On their way to a record-tying eighth Super Bowl appearance, the Denver Broncos are hoping they are once again capable enough to send a veteran quarterback out in style.
The Denver Broncos have won two Super Bowl titles in franchise history. The first was a 31-24 victory over the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXII. The second was a year later, a 34-19 win over the Atlanta Falcons which proved to be current team president John Elway‘s final game of his Hall of Fame career.
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Talk about going out with a bang?
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Well, in what seems to be quite ironic fashion, we have begun discussing a similar outcome to another (future) Hall of Fame quarterback on his last legs as Peyton Manning leads the Broncos to Super Bowl 50.
The unfortunate number for the Broncos is their losses in the big dance: A total of five setbacks, the most in Super Bowl history. The losses have not been pretty, being outscored 206-58.
Let’s start from the beginning, shall we?
It began with Super Bowl XII and a 27-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in the first indoor Super Bowl (Superdome). The Broncos turned over the ball eight times in the game as starting quarterback Craig Morton and later Norris Weese were harassed all game long by the “Doomsday Defense.”
Nine years later, under head coach Dan Reeves and Elway, the Broncos reached the Super Bowl three times in four years and things got worse every time. Denver lost to the New York Giants, 39–20, in Super Bowl XXI and then fell to the Washington Redskins, 42-10, in Super Bowl XXII. Two years later, in Super Bowl XXIV, the Broncos lost to the San Francisco 49ers, 55–10, in what to this day remains the most lopsided defeat in Super Bowl history.
Reeves fired offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan, who was close to Elway. The firing however, did not help Reeves’ merit as he was fired himself after the 1992 season. Wade Phillips (Denver’s current defensive coordinator) became the head coach after Reeves but did not last long and was fired after the 1994 season due to growing concerns that he had lost the locker room.
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This brings us to the winning Super Bowl years, where current personnel comes full circle.
Shanahan was hired to be the Head Coach in 1995, who was buddies with Elway back in his offensive coordinator days under Reeve’s, and in his first draft as Head Coach, selected star running back Terrell Davis.
Two seasons later, the Denver Broncos had finally done it, they won a Super Bowl, defeating the defending champion Green Bay Packers, 31-24, in Super Bowl XXXII. Terrell Davis won Super Bowl MVP honors as he rushed for 157 yards and three touchdowns.
The following season, Mike Shanahan and John Elway would repeat as Super Bowl champions, defeating former Head Coach and Vice President, Dan Reeves, and the Atlanta Falcons, 34-19 in Super Bowl XXXIII. John Elway completed 18 of 29 for 336 yards and a touchdown to Rod Smith (80 yards) to earn MVP honors in what was a complete performance by Elway.
After that game, Elway decided to retire and sail off into the sunset as a quarterback who reached five Super Bowls but more importantly, won back-to-back to end his storied career.
The most recent Super Bowl appearance for the Broncos was in Super Bowl XLVIII led by Peyton Manning, against Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks. Unfortunately for the Broncos, the game was seemingly over after the Broncos first play of the game went into their own end zone for a safety. The Seahawks won in a blow out, 43-8.
Let’s tie this into today’s game:
Gary Kubiak is the current Head Coach who was the offensive coordinator/QB coach for Elway’s final two years. Wade Phillips was the former Head Coach and defensive coordinator for the Broncos in the early 90’s (is currently the defensive coordinator). Last but not least is Peyton Manning, who just like Elway, is seeking his second Super Bowl title, and if he wins, will more than likely say adios to his days as a professional football player and take the same road Elway did after winning his final game, the Super Bowl.
In addition to the Super Bowl, there is some significant side history in this game: Head Coach Gary Kubiak will be the first Coach in NFL history to reach the Super Bowl as a player and as a Head Coach for the same team. Kubiak reached the big dance serving as John Elway’s backup quarterback in Denver.
Kubiak was drafted in the same class as John Elway, as he was taken in the eighth round as opposed to Elway, who was taken first overall by the Baltimore Colts, who traded him to the Broncos. It was then that Kubiak spent his entire nine-year playing career backing up Elway and reaching three Super Bowls, but losing all three. It was not until Kubiak was the team’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach that he was a part of two aforementioned Super Bowl wins, in 1997 and 1998.
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Super Bowl 50 will most certainly be one for the ages featuring two of the best quarterbacks the game has produced to date in Peyton Newton, and Mr. Dab himself, Cam Newton. From what I am hearing already, most people are predicting a lopsided victory won by the Carolina Panthers.
I’m not so sure.
Destiny is not something to be questioned, and in this case, destiny is heavily favoring Mr. Manning, and the Denver Broncos.