1997 NFL AFC Divisional Playoffs Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs Jan 4, 1998

On NBC w/ Dick Enberg, Phil Simms and Paul Maguire

[@SkoobasArt]

I can finally watch this without crying....my inner child has healed. Thank you Mahomes.

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

Right? It definitely doesn’t sting as much as it used to.

[@foietc]

absolutely. that was the worst call I ever seen. I was so depressed and wanted Marty's head

[@SkoobasArt]

@@foietc good ol' marty ball days man, run, run, run, punt 😅 now we got andy whose the complete opposite and i'm screaming at my tv to run it more hahaha

[@rickconrath3936]

I go back to Christmas Day 1971. I am healed. Thank you Andy, Patrick, Travis and Chris!! I still hurt for Marty - a great coach who didnt see post-season success.

[@SkoobasArt]

@@rickconrath3936 a true veteran right here! My dad told me about all those days in the 70's and 80's when you couldnt even give tickets away we were so bad hahah man I definitely wish a lot of people on those 90's teams got a ring. DT, Neil, Marty, Tony f'n Richardson, Tony G, on and on.

[@erikbunty2016]

Remembering this game, and when Elway had to hand the Lombardi trophy to the Chiefs this past Super Bowl, that made the win all the more satisfying.

[@ThePhog]

You KNOW that just ate him alive too!

[@richardmartinez2476]

Thank-you REFS

[@johnwiesner9590]

In a nine season span, there were three seasons (1995, 1997, 2003) where the Chiefs went undefeated at home in the regular season, then lost at home in the divisional round.

[@frankemann81]

The fact Marty kept Gannon on the bench so much moves him down in KC all time coaches for me. Just mind blowing honestly.

[@CongaLineMonkey]

And it's not even hindsight. Everyone was screaming at the time to make Gannon the starter.

[@TrentonO3000]

Let's not forget that he completely mismanaged Drew Brees during his time out in San Diego as well. The man was not good at evaluating quarterbacks

[@Jdeneik]

Gannon wins 9 straight in the regular season and the chiefs yank him for grbac. Worst coaching decision in history. Gannon goes on to play in the SB for the raiders.

[@DJAnubisMetalTavernRadio]

Yep. Gannon then went on to be very successful with the Raiders while Grbac went to the Ravens to cry.

[@timclark2925]

All of us fans who know nothing about football even knew the right decision was to start Gannon....pathetic decision.......Elway can thank Marty for his back to back SB wins......thank you Mahomes for allowing us to heal from our wounds......man that place was rocking...wasn't it?

[@frankemann81]

Yep it's why Marty is dead to me (R.I.P), that and the Chargers.

[@AmirKhan-yv8jm]

@@frankemann81 the Chargers are a cursed team!

[@chrisspearline767]

Don't forget Marty is a Browns coach at heart

[@nathanpoe9952]

I remember being so pissed that we started Grbac over Gannon. So pissed.

[@BOsucks1]

Everyone except for the only person that mattered (Marty) could see starting Grbac was a mistake

[@johnnymacattack]

Same here and I’m a Michigan fan!

[@trevormcclung740]

Would have lost either way

[@mikemorgan5015]

Marty was a great guy. RIP. But damn. Starting Grbac after being out for several weeks while Gannon was leading us to blowout wins was just sickening to watch. As were so many Chiefs playoff games. Chiefs haters will have to forgive us. We have a lot of catching up to do. We need to make the most of this current era of great coaching, management, and Mahomes while it lasts. Can you believe it's already been 7 years?!

[@keenakaur6314]

Marty Shittenheimer always had problems in the playoffs, especially against John Elway.

[@victorlekanoff8657]

7 spectacular years 🎉

[@dwight8090]

Derrick Thomas! RIP to ome of the greatest pass rushers ever!!

[@tombailey5413]

And somewhere in Texas, a toddler named Patrick Mahomes picked up a Nerf football and smiled.

[@pjw1016]

I recall chipping ice off my seat. Gannon had the hot hand and Marty went back to Grbac?

