Broncos vs. Steelers: A Short History Lesson
by CH74 on Jan 2, 2012 12:42 PM MST
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PrintThis Sunday, the Denver Broncosface a familiar Playoff foe in the Pittsburgh Steelers. These two teams have a rich Playoff history that can teach us something about our current situation. These teams have met with the AFC Championship on the line twice in recent history. Both of these meetings demonstrate a valuable lesson in Playoff expectations.
The 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers were Superbowl Champions. To get to the Superbowl, the Steelers would have a tough road as a Wildcard and second place team in the North. In the Wild-card match up, they faced a familiar foe in the Cincinnati Bengals on the road. They stunned the Bengals 31-17 and advanced to play the number one seed, Indianapolis Colts. They then beat the Colts in a close contest, 21-18 to advance to the AFC Championship game against our beloved Denver Broncos. The Broncos uncharacteristically turned the ball over four times en route to a 17-34 loss at home. It was hard to imagine at the time, but these teams were headed in opposite directions. The Steelers were headed towards Playoff prominence, and the Broncos were headed towards oblivion.
The 1997 Denver Broncos were also Superbowl Champions. They also entered the Playoffs as a Wildcard in what we now affectionately call the "Revenge Tour". Their first stop on the revenge tour was a home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the team that knocked them out in the first round the year before. The Broncos exorcised their demons from the 1996 season and destroyed the Jags 42-17. The next stop would be Arrowhead Stadium and the AFC West Champion Kansas City Chiefs. The Broncos stunned the Chiefs, 14-10 to advance to the AFC Championship game against a familiar foe, the AFC Central Champion Pittsburgh Steelers. This was another close affair, but the Broncos prevailed 24-21 en route to their first ever Superbowl win. The Broncos stunned a team that physically man-handled them in the regular season to the tune of 24-35. This was an unlikely run, not unlike the Tebow Magic run we seen earlier this season. None of the so called experts gave that Bronco team a chance and they went on to knock off the defending champion Packers.
These two past Playoff appearances are a valuable history lesson for us today. This Broncos team sort of back doored their way into the tournament, but how we got here is not as important as what we do while we are here. The so called experts already have this team counted out and for good reason. How soon they forget the 2010 Seattle Seahawks knocked off the defending Superbowl Champion New Orleans Saints, or a Wild card Packer team that shocked the world. How soon they forget about the 2005 Steelers, and how soon they forget the Revenge Tour of 1997. Anything can happen in the Playoffs. This is a new season for the Broncos. We all need to forget about the 8-8 regular season and focus on how we can win against a beat up Steelers team. It's going to be tough, but that is situation normal. A Superbowl birth is unlikely for this team, but it is not impossible. Just maybe the Mile High/Tebow Magic will make another appearance during the Playoffs. Stranger things have happened, just look at how we ended up here?
This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR
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^^^Hear This^^^
I’m with you all the way to the SB! It is the only way that this season should play out! It must be a SB Win! Then this season will always remain the most remarkable thing that has, and ever will happen, in NFL history!
"It ain't over till the Te-man says it is!"
Unlikely? Yes! Impossible? No
I know people are going to say, “But CH, those teams had far better records than our current Broncos”! That is definitely true, but this team is already doing things that everyone said we couldn’t. We need to get back to doing what won us those games during the streak. We’re missing Dawk and Kup, and Von is no where near 100% and that presents a challenge. Next Man Up has never been more important to this team!
"You’re only great if you win something. I mean, Alexander wasn’t Alexander the Mediocre or Alexander the Average. He was Alexander the Great, and there’s a reason for it."-Shannon Sharpe
True that!
From coaching on down, its time to “Man Up!!”
"It ain't over till the Te-man says it is!"
Any given Sudday.. Good stuff man
I think the key for us is that we need to call on Fox and Co to think outside the box once again. They did it after the Lions game, they can do it again. I think that when you have a strong defense, strong special teams and a lovely run-game… gimmickie crap could probably work in the short term. The Steelers wouldn’t know what hit ‘em. We’d back-door ’em like we did our entry to the playoffs lol
I really think you could bring both Quinn and Tebow into the backfield and open your ability to make plays down the field. There would be so much confusion for a team that was only expecting Tebow and has never seen Brady play (well, not much), let alone the times when they’re back there together. Gimmickie crap works in the short term, and I’m starting to convince myself that maybe Fox and Co could be thinking the same thing. Something has to change, and the staff has shown the ability to adapt on the fly already this season.
More passes? You want McCoy to call more passes? I’d tell ‘em not to throw throw the ball unless Giselle Bundchen streaks onto the field and distracts opposing corners.
I think we may be onto something...
