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John Elway's helicopter lands him at the top of the mountain
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00:00You, you.
00:30You, you.
01:28You, you.
01:30The Broncos won 13 games.
01:33They were the top seed in the American football conference, but they lost their playoff opener
01:39to the Jacksonville Jaguars, a team in only its second year of existence.
01:45Even though I'd lost three Super Bowls before that, that Jacksonville game was the biggest
01:49loss of my life.
01:50I was coming to near the end of my career, and we really had a good football team, thought
01:55that that was going to be our year to really compete and get back to the Super Bowl.
01:58We got the home field advantage wrapped up, and then Jacksonville comes in and beats us
02:02as a wild card team.
02:03And so that was probably the most devastating loss that I'd ever been through, including
02:07the Super Bowls, just because of where I was in my career in the 14th year.
02:12So the season had had some great high hopes, and a Bronco team that, for the most part of
02:17the year, led the NFL in record, will come to a close here on this divisional playoff game.
02:29In an effort to put the Jacksonville loss behind him, head coach Mike Shanahan spent the off-season
02:36looking to upgrade his already talented roster through free agency.
02:41One of the things I learned very early in my career is that you better take advantage
02:45of every opportunity you get, because you never know who's watching.
02:49Turned out that Denver Broncos have been watching me.
02:52What Mike Shanahan saw in Carolina Panther, Howard Griffith, was a punishing fullback who
02:58could both block and be a receiving threat.
03:04In the Broncos, Griffith saw a talented team with a consummate leader.
03:1037-year-old quarterback John Elway was so driven to win a Super Bowl, that barely a month
03:16after the Jacksonville loss, he was back working out.
03:21Griffith's free agent tour of the NFL began and ended in Denver.
03:26After meeting with Shanahan that morning, I said, well, coach, I've got to go to Detroit.
03:31There were a lot of appealing things there.
03:33Obviously, Barry Sanders was still there playing.
03:35And he looks me in my eye, calmly, and says, you're not going to make that flight.
03:41I said, well, why not?
03:43You're not leaving here.
03:44We got your agent on the phone in the other room.
03:47You're going to be a Denver Bronco.
03:48We're going to make this happen.
03:50I'm like, oh, good.
03:52Just what I want.
03:53I'm finally a free agent.
03:54Get a chance to shop my wares.
03:56And the first guy won't even let me out the building.
04:01When I sat back and looked at the opportunity, I felt...
04:03I would really rather go to the Broncos than the Lions in 1997.
04:10Coming from Carolina, that Denver was the best team that should have won the high stadium.
04:14Pressure on.
04:16Don't let up.
04:17Pressure.
04:17Pressure.
04:19The Broncos' inability to pressure Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunel had cost them in the playoffs.
04:27To upgrade the pass rush, Denver signed a familiar Western Division rival, free agent Neil Smith.
04:34When I was with Kansas City, Denver was one of those cities that we just couldn't get it done.
04:41It didn't matter if we was up by 14 with two minutes left.
04:44That name again, John Elway, always found a way to come back and beat us.
04:48Elway's got the ball.
04:50To the end zone.
04:51It's Johnson Control!
04:54A lot of the nine years that I played there, I've only won that one.
04:58So it goes to show you how tough it was.
05:00During those nine years in Kansas City, Smith had 86 and a half sacks.
05:05It was just as tough on the Broncos.
05:13Ironically, it was John Elway, the man Smith had tormented for so many seasons, who was largely responsible for making
05:20sure Smith became a Bronco.
05:24John actually gave up money to make cap room just to get me there.
05:29At that point in time in my career, it was about, it wasn't about the money.
05:32It was about, I was running out of time and I wanted to win a championship.
05:35And having played against Neil when he was in Kansas City for so many years and knew what a thorn
05:40he was in my side in Kansas City.
05:42He could do nothing but help us in Denver.
05:44And so I thought that was a great move by Mike and I was glad to be able to help
05:48get him there.
05:50Fullback Howard Griffith, number 29, was also a welcome addition.
05:55Who's that?
05:55Griffith?
05:56Yeah.
05:57Yeah, got a prototype fullback body.
06:00During the grueling two-a-day practices of summer camp, the prototypical fullback quickly learned the Bronco system.
06:08Red, 28.
06:09Just as quickly, Griffith learned who was excused from those two-a-day practices.
06:16John, come practice with us in the morning and then he's gone.
06:20He's got the afternoon off.
06:22And that was one of the things, he didn't want to burn John out.
06:26That was something I really owed Mike.
06:28By him allowing me to miss the morning practice and I felt fresher in the afternoon.
06:32And so for my body, it was a lot better, especially at my age and the number of hits I'd
06:36taken throughout my career.