[@MrDougMagill]

Carl Peterson paid Elvis too much of Lamar's money, to not play Elvis. That's why Marty said "Elvis is our guy." Marty was told who to play.

[@Kyle-tt1lv]

@@MrDougMagill Buffalo would make a similar error in starting Rob Johnson two years later.

[@Ameliethecoolll]

He should of played Gannon

[@DJAnubisMetalTavernRadio]

Yep. Marty was good dude but always buckled under pressure come playoff time.

[@ryanjacobson2508]

​@@MrDougMagillAnd head coaches usually NEVER publicly admit to what the owners do because they don't want to risk pissing any of the owners/teams off and possibly be blacklisted etc.

[@STUDIO-pj3qx]

Thanks for posting. Great video.

[@SteveKresminski]

You’re welcome, I’m glad you enjoyed it

[@rodburner-hz8db]

That was one of the best Broncos win in the Elway playoffs I had ever seen. I knew then, as the game ended, Denver was going into the AFCCG looking better than they had at anytime during that particular regular season. Alex Gibbs, as an offensive line coach, set the standard of and for the zone blocking scheme that day in this divisional playoff game in Kansas City. As good as Bobb McKittrick, Howard Mudd, Joe Bugel, and Dante Scarnecchia ALL were, given the pieces he inherited in '95 to producing what transpired in this game with Terrell Davis was beyond my wildest dreams. All those years ago, and in watching this game, I can't believe the line play was able to help TD produce a 100+ yard day. This was just a great street fight in the trenches all game long.

[@JeffKing-qy9nw]

I was at that game. It’s was COLD! I was half way home before the tears on my cheek thawed out.

[@q100john]

im leaving this game and watching our 2019 sb game lol

[@waynewood445]

As a 40 something year old Chiefs fan, this game broke my heart. The Broncos seemed destined to be great through the late 90s/ early 2000s. The Patriots took that over and now KC.

[@fdrstan]

My how the turn tables have turned.

[@ByTheSpirit84]

Two things, a horrible holding call on Manusky at 41:30 negated a field (which was missed on the retry). This is significant as at the end instead of needing a TD, they could have just kicked a Game Winning Field Goal. 1:14:10 Tony G was IN! KC got hosed in this game

[@Ultima742]

Belichick learned from this mistake. He stayed with Brady instead of letting Bledsoe play

[@DJAnubisMetalTavernRadio]

One of the greatest moments in Bronco history.

[@uselessidguy331]

This was the game where I just knew we were going to win the Super Bowl. When Denver survived that final drive, it just set in that they could beat anyone and weather anything. Feel badly for younger people who didn't get to experience this postseason run. The greatest four games in Denver Broncos history...off-the-charts special.

[@BryantThompson-w1j]

​@@uselessidguy331but let's fast forward to today Patrick mahomes and Travis Kelce have dominated the broncos winning 17 straight at one point until Denver finally wins one last year might win again because the chiefs don't need that game in week 18 and this chiefs group would of taken down elway and them no doubt Patrick mahomes is better than elway he got more rings and just as strong arm but more accurate than elway yeah wish the mahomes chiefs had a chance against elway donkey's

[@kcpiranha58]

Yeah... I remember the Broncos Oline dousing themselves in cooking spray, but yeah... what's a little bit of cheating?

[@chancegamesone]

@@kcpiranha58 salty much

[@kcpiranha58]

@@chancegamesone not really, the broncos were notorious for stuff like that. No reason to be salty when the Chiefs dominate the division year in and year out for the last decade.

[@ElGordo_831]

Here’s a fun fact, my parents made me in the parking lot of this game right after the game

[@MrDougMagill]

That pass to Sharpe on the first drive, was incomplete at best. Not only did the refs let the Broncos get away with OPI, but also called it a completion when it was incomplete at best, or a fumble at worst. Not to mention the Broncos silicone spray on their jerseys. Chiefs used to get screwed by the refs like this constantly. This is why we won't apologize for the calls we get our way today.

