked this game because it was the first playoff victory that led our team to its first Super Bowl titles. No way, no how. I chose this game because of one reason...Hatred.

Anyone out there born before 1990-91 and has been a Bronco fan since remembers the 1996 Season. The Denver Broncos that year were the class of the league at 13-3 with homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. Then, in comes this weird looking uniform of some expansion team no one had heard of two years before. The 9-7 Jacksonville Jaguars were having a a dream season and came into Denver with a swagger and a quiet confidence that no one realized they had until after the 30-27 upset of the Broncos.

In case any of you have forgotten, there is the hatred I was referring to. Embodied in the form of a mobile quarterback named Mark Brunell. The Broncos got busted in the mouth that day.

So as fate would have it, the Broncos and Jaguars would meet again in the playoffs the following year. The Jaguars were a much better football team at 11-5 and the Broncos struggled towards the end of the season falling a game shy of the Division Title. Nearly every player on the squad in 1997, was on the squad in 1996 when the Jaguars came into Mile High Stadium and shocked all of Colorado and indeed the entire nation, so there was a swagger and a quiet confidence again in 1997. Except this time is was coming from the Denver Broncos and they were focused completely on Mark "freakin" Brunell and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Broncos dominated the line of scrimmage from the beginning. Long drives in the first half led to two Terrell Davis touchdowns and a long bomb to Rod Smith that helped the Broncos jump out to a 21-0 lead. Then things got a little strange. Though the Broncos continued to dominate the time of possession, turnovers and costly mental errors helped the Jaguars cut the lead to 21-17 after a whacky blocked punt returned for a touchdown.

The veteran Bronco team, though, would not give in and would ultimately control the clock for over FORTY minutes and gain over THREE HUNDRED yard rushing and five rushing touchdowns. This game was quite possibly the most dominating performance by any offensive line in Broncos history. We had two 100 yard rushers that day as TD had 184 yards rushing and Derek Loville brought another 103 yards. It's amazing that the Jaguars even got the 17 points they ended with as they were out classed in every facet of the game.

I won't even go into previous match ups as I feel strongly enough about this game that I don't feel the need to water it down with any other. I remember this game being one of the most dominating performances I had ever seen from a Bronco team. I felt then that this team was going to win a Super Bowl. And I felt that not just with the homer fan in me, but with real conviction and belief. Though I must admit, this victory did little to sway my hatred of one Mark Brunell and the Jacksonville Jaguars!

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You couldn't have picked a better one.

When we lost to the Jags in 1996, not only was I pissed we lost but I was also just absolutly shocked that we lost to them. I mean come on, look at the team we had. What goes around comes around and when the Broncos got another shot the following year revenge was the only thing I could think about. I wanted a blowout in the worst way and boy did we get one.

The stat that sticks out most in my mind was the fact that TD and Lovelle both went over 100 yards rushing with TD almost getting 200. I know our running game and o-line were great however that was something else.

"It doesn't dissipate" ~ Mike Shanahan

Cutler's 4th qtr/OT game winning drives: 4

by weazel on Oct 8, 2008 11:53 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't think we've ever come close to matching that kind of dominating performance before or since.

If God is not a Bronco fan, then WHY are sunsets Blue and Orange? - Jon Tollerud 5/22/08

by Zappa on Oct 9, 2008 7:32 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I miss that OL

I loved the stories of TD buying them steaks and watches and stuff. Of all Bronco legacies (QBs, LBs, RBs, etc.), I really hope the current generation of O-linemen can reestablish a tradition of dominance.

by CoastalBronco on Oct 9, 2008 9:59 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

they seem to be off to a good start...

I’m hoping we go with a young center next season (maybe KLich if he’s up to it).

GO BRONCOS!!!

by UnarmingMermaid on Oct 9, 2008 2:12 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Revenge is a really big motivator.

"It doesn't dissipate" ~ Mike Shanahan

Cutler's 4th qtr/OT game winning drives: 4

by weazel on Oct 9, 2008 12:26 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

One Game

That I will always remember is the following year Jacksonville came to t own again and we beat them handily but the best part was Jason Elam nailed a 63 yard field goal just before halftime.

by RockyMountainThunder on Oct 9, 2008 7:06 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

That was a good one too.