06:37It allowed me to stay fresh and stay sharp during training camp and not wear myself out before we got
06:42into the long season.
06:43Nobody looked at it like, uh, you know, why can't we get that?
06:48You knew why he got it.
06:50It's John Elway.
06:53Elway, as every Bronco before him, had always worn an orange jersey.
06:57But in a move that stirred passionate reactions and hoped to alter playoff fortunes, Denver changed colors.
07:10Diehard Bronco fans will always love the old uniforms and they were hideous looking.
07:17But it's kind of when you grow up with something that grows on, you get attached to it.
07:22They did not want to let go of it.
07:24I didn't like them.
07:25Of course, I had to be the model.
07:27I was the model when they first came on and Mr. Bullen asked me to do that.
07:30So I did that.
07:31But I did not like them just because they weren't orange.
07:34Do a little period of that for us.
07:35Here, here.
07:38Okay, enough of that.
07:39I had enough problems getting them here, you guys.
07:42After seeing those light powder blue helmets, I really didn't know how I was going to fit with a big
07:46D on my helmet.
07:47I thought they was one of the ugliest uniforms ever.
07:49Yeah, baby, trying to walk the house.
07:51All right, baby.
07:51Once I seen those new uniforms, I almost chose to go to Denver because I loved them.
07:56I thought they was the perfect uniform for the perfect situation.
08:00It's the beginning, baby, for a good year.
08:02One, two, three, four.
08:04Let's go, baby.
08:08Hey, out of my way, kids.
08:11Neil Smith played his first game as a Denver Bronco against his former team, the Kansas City Chiefs, and former
08:18coach, Marty Schottenheimer.
08:21What a great way to start it off.
08:23And this game means something special to me.
08:25Every time I ever played him, it was something special that, you know, I wanted to win.
08:28All right, buddy.
08:29Come on, man.
08:30All right, baby.
08:30Welcome to the good side.
08:31You know that's right.
08:33And I went to John.
08:34I was like, hey.
08:35Whatever it takes for you to do, I want you to do exactly the same thing you've done to me
08:39for nine years.
08:40The same you did me for nine years.
08:43All right.
08:44If you have to.
08:46It was a big game, obviously, for Neil Smith.
08:48It really felt like Neil was washed up and didn't have anything left in the tank.
08:52There were a lot of situations where Neil Smith was being blocked by two and three guys, trying to slow
08:57him down.
09:00Hey, Neil.
09:00What can you do?
09:02That's right.
09:02Keep two in there.
09:03Keep two in there.
09:03For a defensive lineman, that's as good as a sack.
09:08What's up, home?
09:09One, two, three.
09:10It'll take three of them to block me, baby.
09:12That's all right, though.
09:14It'll take three of y'all.
09:15If I'd have did less talking in that game, I probably would have been fresher.
09:18But I got caught up so much in the hype.
09:20That's it, Marty.
09:21That's three of them.
09:22Yelling over to the sideline to Marty like he was going to hear me.
09:25I think I'd use a lot of unnecessary wind at play.
09:29Come on, Marty.
09:30Come on.
09:33Smith found indication in Denver's 19-3 win.
09:39He's got his fair share of tackles.
09:42And if they're taking two or three guys to block him, that's a compliment.
09:47Huge compliment.
09:49If he wasn't any good, it would just take one, right?
09:54But this was only the beginning of what promised to be an exceptional season.
10:00In nine of their 16 regular season games, the Broncos scored 30 or more points.
10:06And on a Monday night at Mile High Stadium, Denver routed the defending AFC champion Patriots.
10:15With each win, the Broncos' confidence swelled.
10:19You a little scared?
10:20You think?
10:20Yeah, you look a little scared.
10:21I'm scared of what we're going to do to them other than...
10:23Come on, come on.
10:25Get some pressure on them.
10:27Come on.
10:28Denver was applying pressure on both sides of the ball.
10:31Yeah!
10:33And despite their 6-0 start, the Broncos didn't put any undue pressure on themselves.
10:40We was having fun.
10:41We was putting together wins.
10:43And we never ever felt that we was going to go undefeated.
10:45But we knew we had something special.
10:46Denver had a special player in number 30, Terrell Davis.
10:52In 1997, Davis made a name for himself with over 2,000 yards from scrimmage.
10:58And a name for his touchdown celebration, the Mile High Salute.
11:04Game ball for TD and the offensive line.
11:08We said, we're going to be the No Limit Soldiers because we're asked to do it all.
11:12So we're going to have to be soldiers out here.
11:15Don't give me soldiers!
11:16That was the first game that was actually debuted.
11:20And we really tried to get the No Limit Soldiers to stick, but it wouldn't.
11:25The Mile High Salute took it over.