[@scottspy]

Grbac ➡️ Mahomes. It's been a long journey. 🏆🏆🏆

[@Romans219]

I love the Broncos since 1968! Great video! Thanks for sharing!😊

[@SteveKresminski]

You’re welcome

[@ThePatrickwick]

R I P Marty. This one is a heartbreaker

[@bismargaldamez]

I remember this game. Big mistake by not playing cannon..😢😢

[@angrydrunkengerman2819]

I'm glad the vid actually shows the cooking spray bit to elaborate on just how dirty this Bronco team was.

[@chaddepew5831]

That was the first time I cried over sports. I was 6 and it broke my heart

[@nalvarado1384]

I was watching with my family back home in Westminster, Colorado. And when that play when Darrien Gordon tipped it and knocked it away, I screamed like I had never screamed in my life. And I know my Mom screamed just as loud as I did.

[@DanyoBro]

Chiefs fans never forget. I do not miss those days of inept clock management and qb play

[@jroll5858]

Me either. MartyBall. Instead of playing to win his teams played not to lose. Good Defense/Bad offense And then the polar opposite, the Vermeil years until it hit rock bottom with Herm & Haley

[@seucongodocatimbo]

4TH N 1 GOES LONG.ELVIS SHOULDVE NEVER STARTED

[@erick4923]

The two shallow routes were both WIDE open. Pathetic.

[@roljamas]

I was 11 years old when this game happened and I cried like a baby. I now live in Denver and people will ask me “so, you gonna become a Broncos fan?” After an emphatic no, this is the first game I mention as to why.

[@hectorlopez1069]

NFL was way different in the 90s. It was more better than today's NFL.

[@agoo7581]

Your are suffering from what is known as "Fauxstalgia"

[@kylekitzman]

More better

[@TariqMakto]

I agree. Nowadays the refs want too much credit

[@mikewalsh1189]

I can tell you one thing that’s not better nowadays…

[@seanc2213]

Absolutely. That Broncos team was solid

[@letsgomets07]

Elway owned Marty in big games

[@FlinthillsFloyd]

I'd like to apologize to Marty. I was around 30 when Marty was coach and call it a fluke but after a bad Chiefs loss I called the Chiefs main number and back then most voice mail systems allowed you to automatically push an extension. Back then most extensions were 4 digits. I don't know how but when prompted to push an extension I just guessed and it literally was Marty's voice mail box. And I ranted leaving him a colorful four letter word message. Yeah, I drank lots of beer during the games and so after every bad loss I'd call and leave him messages. I did it for 2-3 years. Lol. I don't know why they never changed his extension. It was before you could block numbers or have called Id. Anyways maybe he laughed at my long messages during which I think I called him every name. I must have left him at least a dozen messages over that time frame. 😂 Sorry Marty.

[@oldhickory4686]

What a great heavyweight match up between these two. Allen was great here, but Davis and that OL just took over in the trenches when needed.

[@theroosters2525]

Elway got eaten up by arrowhead in his career. Made it so sweet when horseface had to hand deliver Mahomes his 3rd Lombardi in the raiders shiny new stadium. Chiefs are AFC west kings for a long long time now

[@gups4963]

Should've chosen Gannon. That said Marty is way too underrated a coach

[@chrishoneycutt9839]

No he was overrated had all those great teams in the 90’s with Kc and not win crap. And was semi successful in San Diego with some great teams some would argue should have won a Super Bowl . And he did not of course. He is way overrated.

[@DanyoBro]

Marty was good but Gannon would have helped win some playoff games

[@gups4963]

@@chrishoneycutt9839 Was Dan Marino overrated?

[@TrentonO3000]

@@gups4963 The Dolphins won playoff games because of Dan Marino. A number of teams lost playoff games because of Marty. That's the difference

[@ChristopherPoitras]

Good game. Kansas City mismanaged the last series.

[@jhawk4480]

Still think if the Chiefs play Gannon over Grbac they win that game

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

Same

[@Dr.JeremyDunks]

Was this the Vaseline game?

