Welcome New Broncos Fan Christie1111!

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SportsFan68 · #1 Post by **SportsFan68** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 8:30 am

Lots of good things happen in chat! Christie said she was looking for an NFL team to cheer for, and I happened to mention how some of her finest attributes match up with Broncos fandom.

So, in honor of new Broncos fan Christie1111, here is a recap of Drive. I'll put it in several sections so it doesn't get overwhelming.

SportsFan68 · #2 Post by **SportsFan68** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 8:32 am

This is from NFL Publishing about the greatest NFL games of the 20th Century. The game took place on January 11, 1987.

By Phil Barber
NFL Publishing

(Jan. 5, 2000) — How does Cleveland, Ohio, feel about John Elway? If you're looking for an equivalent, you might start with Atlanta's regard for General William Tecumseh Sherman.

While most of America came to look fondly upon the Denver Broncos' charismatic quarterback, especially as the crows' feet gathered around his eyes in recent seasons, Cleveland was left with nothing but an abiding enmity. Elway socked it to the hard-luck city several times during his 16-year NFL career. But in the 1986 AFC Championship Game, he inflicted an irreparable wound with a 14-play sequence now known as The Drive. In the process, he created enough lasting impressions to earn the contest a spot at No. 4 on the list of the Most Memorable NFL Games of the Century.

SportsFan68 · #3 Post by **SportsFan68** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 8:33 am

Though they had won four NFL championships between 1950 and 1964, the Browns had never (and still haven't) played in a Super Bowl. In 1986, they were sure it was their turn.

The '86 squad was led by a stingy, quick-thinking defense. Responding to a quote by cornerback Frank Minnifield, the home fans had taken to calling themselves the Dawgs. They wore rubber snouts and threw femur-shaped dog biscuits onto the turf, and they usually had plenty to howl about.

SportsFan68 · #4 Post by **SportsFan68** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 8:33 am

The offense revolved around wildly popular quarterback Bernie Kosar, whose unconventional (some would say unsightly) style made him the anti-Elway. Kosar was more than effective in his own right. He passed for 3,874 yards during the 1986 regular season, and he added an NFL postseason-record 489 while leading the Browns to a 23-20, overtime victory (a score that would soon take on a much less rosy connotation to Browns fans) over the Jets in an AFC Divisional Playoff Game.

As the day grew long at Cleveland Stadium, it looked as though Kosar might once again be the Man of the Hour.

SportsFan68 · #5 Post by **SportsFan68** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 8:34 am

The tense title game was tied 10-10 at halftime and 13-13 midway through the fourth quarter. But the Browns broke it open with 5:43 left in regulation time, when Kosar hit wide receiver Brian Brennan for a sudden 48-yard touchdown pass.
The Broncos flubbed the ensuing kickoff, and so began the most important possession of their season inside their 2-yard line. As Broncos' fans love to tell you, it was first-and-98, with a frenzied crowd all but foaming at the mouth.

Elway stepped into the huddle with 5:32 left, and he smiled. "Well," guard Keith Bishop said, "we got these guys right where we want them."

Not all of his offensive teammates could force a laugh, but the confidence proved to be contagious.

Denver showed little urgency. Elway threw a 5-yard flare to halfback Sammy Winder to gain a little breathing room. A quick pitch to Winder gained 3 more. Winder got the ball again on third-and-2, and he gained two yards and several inches. The Broncos had made the first down. Now a mere 88 yards lay before them.

Then it was Winder again, for 3 yards. Cleveland was happy to encounter such an unambitious game plan; an expired clock would be just as friendly as an interception.

SportsFan68 · #6 Post by **SportsFan68** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 8:34 am

Elway dropped back on second down and found his primary receivers covered. He stepped up to avoid the rush and took off to his left, sliding at the 26 and after an 11-yard gain. The Browns would spend much of The Drive in a three-man rush, hoping to contain Elway. In retrospect, perhaps they should have created more pressure. On the next play he hit the versatile Steve Sewell for a big 22-yard completion. The Broncos were at their 48, and the Dawgs felt the hair on their backs beginning to stand on end.

The feeling got worse when Elway and wide receiver Steve Watson connected on a 12-yard completion. But after an incomplete pass, backup nose tackle Dave Puzzuoli wrapped up Elway for an 8-yard sack. Now it was third-and-18 from the Cleveland 48, and Elway was limping noticeably on a sprained left ankle.