11:28You know what, everybody's got to learn to salute.
11:29Go ahead, TD.
11:30Let's see that salute one more time.
11:31So the fans really got behind the Mile High Salute, and it really turned into something that really spread throughout
11:38the country.
11:41The undefeated Broncos lost their first game of the Saints' long-time rival, Oakland.
11:50The next week, John Elway and his teammates were scheduled to play the Bills in Buffalo.
11:55But before departing, they would face an even tougher opponent, Mother Nature.
12:03It started snowing early that morning, later that afternoon, and it snowed all night.
12:09It's probably 3.30, 4 o'clock in the morning.
12:13So my wife turns on the TV.
12:15Now we start to watch the news.
12:17We're not really sure when the Broncos' charter is going to be leaving now.
12:22There's no planes coming in, no planes going out, the streets are all blocked, with cars stranded on the side
12:31of the road.
12:33And we're just like, there's absolutely no way we're going to play this game.
12:37We don't even have our whole team here.
12:40We've got guys that are down in Castle Rock that can't get out.
12:44So then you start to hear on the radio and watching television,
12:47anybody with four-wheel drives and snowmobiles, could you call this number?
12:52So they were calling and going to pick up these players.
12:58The buses pull up to the complex.
13:01And we're walking out the door, we're actually going to play this game.
13:09We had every built-in excuse in the world not to go out and play.
13:12But we did, and we were able to come out with a victory.
13:16Because even with the adversity surrounding us, we still could go out and play football and play at a high
13:22level.
13:25After beating the Bills in overtime, wins over the Seahawks and Panthers gave the Broncos a 9-1 record.
13:33But Denver was about to learn how quickly things can change in the NFL.
13:37A league that does not salute its champion in November.
13:41The big key trailer was 340, scoring a pick six.
13:47What do you know?
13:52To the Chief Locker Room.
13:54I really didn't know, you know, how the fans would have set me.
13:57And, you know, I said, well, you know what?
13:58I rocked this house for a long time.
14:00I was just putting it in myself.
14:01I know these people are going to cheer for me, you know.
14:03And, of course, they announced my name.
14:05At left-hand, from Nebraska, number 90, Dino Smith.
14:11It booed me.
14:12I was in disbelief.
14:13And that hurt me more than anything.
14:17It hurt even worse after Kansas City's last-second field goal won the game.
14:24The loss to the eventual AFC West champion Chiefs was one of three the once dominant Broncos would suffer in
14:32their final six games of the regular season.
14:37In Pittsburgh, Denver was bullied by the Steelers.
14:42What we called run play was called Fox 2 Run.
14:44My responsibility is to block the inside linebacker, who at the time was LeVon Kirkland.
14:50They might have had him listed at 265, but I'm telling you, come December, he had to have been all
14:58of 300.
14:59So I'm already at a disadvantage.
15:02We've run our Fox 2 Run.
15:04I kind of found my way through, and LeVon Kirkland knocks me right on my back.
15:11He doesn't make the tackle.
15:13I think Terrell runs for 13 yards on a particular play.
15:16But he knocks me right on my back, full steam ahead.
15:21And I'm on my back, and I was sick about that.
15:24And then Chris Collinsworth, he says, see, look at Howard Griffin.
15:29He doesn't want to block LeVon Kirkland.
15:31He's just trying to get out of the way.
15:34Wow.
15:35So I recorded that, stuck it in the old memory bank.
15:41I said, I'll see LeVon Kirkland another day.
15:45Pittsburgh overcame a 14-point deficit and won 35-24.
15:52For the first time in 1997, there was doubt in Denver.
15:57The first team that suddenly beat us, that we knew that we got our butt whipped that day.
16:03When things are going great, everything's good.
16:05But what happens when things get tough, when your back's against the wall, when people are starting to question you?
16:11On a Monday night in San Francisco, the Broncos found out.
16:16Once again, Denver blew a lead and fell 34-17.
16:21The loss hurt.
16:22But an incident involving linebacker Bill Romanowski threatened to destroy the season.
16:28I didn't see it happen.
16:30But the next thing you know, you're starting to hear the rumblings.
16:33Romo just spit in J.J. Stokes' face.
16:37Did what?
16:38He spit in his face.
16:40Here's play before.
16:42That's J.J. Stokes, I think, talking to Bill Romanowski.
16:46Ooh, and there is a real lack of social graces on the part of Romanowski.
16:51It turned into a race issue at that particular point.
16:57Romo spitting into a black man's face.
17:00Was it racially motivated?
17:04I'd be hard-pressed to say it was.
17:06But did he do something that could be conscrued that way?
17:11Yeah.
17:13And one of the things that was really fueling this is that you could turn on every TV and see
17:19Romo...