[@theroosters2525]

Yes

[@lloydmarshalljr1951]

RIP, Greg Gumbel.

[@joseramos4320]

Should've kept Gannon

[@RyanBierman-o4e]

Grammar was more better in the 90s as well

[@hbathletictraining]

This is the Chiefs I’ve always known lol. An organization that was an afterthought for years. I was born in ’85 and NEVER HEARD anyone claiming to be a chiefs fan. Literally nobody cared about KC besides their bbq lol. Now all of a sudden these new bandwagon fans have everything to say as if they have been relevant before Mahomes lol. I can’t wait for this Taylor swift ref loving team gets knocked out of the playoffs this year

[@hectorlopez1069]

Broncos won back to back championships at the Superbowls.

[@Recoil816]

RIP Marty. RIP Derrick.

[@povertyspec9651]

This game made me hate the Broncos more than any other team. And the refs wanted Elway to win a SB.

[@nomadcowatbk]

no constant scorebug? no robots?

[@DanGerZoNe857]

The greatest Marty! Well missed

[@Deonte692]

The Greatest coach to have never won a Superbowl 😂

[@AmirKhan-yv8jm]

@@Deonte692what about Marv Levy and Bud Grant who actually made SBs? All 3 made that NFL Top 10 List!

[@Deonte692]

@@AmirKhan-yv8jm true dat🤣

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

@@Deonte692And what have you done with your life?

[@Deonte692]

@@goldenageofdinosaurs7192 I've done nothing but serve in the Army the Marines and open a child daycare center with my 2nd wife , have a good 1😊

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

God, this is brutal. 10 seconds in & I have to watch Marty making one of his worst coaching decisions ever😞

[@Deonte692]

Ole Marty just couldnt beat John Elway in the playoffs, John just owns whatever team Marty coach''s😂

[@beezy22]

1997 was the broncos revenge tour…..they were on a mission in the playoffs and crushed all comers……still miss the 90s NFL to this day……RIP Marty Schottenheimer, Derrick Thomas, Gunther Cunningham, Pat Bowlen, and Tony Jones……

[@nomadcowatbk]

relive pre Andy Reid pre Mahomes Chiefs falling short in the playoffs

[@MrDougMagill]

Just couldn't stop the Broncos offense that day.

[@bostoncityofchampions6581]

They only scored 14 points.

[@kurtspruhan9470]

Ahhh... the game that got Marty fired. The Chiefs were by far the best team in the league down the stretch with Rich Gannon at QB. They would definitely have gone to the Bowl with him at the helm.

[@GamerPlayer-db5se]

Gannon, for the love of God Marty!!! Why? Plus the PHANTOM holding call on Tony G cost us. I still have nightmares over this game. Denver deserves every loss we give them now!!!!

[@mikewalsh1189]

Marty thought the best situation in the world was Elvis Grbac with Rich Gannon as the backup??? No wonder he never won. That wasn’t even the better QB situation on that field in that game.

[@frankfurlacker5219]

Marty threw it, the league was never going to let him win anything.

[@mikewalsh1189]

@@frankfurlacker5219 That doesn't make sense. Of course, neither did Marty Schottenheimer's decisions once January rolled around.

[@TimRoach-w2x]

Didn't the Bronco's O-line start the game with silicone sprayed all over their jerseys?

[@chrisspearline767]

That was brilliant of Marty to fake a FG only down by 4 with 9:00 left

[@tylerm5774]

The clock management there at the end was terrible. Starting on the 3rd down. Gotta get out of bounds.

[@jhask64]

We just clinched the number one seed and this disgusting game pops up on my phone. I watched a few seconds before Horseface appeared and shut it off. GO CHIEFS!! 2024

[@zziz6137]

Same. I guess it's a reminder how fortunate we are to be living to witness the chiefs in these times. People love to hate on the chiefs now but forget it took us 50 years to win another Superbowl. I remember these times when we always fell short in big games. How sweet it is today, go chiefs!!!!!!!