Brady isn’t under contract, we’re not suppose to be here, and we have nothing to lose exept for maybe a little pride. We’re left right now wondering what could have been, had Von and Dawk not been injured. Kup will be missed too. Why not put all our eggs in one little basket and do something else the league hasn’t seen?
"You’re only great if you win something. I mean, Alexander wasn’t Alexander the Mediocre or Alexander the Average. He was Alexander the Great, and there’s a reason for it."-Shannon Sharpe
@RA
We’d back-door ’em like we did our entry to the playoffs lol
That line is hilarious, especially the fact is if we play our run heavy game like we did in our earlier successes, it plays against a Pittsburgh weakness. So, just go back to the heavy run option but with both Brady and Tim in the back field, Hmmmmm, Could be confusing.
"It ain't over till the Te-man says it is!"
Not to mention
Harrison wouldn’t know who to cheap-shot!
"You’re only great if you win something. I mean, Alexander wasn’t Alexander the Mediocre or Alexander the Average. He was Alexander the Great, and there’s a reason for it."-Shannon Sharpe
Sorry about that, Lolly. I only dredge up the past so as not to repeat the mistakes that were made!
Lets hope the game against the Steelers goes a little more like that 97 game than the 05 game! Broncos fans need some new memories after what we have been through in the 21st century. Hopefully we come away Sunday with a new fond Bronco memory!
"You’re only great if you win something. I mean, Alexander wasn’t Alexander the Mediocre or Alexander the Average. He was Alexander the Great, and there’s a reason for it."-Shannon Sharpe
Too Long
I am glad we’re back. We’re not suppose to be here, so we might as well crash this party hard!
"You’re only great if you win something. I mean, Alexander wasn’t Alexander the Mediocre or Alexander the Average. He was Alexander the Great, and there’s a reason for it."-Shannon Sharpe
It's a grudge match!
It is better to keep silent, and appear to be wise, then to ramble on aimlessly and remove all doubt! The Wisest Man, Solomon.
Time to settle the score!
Thanks for reading, metalman. I hope we can get some pay back!
"You’re only great if you win something. I mean, Alexander wasn’t Alexander the Mediocre or Alexander the Average. He was Alexander the Great, and there’s a reason for it."-Shannon Sharpe
Thanks bfree
No matter the circimstances, its good to be talking about Broncos Football in January for once!
"You’re only great if you win something. I mean, Alexander wasn’t Alexander the Mediocre or Alexander the Average. He was Alexander the Great, and there’s a reason for it."-Shannon Sharpe
Nice work CH
Nice bit of info to help us get our minds right going into the weekend…
Perseverance, secret of all triumph.
by Jeremy Bolander on Jan 3, 2012 12:20 AM MST reply actions
Thanks Jeremy
Your comment reminds me of " Cool Hand Luke"! Hopefully we can all get our minds right and our team can steal one to build on their success in the regular season. Seeing Harris back on the active roster was a pleasant suprise, maybe those suprises will keep coming!
"You’re only great if you win something. I mean, Alexander wasn’t Alexander the Mediocre or Alexander the Average. He was Alexander the Great, and there’s a reason for it."-Shannon Sharpe
I know the division win was bittersweet for a lot of fans
and I don’t hold that against them, but one of the many silver linings we will enjoy is that we don’t need to pound the kool-aid in order to preach stability for the team in the coming offseason. I think we have a great mix of youngsters, with some really intriguing skillsets and some great personalities, from Tebow to Von. They keep threatening to win playoff games, and they will earn the time they need to develop and grow together.
Perhaps you don’t dare imagine it, but what if a solid core of this team right now is still together in 4 or 5 years? It could speak volumes about the success enjoyed over those 5 years, but also about what is to come after….
Perseverance, secret of all triumph.
by Jeremy Bolander on Jan 3, 2012 1:51 AM MST up reply actions 1 recs
Bittersweet indeed
This team is still learning how to win and play together. It’s great that the Broncos are finally in a position to build on something. We’re probably not going to see the type of knee jerk reactions that we had with Shanny and McD. I love the work ethic I see out of Tebow and Von. I love the emotion of Rahim. I love that we have the second youngest offensive line in the league and they take pride in blazing a trail in the run game. There is a lot more sweet there than bitter. No matter what happens Sunday, they can’t take that away!
"You’re only great if you win something. I mean, Alexander wasn’t Alexander the Mediocre or Alexander the Average. He was Alexander the Great, and there’s a reason for it."-Shannon Sharpe
Awesome, glad you're in!
"You’re only great if you win something. I mean, Alexander wasn’t Alexander the Mediocre or Alexander the Average. He was Alexander the Great, and there’s a reason for it."-Shannon Sharpe
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