"Just try to get half of it," Denver head coach Dan Reeves told his quarterback on the sidelines. "We'll get the rest on fourth down."

SportsFan68 · #7 Post by **SportsFan68** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 8:35 am

They almost got wiped out. Caught up in the noise and excitement, Elway mistimed two visual cues while lined up in Shotgun formation. He pointed to Watson (to get him in motion) and he stomped his heel (the signal for the cadence to begin). The problem was, he was supposed to point first. He did both at the same time, and Watson was directly behind center Bill Bryan when the ball was snapped.
"It grazed his butt," Elway explained later.

Elway picked the ball off the ground and fired a pass to wide receiver Mark Jackson. It was good for 20 yards, and a first down at the Cleveland 28.

The Broncos now scrapped the huddle. Elway threw incomplete to Watson, hit Sewell on a 14-yard lob, missed Watson again, then ran 9 yards on a quarterback draw.

It was third-and-1 from the Browns' 5, with only 39 seconds left. Two teams and one game clock all were about to collide on a frozen goal line. "Release Sixty-Six," Elway called in the huddle.

SportsFan68 · #8 Post by **SportsFan68** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 8:35 am

Chip Banks, Cleveland's Pro Bowl linebacker, came hard on a blitz. Elway was backing up as he delivered. The pass was "low and hot," according to Jackson, who went to the turf to make the fateful catch. The Broncos tied the game.

The Browns won the overtime coin flip, but Denver linebacker Karl Mecklenberg made a big tackle to force a punt. The Broncos got the ball on the Denver 25, and the ensuing drive was anticlimactic, worthy only of a small "d." Elway hit tight end Orson Mobley for passes of 22 and 28 yards, positioning Rich Karlis (who grew up about 70 miles away in Salem, Ohio) for the winning 33-yard field goal.

A legend was born. A city lay in ruins.

In the postgame locker room, Elway was flashing his broad grin. "It hasn't sunk in yet," he said to reporters. "I'm going to have to slap myself."

At least 80,000 Clevelanders would have lined up for the honor.

christie1111 · #9 Post by **christie1111** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 8:51 am

Thanks Sprots!

I am wearing navy blue today!

#10 Post by **littlebeast13** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 8:52 am

Geez, what the hell did I miss after I had to leave last night......

lb13

minimetoo26 · #11 Post by **minimetoo26** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 8:53 am

christie1111 wrote:Thanks Sprots!

I am wearing navy blue today!

Don't drink the Kool Aid!!! Wear green!!!!

J-E-T-S!!!!!!

christie1111 · #12 Post by **christie1111** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 9:02 am

minimetoo26 wrote:
christie1111 wrote:Thanks Sprots!

I am wearing navy blue today!

Don't drink the Kool Aid!!! Wear green!!!!

J-E-T-S!!!!!!

SwampyTurtles already roots for them. She switched teams when Favre did.

SportsFan68 · #13 Post by **SportsFan68** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 9:09 am

littlebeast13 wrote:Geez, what the hell did I miss after I had to leave last night......

lb13

Everybody had to tell how her/his team did yesterday. Except a couple of us were watching the Stillers game as it unfolded.

Skoop wasn't there, but I'm very happy with the Panthers, as is BDM with Cal's Cowboys, I'm sure.

christie1111 · #14 Post by **christie1111** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 9:17 am

SportsFan68 wrote:
littlebeast13 wrote:Geez, what the hell did I miss after I had to leave last night......

lb13
Everybody had to tell how her/his team did yesterday. Except a couple of us were watching the Stillers game as it unfolded.

Skoop wasn't there, but I'm very happy with the Panthers, as is BDM with Cal's Cowboys, I'm sure.

And I really don't have any Pro team I root for so Sprots offered the Broncos.

Except for the orange thing, I'm okay with that.

kayrharris · #15 Post by **kayrharris** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 9:32 am

I mentioned leaving for the airport when the Texans were running all over the Colts. I was sure the Texans won. I found out different. I bet those in Houston aren't happy this morning. I need to go find Bix's blog.

Snaxx · #16 Post by **Snaxx** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 6:21 pm

That was one of those "Where were you?" moments for NFL fans. I was with my father in Giants Stadium waiting for the second game, Giants vs Redskins, to start. I remember seeing the 20-13 score before the game started and a couple of updates on the scoreboard early in the game. However, I did not know how great the comeback was until later.