17:24...right in his face.
17:25Things like this can destroy a ball club.
17:28And it very well...
17:30If he didn't have his mouthpiece in, it would have win in his mouth.
17:34And that's disgusting.
17:36Good.
17:37And that's when we had this meeting.
17:38And, you know, we asked Romanowski.
17:40And he stepped up.
17:41He said, you know what, guys?
17:42I was wrong.
17:42What I did was wrong.
17:44You know?
17:44And I apologized to him.
17:46When emotions are high, logic is low.
17:48I think that was a turning point of our whole season right there.
17:51You know, if you guys can accept that as a team, we did.
17:54I would love to say that Romanowski, not because he was white and spitting a black guy's face,
17:57because he disrespected another man.
17:59And I couldn't condone what he did simply because he was my teammate.
18:02If my brother's wrong, he's wrong.
18:04I'm mad enough to tell him he's wrong.
18:05And that's what I did.
18:06I was mad enough to tell Romanowski he was wrong.
18:08So there were a lot of questions.
18:11And I think we started to question ourselves a little bit, too.
18:17There's always concern when you start losing.
18:19And all of a sudden, when you lose three out of five, you become a lot more short-sighted.
18:23Rather than thinking about the big picture, we started thinking about the next week and
18:26saying, well, you've got to turn this around and play better football in order for us to
18:30get to the goal of winning a Super Bowl or getting to the playoff.
18:33In the regular season finale against the Chargers, Denver won its 12th game.
18:39The Broncos had earned a wild-card playoff berth.
18:43But had they recaptured the winning formula which had made them the best team in football?
18:50From a team standpoint, we knew going into that San Diego game, we needed to go out and
18:56prove to ourselves that we could actually go out and still play good football.
19:00Because forget everybody else, they had already written us off.
19:03You got done.
19:04Stick a fork in it.
19:09For the wild-card playoffs.
19:11I think that everybody on our football team felt the same way.
19:15that we're still so upset about the year before and what happened the year before that
19:18there was no doubt that if we got another shot of them in Mile High Stadium that we were
19:22going to take care of business.
19:23That last game might have well have been an hour before this game started.
19:28They just changed their uniforms a little bit, cleaned themselves off, you know, iced up.
19:37Jaguars had no chance and they probably knew it.
19:40And they got blown out.
19:48People believed that we would actually lose that game.
19:52It wasn't going to happen though.
19:55It was time to exercise some demons.
19:59And we knew how we'd do it.
20:01We were going to run the ball right down their throat.
20:15Handoff Davis running right side.
20:17Davis is at five.
20:18Touchdown!
20:19Standing up goes Terrell Davis.
20:21Three possessions produced three touchdowns.
20:24But in the second half, Jacksonville stormed back.
20:29Let me go, let me go.
20:30We're back.
20:31Trailing by four points, the Jaguars focused their attack on the Bronco, who had the most
20:36to lose.
20:37Come on, defense!
20:38Stands on, Elway.
20:40Huh?
20:40He stands on.
20:41I'm good.
20:43I gotta get his ass.
20:46Elway short, ground pressure on.
20:47From behind.
20:49Elway sack.
20:50All pops for Reed.
20:52I think Jacksonville has it.
20:54Elway still down to the field.
21:00John Elway was one tough guy that can take a lick and get up from him.
21:05He came back.
21:06Left tackle.
21:07And now, John Elway, the good news for Bronco fans, out on the field.
21:11I can't believe he's still in there.
21:13He's out of code.
21:15In a post-season portent of things to come, John Elway's toughness and a punishing ground
21:23game, the registered 310 rushing guards helped Denver get its revenge on Jacksonville.
21:30They don't know what hit him, T-Bone!
21:32No, they don't know what hit him!
21:34They don't know what hit him!
21:36They got broke in the head.
21:38They said it was a wind knock.
21:39That was my head.
21:40Knock you off?
21:41Good job, buddy.
21:42I was seeing stars.
21:44We knew that we had the hard road to take.
21:47We had one down, but now we got to go back into Kansas City.
21:55In Frozen Arrowhead Stadium, the Broncos and Chiefs were locked in a defensive battle.
22:02Ball control and field position were of the utmost importance.
22:09It was the epitome of Marty Schottenheimer football, and John Elway knew that.
22:16We had fourth and one on our own 40-yard line.
22:18And I can remember coming to the sideline, and I see it in Mike's head.
22:22Mike's thinking, go, he's going to go for it.
22:24He's going to go for it.
22:25He's going to go for it.
22:25And we really struggled on offense.
22:27They played great defense the whole day.
22:29And I remember saying to Mike, saying, Mike, beat Marty at his own game.