[@carlnash7200]

You got rocked. Lol.

[@vegetafett]

Hey thats how I feel when Kermit pops up nowadays I turn the TV off.

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

@@zziz6137I just saw a stat about KC being 1-7 at Arrowhead during the playoffs, pre Mahomes. That’s pretty rough. I’m sure I watched almost every game, but I think I’ve just blocked em out.

[@benelias3556]

Apparently the Chiefs have been getting away with holding ever since 1997 it is rampant in today's Chiefs games

[@brdempsey69]

Complete RUBBISH !! The team that got away with massive holding in 1996 through 1998 was Denver. Go watch some Chiefs games in the Dick Vermeil era from 2002 -- 2005 and you'll see a great O-Line that didn't hold rampantly, but instead blocked superbly.

[@jennyjones7370]

​@@brdempsey69😴

[@benelias3556]

@brdempsey69 I feel silly having to tell you that it's holding is not only the offensive line but also can be called against the defensive ends and safeties

[@brdempsey69]

@@benelias3556 You aren't telling me SQUAT.

[@benelias3556]

@@brdempsey69 I was referring to the defensive ends and safeties, not the offensive line

[@chrishoneycutt9839]

If Marty had started Rich Gannon the story would had been very different. Marty was his own worst enemy ,terrible just a terrible decision to sit Gannon. Elvis Grbac was garbage and just coming off an injury to start this game when Gannon was playing lights out that year.

[@TariqMakto]

My dad playing for Denver

[@angrydrunkengerman2819]

Please Lord, allow Denver to make the playoffs this year so Mahomes can avenge one of the last wrongs not yet made right to this franchise.

[@stevenhatch1454]

Joe Horn! @1:30:43

[@roljamas]

An underrated Chiefs failing was not realizing how good he was and letting him walk for nothing. We had a WR1 on the team and barely used him.

[@jh4002stang]

should have played Gannon

[@vincet8431]

Is that real grass. Can’t be

[@chrisselby1100]

Horrible time management!

[@abrahamalvarez8321]

Marty... marty ball and those kickers kill any hope in the playoffs for the Chiefs

[@bbethel131]

That was marty ball!!!

[@MrDougMagill]

3 points off of the board on a B.S. holding call.

[@DianaWard-mn5fj]

You wonder how much Marty hated denver,killed him in Cleveland and kc

[@Discoretrox]

Awful playcall on that 4th down...

[@jennyjones7370]

Ah the Revenge Tour

[@TheDjspin57]

The stupidest thing he ever done .. some times your own coach will hold u back

[@dane1154]

Gannon then goes to the dark side and makes us pay

[@bretkaiser7355]

Martyball. So sad.

[@TokaTola]

Marty ball!

[@keenakaur6314]

At the Chiefs 32-yard line, Denver, with one of the greatest kickers ever, punts. Either yet another bonehead decision by Mike Shanahan, or maybe it's because the NFL wasn't loaded with kickers with steroids coming out of their ears, like in the current NFL, where guys make 59-yard field goals, seem like extra points.

[@ryanjacobson2508]

For the whiny chiefs fans on here.... The Vikings lost the 2000 NFC championship game 41-0. Yep. Lay off poor Marty.

[@CountryCapper]

Gannon should have been the starter. Elvis was terrible

[@nicholaseaster58]

Grbac was a complete bum 😂

[@ryanjacobson2508]

Paul Maguire was a complete idiot in the announcing booth. Big mouth and hardly ever said anything insightful.

[@BryantThompson-w1j]

Well everything happens for a reason fast forward to today and Patrick mahomes chiefs wouldn't of beaten elways donkey's no doubt about it mahomes is a better player than elway and coach Reid would of out coached shanahan tight end sharpe v Kelce that can be a draw but defense that's Chris jones and the chiefs they would of beaten elway's broncos I'm sure of it.

[@GripdaddyTechMounts]

Gannon was the hot hand and Marty blew it going with Elvis.