I apologize in advance for inundating all non Denver Broncos fans with these memories. But Im a date guy and cant help it! This game was already a freaking half of lifetime ago for me! But I was there as the Broncos rallied down the stretch for a thrilling victory!! Ive got a photo album of pics from this game. Someday Ill have to scan them, but for now just the recap will have to do. January 7, 1990. AFC: Denver Broncos 24, Pittsburgh Steelers 23 Game summary Steelers 3 14 3 3 23 Broncos 0 10 7 7 24 at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST/2:00 p.m. MST Game attendance: 75,868 Referee: Gene Barth TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Bill Walsh Game information The Broncos recovered from two early 10-point deficits to eventually win on a 71-yard drive that was capped by Melvin Brattons 1-yard touchdown run with 2:27 left in the game. For the second game in a row, Steelers running back Merril Hoge had a superb performance, rushing for 120 yards on 16 carries and catching 8 passes for 60 yards. But this time it wasnt enough to lift his team to victory. Broncos receiver Mark Jackson caught 5 passes for 111 yards. The Steelers jumped to a 3–0 early lead with a 32-yard field goal by Gary Anderson. On the first play of the second quarter, Hoge ripped off a 45-yard run, the longest of his career. He ended up rushing for 60 yards on the Steelers drive, including a 7-yard touchdown carry to increase the Steelers lead to 10-0. Denver responded with a 12-play, 75-yard drive to score on Brattons 1-yard touchdown run, cutting the lead to 10-7. But the Steelers stormed right back, with Bubby Brister completing a 25-yard pass to tight end Mike Murlarky and rookie running back Tim Worley contributing a 19-yard carry on the way to a 9-yard scoring reception by Louis Lipps. Shortly before the end of the half, Broncos kicker David Treadwell made a 43-yard field goal, putting the score at 17-10 going into halftime. In the third quarter, Broncos defenders Karl Mecklenburg and Greg Kragen forced a fumble from Worley that defensive back Tyrone Braxton recovered on the Steelers 37-yard line, setting up quarterback John Elways 37-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Vance Johnson to tie the game at 17. Brister struck back, completing a 19-yard screen to Hoge and a 30-yard pass to rookie receiver Mark Stock on the way to a 35-yard Anderson field goal. Then in the fourth quarter, Pittsburgh defensive back Thomas Everett intercepted an Elway pass and returned it 26 yards to midfield, setting up Andersons 32-yard field goal to make the score 23-17. The Steelers appeared to have a big chance to put the game away following a Denver punt. But after a productive start to their drive, Braxton tackled Hodge 1-yard short of a first down at the Denver 41 to bring up fourth down and force a punt. Now with 7 minutes left in the game, Elway led the Broncos 71 yards in 9 plays, including a 36-yard completion to Jackson and a 15-yarder to Ricky Nattiel. Bratton finished the drive with his second 1-yard touchdown of the game, this one with 2:27 left. This time, the Steelers had no ability to respond. On first down of their ensuring possession, Brister fired a pass to a wide open Stock, but he tried to turn upfield before securing the catch and it fell to the turf incomplete. Then after another incompletion, Brister fumbled a low snap from backup center Chuck Lanza (filling in for injured all-pro center Dermontti Dawson) in shotgun formation, and Broncos safety Randy Robbins recovered the ball to secure the win.[6] Brister completed 19/29 passes for 224 yards and a touchdown. Elway threw for 239 yards and a touchdown, with one interception, and rushed for 44 yards.
Posted on: Wed, 07 Jan 2015 21:11:12 +0000