22:32What's that?
22:34I hear you.
22:34Beat Marty at his own game.
22:36Which meant punt the ball, push him back, and let's play defense.
22:40Because that's what's got us there.
22:41And so he ended up punting the ball.
22:43By the fourth quarter, the Broncos were protecting a 14-10 lead.
22:49Denver's defense, not John Elway, would have to win this one.
22:53Kansas City hit the ball last.
22:55You know, and they was driving.
22:56And all the years, Denver always had an opportunity to stop people, but they never did.
23:02Come on, man. Come on. Come on.
23:04So this was the center stage for us to make a play.
23:09And the crowd continues to run 43-42.
23:13They just got to watch it over there.
23:14They're going to put it on.
23:16Once again, Kansas City had a chance to win on the game's final play.
23:20This time, they needed a touchdown.
23:23This can't happen to us again.
23:27Once again, though, the defense stepped up to the challenge.
23:33Now they've got to go for the end zone.
23:35They have.
23:36Here they've got to go for the end zone.
23:41Brokbeck has him up at the line of scrimmage.
23:43Croc is running 27-26.
23:45It can't move quickly enough for the Broncos.
23:47Slant! Slant!
23:49Brokbeck, this is fourth and two and a half.
23:51This is the game.
23:52Slant! Slant!
23:53Brokbeck, into the end zone.
23:54Pass is going to be knocked out.
23:57Incomplete!
24:00Yeah, well, that's what happens when Elvis Gerbeck is your starting quarterback.
24:07The Denver defense has done it, and they are stunned here at Arrowhead Stadium.
24:12All right, bud.
24:13We did it.
24:14We need to win like that.
24:14We did it, boy.
24:15We did it.
24:16And this baby is over.
24:18Denver returns to the AFC Championship game.
24:21They'll be in Pittsburgh next Sunday.
24:24The winner will go to the Super Bowl.
24:28When we got back into the locker room, it was real exciting.
24:34But that wasn't what I was happy about, because we got to go to Pittsburgh.
24:39All I could think about, LeVon Kirkland.
24:46See, I got something for LeVon Kirkland next week.
24:50Cut it.
24:52I didn't believe that we would beat Pittsburgh in Three Rivers.
24:58I always think it's an advantage once to play a team a second time, knowing that you learn
25:04a lot more from the loss than if we had beaten them the time we were in Pittsburgh early in
25:08the year.
25:08Hit it, hit it.
25:10Hit it.
25:11There you go.
25:12So I think we had the advantage having played them, having lost to them, to be able to correct what
25:16we did wrong in that game.
25:18Go, go, go, go.
25:19Go.
25:20Terrell Davis, who ran for 139 yards, gave the Broncos an early lead.
25:26Near right, near right, zoom, A right, 18-pick.
25:29Toss to the right side, Davis cuts up.
25:31Terrell Dixon, five, Terrell Davis, yeah, into the end zone, touchdown.
25:35The Broncos score first.
25:41Retribution was clearly on the mind of the Broncos, especially fullback Howard Griffith.
25:47After being run over by LeVon Kirkland earlier in the year, Griffith and Terrell Davis teamed to cut the massive
25:54linebacker down to size.
26:08Griffith's value as a pass catcher would also be demonstrated.
26:14There's float pass left.
26:17And I kind of fake at the defensive end, like I'm going to block them, and I slip out into
26:22the flat.
26:23Sounds easy, but it's really a tough throw.
26:26The ball's behind me, I reach back.
26:28I pull it in.
26:32Throws to the flat, one-handed catch by Howard Griffith, inside the 10.
26:35Inside the 5, to the pylon, touchdown.
26:38What if I dropped that ball?
26:41Could change the times of everything that happened throughout that game, man, in history.
26:47Oh-ho, what a catch by Howard Griffith out of the backfield.
26:51So you get an opportunity.
26:53You have to be able to take advantage of it.
26:56The Broncos' offense took advantage of every opportunity.
27:00And in the third quarter...
27:01Don't get scared, baby!
27:03Denver's defense protected the lead.
27:06Stewart will throw.
27:07Short drop.
27:08Into the end zone.
27:08Pass the meter!
27:09Stop it!
27:09Yeah!
27:10In the end zone!
27:11A terrible throw!
27:12Right to him!
27:15Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Cordell Stewart, was rattled by a defense that forced two second-half turnovers.
27:26Late in the fourth quarter, the Broncos needed one more first down to kill the clock and clinch a berth
27:33in Super Bowl XXXII.
27:36Old Three River Stadium, the fans are so close to us.
27:39And you could just hear the stands behind us just living, moving up and down in Three River Stadium.
27:45And the only thing you could see in these yellow tiles is swinging, swinging, swinging.
