Top Ten Super Bowls of All Time – Part V
By Editorial Staff
#1
Denver Finally Wins One for John
40 – 12. That was about the average score for the Denver Broncos in their previous four trips to the Super Bowl. John Elway, Denver’s quarterback, had been at the helm for three of those disasters. For years Elway had performed magic to steal games for the Broncos, only to see his team falter in the biggest game of the year. In the previous season, the Broncos appeared to have one of their best teams, only to fall in one of the biggest upsets in playoff history, losing to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Denver. Green Bay was the defending Super Bowl champions, and boasted the three-time league MVP Brett Favre at quarterback and the legendary “Minister of Defense” Reggie White on the defensive side of the ball. The Packers had led the league in both offense and defense the previous season, and 1997 was another banner year as they returned to the Super Bowl to cement their case as one of the greatest teams in NFL history. The AFC had not won the Super Bowl in 13 tries, going back to the 1983 Los Angeles Raiders, and with the defending champs playing a Denver team that had been blown out in each of their previous trips to the title game, everything seemed to point toward a 14th consecutive win for the NFC. The game started as expected, as Favre led the heavily favored Packers right down the field for a quick 7-0 lead. Any ideas of blowout were dismissed immediately however, as the Broncos took the ball down the field to tie the game, displaying a powerful running attack that featured half-back Terrell Davis. The game moved along like a heavyweight boxing match, with both teams landing haymakers against each other. Several times during the game it appeared that one team had momentum, only to see the other snatch it back and stay in the game. In the third quarter, Elway authored the enduring image of the game as, while running for a first down, he was hit by three Packer defenders near the goal line. The hit sent the old veteran spinning in the air, and moments later game MVP Terrell Davis slammed over the goal line for the go-ahead touchdown. As all true champions do, Favre and the Packers responded, tying the game early in the fourth quarter. With time running out Denver began one final drive, moving the ball mostly on the ground to the Packer one yard line. In a tactical decision, Green Bay allowed the Broncos to score, hoping to have enough time left on the clock for their own offense to go back down the field to tie the game. Favre took over and the Packers moved down field quickly. Green Bay managed to make it into Denver territory, but on fourth down near the Denver 35 yard line, Favre’s last pass was batted down by Denver linebacker John Mobley and the Broncos were finally Super Bowl champions.
Denver Broncos 31 – Green Bay Packers 24