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NFL Playoff Recap (NY Jets-Denver)
Posted: Mon January 18, 1999 at 12:33 a.m EST DENVER 23, NY JETS 10DENVER (Ticker) -- The Denver Broncos awoke from a first-half slumber and showed the New York Jets the heart of a champion. In what was likely John Elway's final game at Mile High Stadium, the Broncos took advantage of a fierce wind, exploded for 20 third-quarter points and defeated the Jets, 23-10, in the AFC championship. Denver (16-2) will meet the Atlanta Falcons and former coach Dan Reeves in Super Bowl XXXIII at Miami on January 31st. Reeves spent the first 12 years of his coaching career with the Broncos, guiding them to three Super Bowls, all losses. The Broncos are attempting to become the first AFC team to repeat as Super Bowl champion since the 1978-79 Pittsburgh Steelers. The last repeat champion was the 1992-93 Dallas Cowboys. Denver's sixth Super Bowl appearance is second only to Dallas' total of eight. "I'm very proud of our team," said Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, who worked as an assistant under Reeves in Denver. "Our guys picked it up when they had to. That's the sign of a good team. We didn't have a good first half, but we hung in there and kept our composure." Terrell Davis had another big game with 167 yards on 32 carries and capped the third-quarter uprising with a 31-yard touchdown run. It was his sixth straight 100-yard playoff game, tying a record held by John Riggins of Washington. Davis has rushed for 967 yards in that span. "As the game went on, I think they got tired and some gaps were there," said Davis. "We came out, played a great second half and wore them down." The Broncos forced six turnovers, including two interceptions by cornerback Darrien Gordon, and held running back Curtis Martin to 14 yards on 13 carries. "That's a pretty good team and we helped them along quite a bit," said Jets coach Bill Parcells, who fell to 3-1 in conference title games. "I don't expect you can do the things we did and expect to win a championship." The Jets (13-5) were making their first appearance in an AFC title game in 16 years. They last advanced to the Super Bowl 30 years ago, winning Super Bowl III in Miami. The Broncos have won 19 straight at Mile High Stadium since losing in the postseason to Jacksonville two years ago. It was fitting that Elway's likely final home game came in an AFC championship. He is 5-1 in conference title games and will become the first quarterback to start in five Super Bowls, passing Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana and Jim Kelly. "It meant a lot if it's John Elway's last game here," said Davis. "I can't say enough about what John has done for this team and the league." Asked if he would retire after the Super Bowl, Elway said, "I can't tell you that yet. My main focus is to finish this year before I'm going to think about next year." But Elway gave every indication this indeed was his last game at Mile High, where he is 103-25 overall, when he took a postgame lap around the field. "It was a very emotional night for John," said Shanahan, who is 33-3 at Mile High Stadium. Elway completed only 13-of-34 passes for 173 yards, but turned the momentum in Denver's favor in the third quarter when he hit Ed McCaffrey with a 47-yard bomb to the Jets 17 after New York built a 10-0 lead. "That was a big momentum swing for our football team being down 10-0," said Shanahan. "We were trying to get their safeties crossed up and we were fortunate to get that open." "Eddie and Rod (Smith) came out of the huddle backwards," said Elway. "I looked at Rod and he shook his head like he knew what he was supoosed to do and then Eddie came down and I told him to run a post. They covered the deep cross and I was able to throw behind it." Two plays later, Elway connected with fullback Howard Griffith for an 11-yard touchdown 4:42 into the quarter. "John made a big play, Howard caught the TD and we started to steamroll from there," said Davis. The ensuing kickoff by Jason Elam took a high bounce, eluded the reach of New York's James Farrior and was recovered by Denver's Keith Burns at the Jets' 31. The defense held, but Elam drilled a 44-yard field goal with the wind at his back to tie the game, 10-10. After Denver's defense forced a three-and-out, the Broncos took over at their own 44. Elway hit Rod Smith with a 12-yard pass and Davis broke off a 20-yard run to the New York 21. But after Elway was sacked for a nine-yard loss by linebacker Chad Cascadden, Elam again took advantage of the wind and booted a 48-yard field goal to give Denver its first lead, 13-10, with 2:58 left in the period. The Jets again went three-and-out and Gordon returned the ensuing punt 36 yards to the New York 38. Davis ran left for gains of four and three yards before breaking off a 31-yard TD with 18 seconds left in the quarter. An 18-yard interception return by Gordon set up a 35-yard field goal by Elam with 3:40 left in the fourth quarter to complete the scoring. With the help of a goal-line stand, the Jets shut out Denver in the first half. New York took the lead when John Hall kicked a 32-yard field goal on the final play of the half. The Jets further stunned the raucous Mile High crowd when rookie tight end Blake Spence blocked Tom Rouen's punt and tight end Fred Baxter recovered at the Denver 1. "It was a shot in the dark and I didn't even expect to play this week," said Spence, who was not active for a game since October 25th. "They gave me an opportunity and I did what I could." Martin scored on the next play to increase New York's lead to 10-0 three minutes into the third quarter. "I thought we had them on the ropes a little bit and they were struggling offensively," said Parcells. "Then Victor Green (strong safety) went to sleep and John Elway hit that long one. Then the kickoff gave them all the momentum." Without the benefit of a running game, New York's Vinny Testaverde completed 31-of-52 passes for 356 yards with two interceptions. "I'm very disappointed," said Testaverde. "We played solid in the first half. But the turnovers and the penalties killed us. Hats off to Denver. They made big plays when they had to." Wayne Chrebet had eight catches for 121 yards and Keyshawn Johnson added seven receptions for 73 yards for the Jets. The Jets drove 62 yards in eight plays to open the game with Testaverde hitting Chrebet three times for 53 yards, but Hall missed a 42-yard field goal attempt. New York committed its first turnover when Martin fumbled after a hit by defensive end Alfred Williams and safety Tyrone Braxton recovered at the Denver 44 midway through the first quarter. The Broncos drove all the way to the Jets' 1 with Davis producing 42 yards on eight carries. However, on a 3rd-and-goal play at the New York 2, Davis was stopped for a one-yard gain. Shanahan elected to go for it on fourth down, but Elway had a pass batted away by linebacker Mo Lewis. In the second quarter, the Jets drove deep into Broncos' territory. But after catching a short pass, fullback Keith Byars fumbled after being hit by linebacker Bill Romanowski and linebacker John Mobley recovered for the Broncos at the Denver 13. The Jets closed the half with a six-play, 46-yard drive in just 38 seconds. Testaverde hit Chrebet with a 20-yard pass and connected with Dedric Ward on a 26-yard play to the Denver 14 to set up Hall's 32-yard field goal.
© 2000 Sportsticker Enterprises, LP
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