27:49Steelers have all three timeouts left, and this place is going nuts.
27:54Two minutes left, third and six for Denver at the Bronco 15-yard line.
27:58And they lead 24-21.
28:00I can remember the play coming in from the sideline, and Mike says, 3-24, I'll stop.
28:05I know!
28:06I want it!
28:06And so I get in the huddle, and I say, spread right, 3-24, I'll stop.
28:10And Shannon goes, it's not in the game plan, it's not in the game plan.
28:13I said, it is now.
28:14Now go get open.
28:15Oh, I think we've got it.
28:17Come on, come on.
28:18Snap is good.
28:19Five-hand rush.
28:20John throws.
28:21Pass caught!
28:22First down on the 30-yard line.
28:23Shannon Sharp!
28:24Biggest first down of the year.
28:26L.A. to Sharp for 18 yards.
28:29Oh, baby!
28:33Shannon Sharp made the play of that game to get us to the Super Bowl.
28:37He make a catch over the middle, grab the first down, and we go and run the clock out.
28:42Those times did disappear, and you can hear a pin drop.
28:50All right, all right, man.
28:52A great ball, buddy.
28:53A lot of play.
28:5460 minutes.
28:55Four, three, two, one.
28:58Denver goes to the Super Bowl.
29:00They are the AFC champions.
29:02They have beaten the Pittsburgh Steelers at Three River Stadium, 24-21.
29:09It is a nice trophy.
29:12A lot of people have them, and a lot of people are proud of them.
29:14This right here is not the one we want.
29:17But believe me, if you don't have a Lombardi trophy, the other thing is a paperweight.
29:24The next one is a whole lot sweeter.
29:27Congratulations.
29:29Three Super Bowls.
29:32I want the cast that we had, the John Elwood.
29:35I'm proud of the fact that we got to three Super Bowls.
29:37I don't care if we won or lost.
29:38I'm proud that we did what we did.
29:41I don't consider them failures.
29:43I mean, we lost a game, but I think if you look at those years, it was an accomplishment for
29:47us to get here, and we didn't play well when we got here.
29:50In pro football's biggest game, Elway never seemed to play his best.
30:00Number seven was portrayed as the greatest quarterback who couldn't win the big one, and to him, it was no
30:05laughing matter.
30:09With time running out in his career, Elway was thrilled to get one more shot, even if his mother wasn't.
30:16I can remember calling my mom after we beat Pittsburgh, and she said, oh my God, we have to go
30:20back to the Super Bowl.
30:21And I said, yeah, Mom, we have to go back.
30:24I guess with the disappointment from the year before of losing to Jacksonville in the first round of the playoffs,
30:28and having been to the three Super Bowls earlier in my career, I just wanted a chance to go back
30:32and play.
30:34The quarterback who had once carried his team to three Super Bowls entered his fourth with a team that could
30:40carry him.
30:43At 37, Elway had gone from superstar to sentimental favorite everywhere but Green Bay.
30:49I think he deserves for people to nationally want him to win, but I don't care.
30:55I'm sick of Hannah Bauer.
30:56Oh, don't you feel sorry for him?
30:58No, I don't feel sorry.
30:58We have the three-time MVP and have the verge of winning another Super Bowl back-to-back.
31:03That should be a real big focus.
31:05But he's getting overshadowed by a guy that's probably been on Hall of Fame because he hasn't won a Super
31:11Bowl.
31:11I mean, give me a handkerchief.
31:13It wouldn't even be wet.
31:14It'd be dry because we have no tears for him.
31:17The one thing he did not want to be saddled with, and he didn't want to have to answer this
31:22question.
31:23Would you consider your career complete if you didn't win a Super Bowl?
31:26Anybody tells you yes, probably lying.
31:30Would you consider your career complete if you didn't win a Super Bowl?
31:33Yeah.
31:33It was a standard answer because it's really the only answer I had.
31:36But the bottom line is, no, I would not have been satisfied if we were never able to say that
31:42I was a world champion and were a Super Bowl ring.
31:48And he said, you know, Howard, if you're fortunate enough to have the offense introduced,
31:55it's going to be probably one of the most powerful moments that you'll ever remember.
31:59Yeah, yeah, yeah.
32:01Whatever.
32:02Whatever.
32:06So since we have the future Hall of Famer, John Elway, offense has to be introduced.
32:12Hey, buddy.
32:14Got nothing.
32:15Okay.
32:16Got nothing.
32:17It was like my entire life went past me in an instant because you think about all the different situations
32:24that you may have been in in life where you had to make a decision.
32:29Am I going to go this way or that way, knowing that if you had made a different decision at
32:34some point in your life, you might not be standing in a tunnel getting ready to get your name called
32:40at the Super Bowl.