#17 Post by **tubadave** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 7:43 pm

Never really understood why "The Drive" was worthy of its capital letter.....yes, it was 98 yards, and it tied the game, but I'm not sure how that really separates it from so many other crucial fourth quarter drives in playoff history. And it didn't even win the game for them, but merely tied it. Cleveland got the ball first in OT, and if they had scored, I doubt anyone would even remember The Drive. And the fact that the Broncos followed it up by getting smoked by the Giants in the Super Bowl probably isn't helping my perception of it, either.

christie1111 · #18 Post by **christie1111** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 7:45 pm

tubadave wrote:Never really understood why "The Drive" was worthy of its capital letter.....yes, it was 98 yards, and it tied the game, but I'm not sure how that really separates it from so many other crucial fourth quarter drives in playoff history. And it didn't even win the game for them, but merely tied it. Cleveland got the ball first in OT, and if they had scored, I doubt anyone would even remember The Drive. And the fact that the Broncos followed it up by getting smoked by the Giants in the Super Bowl probably isn't helping my perception of it, either.

Dave!

Is that a picture of you?

Wears the tuba?

ThePepsiGeneration · #19 Post by **ThePepsiGeneration** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 7:46 pm

christie1111 wrote:
tubadave wrote:Never really understood why "The Drive" was worthy of its capital letter.....yes, it was 98 yards, and it tied the game, but I'm not sure how that really separates it from so many other crucial fourth quarter drives in playoff history. And it didn't even win the game for them, but merely tied it. Cleveland got the ball first in OT, and if they had scored, I doubt anyone would even remember The Drive. And the fact that the Broncos followed it up by getting smoked by the Giants in the Super Bowl probably isn't helping my perception of it, either.
Dave!

Is that a picture of you?

Wears the tuba?

More importantly, what's that in your hand.....?

SportsFan68 · #20 Post by **SportsFan68** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 7:47 pm

tubadave wrote:Never really understood why "The Drive" was worthy of its capital letter.....yes, it was 98 yards, and it tied the game, but I'm not sure how that really separates it from so many other crucial fourth quarter drives in playoff history. And it didn't even win the game for them, but merely tied it. Cleveland got the ball first in OT, and if they had scored, I doubt anyone would even remember The Drive. And the fact that the Broncos followed it up by getting smoked by the Giants in the Super Bowl probably isn't helping my perception of it, either.

Details, details.

Don't listen to him, Christie!

It's because I said, "Elway, you bring this in, I'll love you forever."

And I have.

#21 Post by **littlebeast13** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 7:50 pm

Drive? What drive?

lb13

SportsFan68 · #22 Post by **SportsFan68** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 7:52 pm

tubadave wrote:Never really understood why "The Drive" was worthy of its capital letter.....yes, it was 98 yards, and it tied the game, but I'm not sure how that really separates it from so many other crucial fourth quarter drives in playoff history. And it didn't even win the game for them, but merely tied it. Cleveland got the ball first in OT, and if they had scored, I doubt anyone would even remember The Drive. And the fact that the Broncos followed it up by getting smoked by the Giants in the Super Bowl probably isn't helping my perception of it, either.

Actually, it's because there was born The Legend. On a hostile away field, facing the traditional, legendary foe, Elway stepped up with confidence and coolness beyond his years.

I watched a replay of it a while back. The announcer said that with every play, even the botched ones, the air seemed to go out of the Browns and into the Broncos.

I would watch it 20 times a row if I had it on tape.

#23 Post by **tubadave** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 7:57 pm

Yes, that's me. It was taken a few weeks ago during a "team building" outing for work.

The tuba was at home. It doesn't come along for cookouts. It enjoys Christmas parties, though.

I'm holding a Coke. Coke > Pepsi, although Mountain Dew > *.

And I mostly said all that because 1) I have no rooting interest in either team, so the fascination of that drive is lost on me a bit, and 2) I knew it would irritate Sprots just a little.

kayrharris · #24 Post by **kayrharris** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 8:00 pm

Tubadave the troublemaker! Who knew??

SportsFan68 · #25 Post by **SportsFan68** » Mon Oct 06, 2008 8:01 pm

Actually, I was hoping to irritate BDM.

Sometimes things have a way of working out.

Sometimes they don't.