Notable Steelers/Broncos games

[74_75_78_79_]

LOL! Funny anecdote, JWL! Yeah, I don’t remember that game being on New Year’s Eve either. That would be the following evening when my parents also threw a party. I saw the game at my grandparents. We got there with plenty of time left in the prior game - Bears over Redskins. Two upsets on the same day! I was really hoping for a Steelers/Bears Super Bowl! In either event, unless you were a Steelers-fan in ’84 or a Broncos-fan in ’11, either playoff game had to disappoint you considering missing out on Den@Mia AFCC and Pit@NE divisional respectively (and Steelers actually beat NE during regular season; then again, so did they in ’04; I think Pats win anyway but still...letting an 8-8 Tebow team beat us!).

A lot of painful Steeler defeats to Denver!

[JohnH19]

The first one I think of is the 35-35 tie in Week 2 of the ‘74 season. Jefferson Street Joe sure looked like the real deal after two terrific performances in a row, including a 30-0 win over the Colts in Week 1. I’ve also always been a big fan of Charley Johnson who was at QB for the Broncos that day.

[L.C. Greenwood]

For me it's the 1997 AFCCG where Denver won in Pittsburgh. Crushing defeat for the Steelers as they were once again one step from the SB.

I'll also add the 2015 AFC Divisional Round where the Steelers lost, 23-16. Pitt was in the game from the start and led nearly throughout, until Denver took the lead in the 4th quarter. Another missed opportunity against Peyton Manning and a good Broncos team. A frustrating defeat.

I remember thinking Denver had a psychological advantage entering that 1997 AFC TG. The Steelers had already beaten the Broncos in Pittsburgh in December, and with John Elway, Denver had a decided edge in experience at the QB position. Terrell Davis was neutralized in the regular season game, but broke loose in that conference title game.

In that 2015 game, the Steelers were playing without LeVeon Bell and Antonio Brown, but a late fumble by a backup RB was very costly.

[74_75_78_79_]

When thinking of Steelers’ biggest rivalry, you may think of other teams before you think Denver. Same with if you think of Broncos’ biggest rivalry; you won’t think Pittsburgh first. However starting with their first ever meeting, a close 13-10 Denver win at home Week #3 in ’70, and ending with another close one - the ’15 divisional, also at Denver, Broncos winning that one 23-16 - a very rich history of important games between these two albeit regular or post-season. 31 games total with Denver leading the series, 19-11-1, while also leading the playoff series, 5-3. Two AFCC meetings as well as two OT affairs.

What’s the first game(s) between these two that comes to mind?

This is going to sound strange, but the 1978 season finale at Mile High comes to mind. This was a week before the playoff game, when Denver played at Pittsburgh wearing the orange pants. Meaningless game for the Steelers, but they played many starters in the first half anyway, cruising to a 21-0 lead. Denver chipped away at the lead in the second half against the reserves, making it a 21-17 game, and had a first and goal at the Pittsburgh one very late in the contest. The Steelers inserted many defensive starters, and stuffed the Broncos to claim the win.

Denver already had their division wrapped as well going into that finale, but being that the 11-4 Pats would lose the following (Monday) night to Miami, making them 11-5, had Denver won - also making them 11-5 - who gets 2nd-seed considering that both they and NE finish with 9-3 conference records, neither playing each other?

[7DnBrnc53]

These teams have a very detailed and storied history playing against each other. This could make a good NFL Network Timeline "Tale of Two Cities" episode.

[74_75_78_79_]

These teams have a very detailed and storied history playing against each other. This could make a good NFL Network Timeline "Tale of Two Cities" episode.

Yeah, serious. Now nothing can top that five-years-in-a-row (latter three being AFCCs) playoff meetings between the 'Burgh & Raiders '72-thru-'76, nor early-'70s/early-'80s/early & mid-'90s Dallas/San Fran; but safe enough to say that since '76 (or, at least, '84), Steelers/Broncos has quite surpassed Steelers/Raiders. Their history with each other warrants such a "tale two cities"-like special.

[BD Sullivan]

Denver already had their division wrapped as well going into that finale, but being that the 11-4 Pats would lose the following (Monday) night to Miami, making them 11-5, had Denver won - also making them 11-5 - who gets 2nd-seed considering that both they and NE finish with 9-3 conference records, neither playing each other?

Of course, the what-ifs would have to include New England's focus had Denver won--since the Fairbanks bombshell the day of the Miami game gutted their psyche for the next two games.