32:41At fullback from Illinois, number 29, Howard Griffith.
32:47It was the most amazing feeling that I've ever had.
32:50The warm feelings quickly disappeared.
32:53Over, over, over, over, over, over.
32:56Really decent.
32:57Brett Favre showed why the Packers were 14-point favorites, scoring on their first possession.
33:08But the Broncos answered with their own drive.
33:11Ten plays which demonstrated their determination to play power football against the defending world champions.
33:30Well, what that first drive showed, not only us, but everybody else, we're here to play football.
33:37Can you match up?
33:38Because we're going to be here all day long.
33:40Come on, baby.
33:41Let's get that turnover.
33:42In the first half, the Broncos forced two turnovers.
33:46The Broncos is up.
33:47Blitz is on its way.
33:48Ball, ball free, ball free.
33:51No indication.
33:52That should be the Broncos' ball.
33:55Yes, five.
33:56Denver has it.
33:58Neil Smith gathered in the ball.
34:02Brett Favre and the Packers were losing their grip on the game.
34:09Was losing his vision.
34:11What's that?
34:11Can't see.
34:12Okay, just do this.
34:14Coach Shanahan goes to him and says, hey, they're never going to believe we're going to run the ball.
34:18If you're not in the game.
34:20You don't worry about seeing it on this place because we're going to fake it to you.
34:22The 15 lead.
34:23But if you're not in there, they won't believe we're going to run.
34:25Okay.
34:26And as any player would do.
34:28Okay.
34:30When Terrell got to the huddle, he says, hey, I can't see.
34:32And I said, well, just go to the left and just run straight ahead and I'll adjust to you.
34:35I said, don't worry about it.
34:36Just go left.
34:38You just run and I'll adjust to you.
34:40Play fake.
34:41Elway rolls right.
34:41He can run it in.
34:43John, it will trot into the end zone.
34:45Touchdown.
34:46Fake 15 quarterback keep pass right.
34:49And I'm licking my chops.
34:52Wow.
34:53Made a big play in the AFC Championship game.
34:57Now I'm going to get the ball again.
34:59I come out.
35:01I'm wide open.
35:02I said, oh, this is going to be so easy.
35:06I made that pass, but look, it doesn't matter how you score the points.
35:12Nine points at a linebacker.
35:14So I turn to make the block and he runs it right into the end zone.
35:20He could have dumped that ball to Howard Griffith easily, but Elway walks into the end zone.
35:25And I was like, oh, my big shot.
35:29But then, as any great leader would say, hey, but I just didn't trust myself.
35:37Vintage John Elway there and the 37-year-old making it happen with his legs.
35:42Great move.
35:44Great.
35:46Nothing was more evident of how desperate they were.
35:52But as you see the sight of Eugene Robinson screaming.
35:57We are playing the Indianapolis Colts.
36:00We're playing the Indianapolis Colts right now.
36:02This team is not better than us.
36:03They're not even good.
36:05And we're letting them do that big thing off.
36:07We weren't quite the Indianapolis Colts.
36:10He got to confess, he's scared to run the ball.
36:11He ain't running hard no more.
36:13Or you see Sharper.
36:14He's scared.
36:15They out the game.
36:15I'm going to take him out.
36:16We knew they didn't have a chance.
36:22Terrell Davis' eyesight returned.
36:25And the Packers saw him run for 157 yards and three touchdowns.
36:30But the most eye-opening run of Super Bowl XXII was a leap by a man in whom the Broncos
36:36placed their faith.
36:37He just steps up and fights.
36:39And they can run.
36:39Come on, John.
36:40Come on.
36:41Come on.
36:43Inside the 10.
36:44Head first.
36:44Yes!
36:45Inside the 5-yard line.
36:46Yeah!
36:47Great.
36:48We've been practicing that pass play the whole week.
36:51And it was a play that I wasn't, in the sense, really that fond of.
36:54But it was a play that went in that week specifically for the Green Bay Packers.
36:59Even during practice that week, I'd ask Mike.
37:02I said, well, what happens if they don't play that defense?
37:04He said, it's 100%.
37:05They'll play that defense.
37:06They played that defense the whole year.
37:08I said, okay.
37:09So in comes that play.
37:11Okay.
37:11Point slice.
37:12And sure enough, I'm in shot again.
37:14It's third and six.
37:15And I look out there, and they're not in that defense.
37:17And so I knew that I was going to have to find a hole.
37:20Ran the knee to it!
37:22So I took my drop and was looking for a place to get through to try to make something happen.
37:26When I got outside, the first thing I did, and you can see my eyes, I looked to see where
37:29the first down marker was.