If God is not a Bronco fan, then WHY are sunsets Blue and Orange? - Jon Tollerud 5/22/08

by Zappa on Oct 9, 2008 7:30 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

96 Broncs-Jags

I remember that 96 playoff game for two things:
1. It was Brunell’s, McCardell’s, and Jimmy Smith’s coming-out party.
2. Three costly penalties: One was the Tory James INT in the second quarter when he pressed Willie Jackson, went for the ball, and they called him for interference. Very questionable call. The second penalty was the one on Hebron’s kickoff return to start the second half. He got to Jaguar territory around the 40, but they called it back. That could have gotten Denver rolling again. The third penalty was the one on Michael Dean Perry for too many men on the field on a punt near the end of the third quarter when Denver was down 20-12. Those were too much to overcome. Take one of those penalties away, and that upset probably would not have happened.
What is interesting from that is that, even though they shouldn’t have beaten us, why couldn’t the Jags beat New England the next week? The last four years of the 90’s could have been 2 Denver SB wins sandwiched between 2 Jag SB trips. They also lost the 99 AFC Championship to Tennessee. I don’t know how they lost that one. I was rooting for Jacksonville that year because I didn’t want Bud Adams to go to the SB after he moved that team. The Oilers were choking in the playoffs in the early 90’s with the best talent in the NFL, and they remodeled the Astrodome a few years earlier for him, and the prick still moved them. He is on my list of least favorite owners(along with our buddy in Oakland and Jerry Jones). Those fans were right in not showing up for the “Save the Oilers” rally in 95.

by PABroncofan on Oct 9, 2008 8:15 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

To hell with bud adams

He got league officials to declare the field “unusable” even though a collge game had been played there earlier in the week. And isn’t the team responsible for field maintenance? Sure the taxpayers end up paying, but isn’t there SOMEONE that was supposed to be responsible for making sure the field is okay? Bud Adams is the epitome of a TOOL. If the field was nearly as bad as what he was showing NO ONE should have been playing on it for years in the past. Sorry to go off, but Bud Adams make Jerry Jones look like a model owner.

by Sneaky Sean on Oct 9, 2008 8:32 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

That day in 1997 was awful for me......

I was home from college during the Christmas break. My plan was to rest up and get ready for the playoff game. Instead of that, my mother asked me to help out my uncle, who was having marital problems at the time. The kicker was I had to drive all the way to Oberlin, KS near the Nebraska border while my hometown was closer to the Oklahoma border. She insisted that I tape the game which pissed me off even more!

I was in a very angry mood the whole trip up and back. I got home to see that TD pass that Brunell made. After the game, I took all of my Broncos gear (hats, jerseys, mugs…etc) and threw them into a basket. NONE of that stuff saw the light of day until August! Of course my little brother had to rub it in when he got home. I’m suprised I didn’t punch him.

The revenge tour was sweet for me. Denver blasted the Jags, then went to KC (which was who I wanted to see the next game after that fluke kick they made earlier in the year)….best win ever in Arrowhead, took out the Steelers. People were asking me if I thought Denver would win the Super Bowl and I told them that I hope they do, but I got my satisfaction for the year. Winning the Bowl was icing on the cake.

fader nation is a conquered nation

"Jerry Jones is Al Davis with a smile!"

The creator of the following names: conquered fader nation, Phyllis and his merry men

by mdierk on Oct 9, 2008 8:58 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I cried in 1996. I printed out banners on my Dad's computer(I was 17 at the time) that said the following:

I %$&^ing hate Mark Brunell!

and

F@%$ the Jacksonvile Jaguars

I posted them up in my room and cursed and swore all day long. My Dad came home and made me take them down. He is not the type to approve of such harsh language, but I’ve always been a bit more crude than he.

If God is not a Bronco fan, then WHY are sunsets Blue and Orange? - Jon Tollerud 5/22/08

by Zappa on Oct 9, 2008 9:11 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

may your language be more tempered......

you have kids to raise!

fader nation is a conquered nation

"Jerry Jones is Al Davis with a smile!"

The creator of the following names: conquered fader nation, Phyllis and his merry men

by mdierk on Oct 9, 2008 10:24 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Back then I didn't....screw the Jaguars! ;-)

If God is not a Bronco fan, then WHY are sunsets Blue and Orange? - Jon Tollerud 5/22/08

by Zappa on Oct 9, 2008 10:24 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

nice

by Sneaky Sean on Oct 9, 2008 1:13 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

I could never root for the Jags....ever.