37:30I knew that they were probably thinking that I was going to go low, and I put that old
37:34five-inch vertical jump on them, and I went over the top and was able to get the first
37:37down.
37:42One of the greatest individual efforts that you will ever see in a Super Bowl, because
37:47in that split second, you knew that he wanted it, and wanted it more than anybody else on
37:54the football field.
37:59Elway's determined run led to a Davis touchdown and a 24-17 lead, but the Broncos could not
38:07put away the Packers.
38:09Green Bay didn't just say, we're going to let these guys win it.
38:15Brett Barb is not over there saying, John Elway sure would look nice with a Super Bowl
38:20ring on.
38:20He tried to win that game as well.
38:26Brett Favre wanted a second straight ring.
38:29John Elway was thrilled to still have a chance to win his first.
38:34I can remember sitting in my room the whole week before and just praying.
38:38I said, God, and all I asked for was, God, just give me a chance to win this late in
38:41the
38:41game.
38:42Just have us in the game, you know, with four, five, six minutes to go to where we have an
38:46opportunity to be world champs.
38:49Tied at 24 with barely three minutes to play, Elway's prayer was answered.
38:55But this time, he didn't have to be a hero in order for Denver to win.
39:00The quarterback who once willed the Broncos to so many last-second victories threw but
39:06one pass on the 49-yard drive.
39:19Denver drove to the Green Bay one, took the clock under two minutes and forced the Packers
39:24to make a difficult decision.
39:27The meeting of the minds over there on the other side of Green Bay decided that they
39:31were going to let us score, which in hindsight made sense because all we were going to do
39:37was run the clock out.
39:38And the hearts are pounding in Denver.
39:41Nobody but Terrell here.
39:42Come on, hit it!
39:43And it was the biggest hole I'd ever seen before in my life.
39:55We're sitting here, it's like, oh, we are great.
39:58Did you see that hole?
40:00It was unbelievable.
40:01Third rushing touchdown, that's a Super Bowl record for TD.
40:06As usual, Elway had done his part.
40:10Now, Denver's defense needed to do theirs.
40:13When the offense came off and said, they just let us score, they just let us score, I guess
40:16they're trying to get the ball back.
40:18And we all just looked at each other and said, no, it's our time.
40:21If we're going to win, we have to stop them.
40:23They just gave it a touchdown.
40:25They gave it a touchdown because they don't think we can win it.
40:27It's on our shoulder, baby.
40:28Somebody step up and let's make a play.
40:30Let's win the ball game.
40:30Come on, baby.
40:32Somebody make a play.
40:33Come on, baby.
40:34Come on.
40:34With 36 seconds to go, will they bring pressure?
40:37Here they come.
40:38Favre, pass over the middle.
40:40It's going to be...
40:41Incomplete.
40:42Oh, incomplete Atwater with a big time hit.
40:47Hilliard is down.
40:49Atwater is down.
40:50And Brooks is down.
40:53Atwater knocked out everybody, including himself, on that play.
40:58We got three guys out.
41:00Atwater, Hilliard, and Chris.
41:02The Broncos were one play away from their first world championship.
41:08Let's go.
41:08Do it again.
41:09Let's go.
41:10In 38 years, without a championship in football, has come down to one play.
41:17Keep fighting.
41:17Keep fighting.
41:19Fourth and six with 32 seconds to go.
41:40And I just turn around, and it looked like a volcano coming out.
41:47All our guys on the sideline, running on the field, dumping them down.
41:50I just was in disbelief.
41:55Perhaps no one was more stunned than John Elway.
42:00After carrying the Broncos for so many years, his team finally carried him to the only distinction
42:07he ever really wanted, world champion he ever really wanted, world champion.
42:19After 15 years of work and three Super Bowl losses and all the different things that I've gone through in
42:25my career,
42:25to finally reach the pinnacle of your sport and what you love to do, it's hard to explain.
42:31And because I still get shivers when I think about it.
42:33I still get shivers because I can remember exactly how it felt.
42:37And that's why the whole thing took me so long to really realize the impact of what had really happened.
42:43I had finally reached the pinnacle, and that's to be able to say that I was on a Super Bowl
42:48winning team.
42:50I'm so proud of you.
42:52You know how nice that ring's going to look on your finger?
42:54I can't believe you, huh?
42:56There's one thing I want to say here tonight.
42:58Get mad!
42:59It's only four words.
43:02This one's for John.
43:11It was so poignant that it really spoke volumes about what John meant not only to the organization,
43:19but to all Bronco fans around.
43:21It was a huge weight that was lifted off of his back,
43:24because it was the game that he couldn't win.
43:31I think Mr. B said it himself.
43:33He was like, hey, this one's for John.
43:35And I was right behind him and Neil.
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