Well, maybe. If they played the Chargers or Raiders or something crazy like that where the outcome was important to the Broncos.

If God is not a Bronco fan, then WHY are sunsets Blue and Orange? - Jon Tollerud 5/22/08

by Zappa on Oct 9, 2008 9:04 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

put it on the man

i remember 96 every time i remember the superbowls as that game concluded in 96 my dad who was raised catholic denounced god for not letting Mr. Elway win a superbowl for all he had givin he was normally a soft spoken man did blow up in a passioned bold statement which played into 97 for me in thinking that maybe he was listening

by thelegsonfth on Oct 9, 2008 9:39 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

I think your old man may not have been the only Bronco fan to denounce God almighty that day. lol

Although, we all came back under the grace of God a little over a year after denouncing Him. Welcome to MHR!!!

If God is not a Bronco fan, then WHY are sunsets Blue and Orange? - Jon Tollerud 5/22/08

by Zappa on Oct 9, 2008 10:28 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great one Zappa

Well in Jan 1997 I was in the South Pacific in what we called a CrackPac (drug ops off of Panama) I was talking so much crap on the ship that entire year, Earlier in the season we Stopped in Aruba I saw Denver beat the faders 24-19 to 13-2. But after than fat tub of lard MD perry couldnt roll off the field fast enuff I knew the Broncos were done. The next morning when I got up a pissant cook who worked nights posted flyers all over our berthing area stating how Jax upset Denver. he was a Pitt fan. (funny I did not hear a peep out of him in Jan 1998 when denver beat those punks for the AFC title). But 1997 When Denver got revenge I was thrilled. Not to mention Denver’s OL was the first Unit of any kind to recieve AFC offensive player(s) of the week. Dont forget in the revenge tour first game there were gusty winds up to 40 mph and that didnt phase ol #7. One Play I remember after it was 21-17 JAx got down to the Denver 20 and JAx was all confused coming to the line, and the center snapped the ball before the clock ran out and Pryce recovered and Denver went down and scored to make it 28-17, for all intents and purpose it was over. That ranks top 5 playoff games for me. Heck 3 of the 4 top Bronco playoff games IMO happened on the revenge tour 97

somethings wrong, Trying to conquer these fears i thought were gone. And it's been so long, I'm dying to live in a world i don't belong

by broncfanstuckinsd on Oct 9, 2008 11:57 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs

3 of the top 5 for me.

I have got to include The Drive I and II. :) AFC Championships in 1977 too…damn, we have a storied history don’t we?

If God is not a Bronco fan, then WHY are sunsets Blue and Orange? - Jon Tollerud 5/22/08

by Zappa on Oct 9, 2008 12:02 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Storied history

Only the best franchises do.

"It doesn't dissipate" ~ Mike Shanahan

Cutler's 4th qtr/OT game winning drives: 4

by weazel on Oct 9, 2008 12:25 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks A LOT Zappa!!!

I’d successfully repressed this game untill you had to go and bring it up! Oh well…back to the shrink!!!

GO BRONCOS!!!

by UnarmingMermaid on Oct 9, 2008 2:15 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

The best medicine is to watch highlights of the 97 game....and then watch Super Bowl 32 again.

If God is not a Bronco fan, then WHY are sunsets Blue and Orange? - Jon Tollerud 5/22/08

by Zappa on Oct 9, 2008 2:28 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

dont forget

to watch the 98 game also. Elam kicks one from 63 and TD goes over 1000 in 7 games

somethings wrong, Trying to conquer these fears i thought were gone. And it's been so long, I'm dying to live in a world i don't belong

by broncfanstuckinsd on Oct 9, 2008 2:30 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs

also don't forget

derrick loville’s contribution in that game, and our sb run. he came in for the injured td, and the score was 21-17, with the jags at the denver 20, as you pointed out earlier. this game was slipping away until we pounded it down the field with loville, and ran away with it in the 4th quarter. nice contribution from a short-term bronco, and key to the run

hear me, perpetrators of bread crime, your punishment is at hand.
taste my blintzkrieg!

by davecheffy on Oct 9, 2008 9:15 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs