The. Drive. | Crazy Endings

[@MdVaDc]

I immediately got nostalgia when I saw the camera shaking on that first td pass. The crowd erupting and the camera shaking is a touch that should still be in football.

[@danbsports6760]

got nostalgic when it took until the 7:00 mark to finally hear the score. Granted they probably showed it going to commercial a few times.

[@kevinbear9099]

I love how Merlin Olsen doesn't feel the need to put in his 2 cents worth on every play.

[@lzv6990]

The signs of an intelligent and secure man.

[@RafaelSale]

Tony Romo needs to learn to stop constantly talking on every single play in a game.

[@gunther4024]

Is that Gifford doing the play-by-play?

[@brianbaird1503]

Silence speaks volumes

[@thewolfdoctor761]

Agreed. Modern broadcasting theory says that there shall be no dead air time. I hate it when announcers feel they have to yammer every second of the game.

[@rayhume1971]

It's weird watching this in 2024 and being much more familiar with these rosters than any team today.

[@ALastShotonTwoGoodHorses]

Today’s game is too watered down. The Chiefs QB would be a backup QB at best in this era. That punk kid wouldn’t be able to take the hard hits.

[@bradleyj-du4uv]

its because you're old

[@wizard1687]

I'm in the same boat. I'm also old

[@zoso73]

Ditto. 50+ here. We're FUBAR.

[@jimmyplenderleith9471]

I thought the same thing...I dont even like the NFL anymore.....

[@chaecoco2]

This was football. Cold, wet, muddy and no astroturf. God I miss this. Glad I enjoyed the sport when I did.

[@FredRogers-uh2qt]

And no pampering fringe benefits other than Gatorade on the team sidelines.

[@bishlap]

2nd base on the 20 yard line -Cleveland Municipal was a piece of crap.

[@rodedawg77]

Most stadiums were astroturf in the 80s

[@bishlap]

@@rodedawg77 and hard as cement

[@Sanguillen39ify]

Here here. The game now has become a caricature of itself.

[@jamesparker7729]

The fact that this was an old school type of football game played in a baseball stadium, with the natural grass, mud, and dirty uniforms just captivates the whole atmosphere. Nothing beats a football game played in a baseball stadium. Gritty and classic!

[@stevencooke6451]

It definitely connects to the origins of football. Overcoming the elements to drive a team back from the grave. Elway had so many big games.

[@wreckim]

Like the first Rocky movie...low budget...and that's part of why it's a classic. In a few years, we'll never even see sunshine in most of these with all the domes everywhere now.

[@hermeswings1925]

It shows that baseball was still America's pastime. Back then.😢

[@johnperrigo6474]

Everything is too perfect now.

[@JoelShrallow-rl3yt]

My parents went to this game when I was in Preschool.

[@joemarchand8313]

"First down and 98 yards to go." Enberg was legendary.

[@ericradford2142]

98

[@MrNihilist74]

What was great was that one of the broncos offensive lineman Keith Bishop said humorously, "We got them right were we want them!"

[@marcusanderson933]

​@@MrNihilist74And Bishop was absolutely correct. Great game!

[@BDiaz-np8fn]

Emberg was absolute gold as announcer.

[@bishlap]

don't get me started... the motormouths that announce today, suck--they tell us the OBVIOUS... and never shut up. ugh.

[@johnperrigo6474]

@@bishlap Yeah, my favorite Captain Obvious comment is when they have to tell you something like, "If they make this field goal that will make it a 2 score game." Like I can't do basic arithmetic.

[@marcusanderson933]

I miss his famous catch phrase, Oh My! 🎙📺

[@dannyjones2146]

In my opinion the greatest NFL broadcast team of all time. Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen. Merlin knew the game and they didn’t feel the need to just overpower the game on the field

[@drive9997]

i used to enjoy listening to the both of them also

[@CameronRoses]

I loved them, too. But, Madden was best.

[@sec9788]

@@CameronRosesPat Summerall and John Madden was a great combo!

[@tywheeler7131]

It's like you're in the stands

[@rodray267]

⁠

[@jaapongeveer6203]

What an arm Elway had!

[@charlieandhudsonspal7031]

I know. The pass to tie it up would have gone right through me. He wound up like Roger Clemens

[@oxenbarnstokkriii8152]

even on slow motion replays... his arm is a blur

[@fatmayo2293]

Elways arm, at one point was a concern because he threw so hard. Even that catch by Jackson, you can see the ball go threw his hands and caught by the forearms and elbows.

[@pmointernet]

@@fatmayo2293 Yup, his receivers had to practice with machines that ejected the ball at super high speeds to get used to Elway's passes. He was amazing.

[@tastetherainbow9643]

Elways receivers said days after a game they would still have the cross/x from the football’s stitching imprinted on their chest.

[@earlshannon1048]

One of the greatest games i ever watched what a great year

[@MrCool-fs7tr]

What year was it

[@sirtype-alot3391]

@@MrCool-fs7tr 1986/87

[@andrewrehnert4997]

Watching last weekend’s championship games was more like watching commercials with some football added in!

[@thewolfdoctor761]

Yep. Every change of possession leads to 5 minutes of commercials. Very boring.

[@ROMBomb001]

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[@texasstadium]

RIP Dan Reeves. All around great football man...... player and coach. HOF anyone?

[@gertrudevanshandy]

Agreed. He belongs in there. Five Super Bowl appearances is incredible. Bud Grant made it to four SBs (never won any) and he's in the Hall.

[@marcusanderson933]

He even got the Falcons to a Super Bowl. Definitely a Hall of Famer.

[@billolsen4360]

Met Dan Reeves at a Colorado U Buffalos game when I was a ticket taker in Boulder. Both he & his wife were very gracious people.

[@donarthiazi2443]

Nah. Linda Lovelace replaced him with the Broncs. They knew she might blow a few... but she would never choke on the big ones 😂😂😂

[@beansballcardblog]

Ahhhhh…back when I loved the NFL.

[@billolsen4360]

Before the woke boys grabbed it by the throat and the weak sisters in the front offices laid down for them like scared puppies?

[@paulmicheldenverco1]

It doesn't seem the same anymore.

[@augustussohn893]

Something I completely forgot about 80s football: the barefoot kicker.

[@chrisashley5206]

Me to!!!!

[@rogerbraswelljr.923]

Mark Mosley and his American football style kick. The last to do it.

[@MarioHernandez-dp3lz]

Now that kicker had a real athlete foot. 😅 Man I miss football. Those players passion for the sport was real. No disrespect to today's players but they just seem to want the mansions and exotic cars. And they are more likely to brag about how much their net worth is instead of the respect you get from games like this. I miss Elway, Sharp, and Greene. The 1980s and 1990s were my favorite time to be a Broncos fan. Good times. 🍻

[@neilpountney9414]

@@MarioHernandez-dp3lz Patriots fan but always loved the Broncos. Steve Atwater, Carl Mecklenburg were two of my favourite players of the era.

[@Tecumseh4-k2z]

Started in early 70's

[@vesubioromo9425]

Thanks for posting this one, man. Enberg and Olsen, that crazy crowd in all that ancient cold weather gear, teams covered in mud, hitting like men. The NFL and football used to be really great. I'm glad I was a teen during its heyday. We were all crowded around that console color TV on Sundays.

[@psychlyst]

Amen!

[@billolsen4360]

Magnavox and Curtis Mathis! Then, we'd settle down with Bonanza.

[@elypevets5633]

I watch a video of The Drive probably once a year, just to get that old time feeling back while seeing perhaps the most classic 5 minutes of football history

[@scipioafricanus4330]

Brennan, no stupid dancing, make sure you're in the endzone, taking care of biz.

[@gregwilson7818]

Slaughter and Langhorne were your big play receivers but when you needed a first down, you threw to Brian Brennan. He was the clutch receiver...

[@johnperrigo6474]

I really appreciate the announcers in this clip. They didn't have to blather on about all the technical aspects of the offense or defense. They just let the audience enjoy what was going on and told us the basic facts. Today it's non-stop "analysis" and explanation.

[@joeseddit]

Yeah, I guess that would annoy the casual fans. No need to consider the technical aspects of the game for that ever growing population.

[@joepermenter7228]

That's why Tony Homio sucked as a quarterback and set The Cowboys back another decade. It was always obvious it was about "the perfect play call" the "found the correct receiver." Shut up and deliver a clutch pass in the two minute drill rather than an interception every time.

[@grouchomarxist666]

Absolutely. Review the play at 9:21. It's second-and-10, with fewer than two minutes remaining, The Browns sack Elway. Huge play. Neither Enberg nor Olsen say ANYTHING! Rather, they allow the audience to feel the crowd ambiance. Were that play called by CBS today, Tony Romo would still be talking about it (and in his annoyingly exuberant boy-voice).

[@Eric-z8k6f]

I remember a Madden Summerall game in the 80’s where they came back from commercial & there was a kickoff, a return & a flag. John was telling Pat how he sold peanuts in the stands when he was a kid. Pat asked him a few follow up questions, they had a laugh & went to commercial. It was as if there wasn’t even a game. Way different now. Miss those guys. Enberg & Olson also.

[@sec9788]

@@joeseddit😂. Okay Woody Hayes…

[@jeffmutch7640]

This is when I used to love football. No overprotecting the QB, no manufactured penalties. Just “let them play” football.

[@thewolfdoctor761]

And two feet down was a completion. None of this football move nonsense. Determining what is a catch or not really slows down the game.

[@davidclementi5434]

No kidding, Jeff! I guarantee you, back then it took a MAN TO PLAY FOOTBALL! Nowadays, if you look cross-eyed at a QB you get a 15 yard penalty! And tackling with your helmet? Unheard of...

[@zcam1969]

and barefoot kickers .lol

[@gertrudevanshandy]

@@zcam1969 Your Pats were only successful in this namby-pamby era. For the first 40 years of their existence, when football was real, the Patriots SUUUUCKED.

[@zcam1969]

@@gertrudevanshandy huh huh Pats went to the Super Bowl twice before Brady

[@thekansasjayhawk3504]

The absolute worst start to a last effort playoff drive that is imaginable. John Elway is legend.

[@Apollos2.2]

Denver native, born and raised. Haven't seen this in years. Wow what a battle! The Browns with Kosar were so dangerous. Elway, really showed that "rocket arm" in this game, such different velocity that I've been used to seeing lately 😖with Denver even back to the Super Bowl victory with Manning.

[@billolsen4360]

Remember when the Denver Broncos were called "The Cardiac Kids" for their stupendous talent for getting behind in the 4th quarter and then came roaring back to win?

[@MonGoalian]

We were spoiled Denver with Elway and Manning and now nightmares.

[@kevinbear9099]

Love the collisions. Some hittin' going on!! Elway was clutch! 3rd and 12 in OT, Elway, scrambling, delivers a dagger.

[@EanTheNintendoKid]

I'm a diehard Broncos fan but no one can convince me Bernie Kosar isn't the most underrated QB of all time. Dude was the only reason the Browns had a chance in the 80's

[@INYB]

Browns defense was a big part of it. Marty Schopenheimer should be in the hall of fame. Browns. Cheifs. Chargers.

[@meathook2448]

We still love him in Cleveland!

[@jude999]

Problem was he didn't have the big arm to get them where they needed to go.

[@INYB]

@@jude999 if the defense stops the dive in 86 and Byner doesn't fumble in 87 he gets rhem to 2 consecutive super bowls. He didn't have a strong arm. But he had what it takes to get them there.

[@flutetubamorg]

Kosar was pretty good

[@jamesbrady5663]

To this day, the Browns have never been this close to reaching the Super Bowl. They were the number one seed in the AFC in 1986 with home field advantage in the playoffs. Everyone forgets that the Drive only tied the game and Cleveland actually got the ball first in OT, but the momentum had clearly shifted to Denver. I think the divisional round game against the Jets from the previous week exhausted the Browns. That game was an emotional roller coaster and went into double OT. I’m sure it had an impact.

[@scotters201]

I think the divisional round game against the Jets from the previous week exhausted the Browns. That game was an emotional roller coaster and went into double OT. I’m sure it had an impact. I agree about that Jets Marathon game..I think it spent the Browns just enough to be exhausted emotionally

[@MichaelDonat]

The Browns had a chance to score a touchdown and win it in regulation against the Jets and it took double OT to win. They could have used that extra bit of energy at the end of this game.

[@Sanguillen39ify]

Very perceptive of you. I had not realized that Cleveland played a double overtime game the week before against the Jets. That can have a toll on the team.

[@TotalFreedomTTT-pk9st]

Yes ! It's all coming back to me - you are right that game against the Jet's - I remember that and thinking the same thing and to face Denver - and Elway but again it was a classic game Denver and Cleveland have together so shit on it that's good

[@danfromnorcal]

Yes indeed, and it is as if this loss jinxed them forever. You could say the only SB win they'll ever have was the Ravens in 2000, although I think only 2-3 players remained from Cleveland. I went to Boardman High School where Kosar is still revered.

[@toddm8917]

I'd forgotten what is was like watching football without the constant graphics cluttering up the screen.

[@leeturiano4419]

Yup....and no constant fantasy stats on the bottom. Plus, no gambling commericals

[@cliffpadilla5871]

​@@leeturiano4419yep

[@davesnowjonesboro]

Me too. Today it's commercial, commercial, commercial....

[@KornPop96]

The score/time/down would be nice, but it's nice not dealing with the stupid dancing robots and crap.

[@Will-fk2dk]

That absolute laser to Sewell over the middle is a thing of beauty! Not many QBs in History have the Arm Strength and Accuracy to make that throw.

[@jamesswain2465]

As a Browns fan that absolute laser still hits home to this very day.

[@zcam1969]

only Elway can make that pass

[@jamesswain2465]

Was that Drew Carey in the front row? 0:49

[@Will-fk2dk]

@jamesswain2465 Yeah, I watched that game Live, and it was one of the games that really drew me to become a life long Football fan. Also, I can kinda understand how you feel as a Browns fan... I am a Chicago Bears fan. We have been beaten over the head for about 20 of the past 27 years by not one, but TWO CONSECUTIVE Hall of Fame QBs who happened to play for our biggest rival, Green Bay. It sucks to have a good team only to be undone by a Generational QB.

[@vendingdudes]

Consider the foot placement and body position of Elway on that too. That was a lot of torque

[@paulhogan7270]

Elway the quarterback. Elway the leader. One of the great ones.

[@jamesswain2465]

The greatest IMO but Mahomes is coming for him.

[@chrisashley5206]

If Allen tucked the ball and ran against KC like Elway did against the Packers the Bills would have won. I hope Josh watches Elway. Josh is is built like Elways big brother. Maybe he will learn to lead the same way.

[@hawktriad]

I put Elway in top 5 of all-time and Brandy would be lucky to get top 25 at #25 regardless of number of rings he has. Football was a completely different game before he walked on the gridiron, it was more of a waffle iron when he played. He may be a good QB, he may have the most rings but he was not the kind of feld general like Elway, Kosar, Stabler, Marino, Griese, even that guy with Da Bears (McMahon). Completely different game back then.

[@richardgazinia5482]

I'm not a Cleveland fan but watching this must be like watching footage of the Hindenberg Disaster. You know how it ends but you can't help but relive those nightmarish memories over and over.

[@roblegend6715]

It does suck

[@Lima_Golf_Bravo]

I feel your pain as an Oilers fan. Blowing a massive lead over the Bills in the ‘92 playoffs is still mind-boggling.

[@lightyagami3492]

Worst part is they might have gotten robbed on the FG attempt at the very end.

[@joeseddit]

Heh-heh. When I was watching the beginning of this clip I was thinking to myself, "Look how happy they look. Little do they know."

[@rockitsurjon8629]

Oh the humanity!

[@cashcow4383]

John Elway was the legend, He did this so many times . What a true leader

[@BobbyLivingsworth]

this was back when the NFL was legit and great to watch

[@ivanboesky1520]

Back when the players were slow gramps 😀

[@bishlap]

you said it brother. I agree w/penalizing the head shots in today's game, but the rest of the rule changes that make the game so easy for the OFFENSE, Sucks! Gimme back the hard nosed running games and the great linebackers of the 80's/90's. Today the game is all about the WIDEOUTS and CORNERS... and of course the PASS INTERFERENCE PENALTIES.

[@sec9788]

@@ivanboesky1520All that RUBBER BAND training…😂. Game sucks now, homey 👎🏻

[@B1gZ10]

As a broncos fan, I forgot what good quarterbacks look like

[@vincentwhatley9498]

lol

[@esalyers_822]

same

[@soapycheesee]

As a Colts fan, I can unfortunately relate

[@steveTGO]

Hell yeah, Kosar was a beast

[@esalyers_822]

@@steveTGO nah

[@eddiehodgetts9965]

Great stuff. Real football, outdoors on grass.

[@scott6828]

I remember watching this game like it was yesterday...a completely different game back then.

[@joshmoore6165]

What year was this?

[@nytess2]

1986@@joshmoore6165

[@jamesbednar8625]

1986. Then the following year these two teams meet again, and Cleveland was about to make a touchdown to tie the game until the infamous FUMBLE reared its ugly head. BRONCOS player just happened to hit the ball just right, thus causing the fumble.@@joshmoore6165

[@jamesbednar8625]

Yep - me too. Was stationed in West Germany at the time and was watching this game in the early morning hours. Also, games were pre-recorded back then and sent to Germany, so we would be literally a week behind watching football. Only LIVE games were playoffs and Super Bowl and had to stay up very late to watch them.

[@ivanboesky1520]

Yeah, the players were really really slow back then. LOL

[@ForzaMilan-di2zd]

When the NFL was great

[@FischerFan]

..and before Taylor Swift was even born!

[@0U812FU]

Before the BLM bulls@#!

[@brucefrederick7764]

Hahaha 🤣...

[@plutoisacomet]

Wrong....... Elway ran and did a slide before he went out of bounds at 42 seconds. The clock should have kept running and the refs should have called him down and inbounds.

[@ronaldzent6321]

Vin Scully was the same way. One particular moment was when Kirk Gibson hit that game 1 winning homer during the 1988 World Series against the Oakland A's. He just let the crowd acknowledge it, he didn't say anything for about over a minute. Both two of the best to ever broadcast sporting events.

[@noname-x8t9z]

Love how the celebrations are genuine and not all nut Grabby and look at me type crap thats out there now.

[@JJG84679]

Yeah the selfies after a play

[@mrlsms]

100%

[@johnperrigo6474]

Good point.

[@jefflibby4784]

I'm a fan of football. I'm a fan of good players with good character. I was a huge fan of Elway and I saw this live on TV. Such a shame the Broncos were only an average team with one of the best quarterbacks ever. He should've had more rings.

[@robertfuller5081]

That's exactly why he didn't have more rings. I watched him carry that mediocre team for years and get crushed in at least 3 super bowls. He was extremely talented, but didn't have a solid team until later in his career that made them a true powerhouse.

[@davidclementi5434]

And a lot of the blame can be placed on a lackluster, uncreative Coaching staff that never really motivated their Roster to play the game with their greatest effort & talent!

[@robertfuller5081]

I agree. I think Elway's greatest moment is when they won the Super Bowl against Dan Reeves and the Falcons, as he and Reeves did not see eye to eye on many things football.@@davidclementi5434

[@PeacefulPariah]

@@davidclementi5434 Agreed, thank G-d for Mike Shanahan ... and Terrell Davis.

[@chrisashley5206]

The Denver against Washington Super Bowl crushed me.

[@jikan-tabi-1888]

Imagine watching this on 4k tv. Damn, Elway's arm and legs are still legendary. Josh Allen, this is how to play the QB position in the playoffs. Take notes pls!

[@ParkingPirate]

It's not his fault he is in Buffalo. Hahaha The coach screwed that game up. That guy should be gone yesterday. Put Demarr on the field and called a fake punt....hahaha No one does that. Not anyone with a brain anyway. They need a fat guy coach. No more thinnies.

[@martinmayfield1932]

Also love the fact that it was just about football. No agendas painted in the end zone or any other non football bs and the players could actually play without looking for flag every other 2 minutes.

[@American11B]

Elway was throwing laser beams.

[@SpartacusColo]

He had a cannon.

[@jefferyrobertson7520]

1986 AFC Championship Known As The Drive Denver Broncos Against Cleveland Browns Thanks For Uploading

[@nicemarmot.5353]

Thank you for the description, since they couldn’t be bothered to put any useful information IN the video description. It seems they only had enough space to promote all of their other channels.

[@buckbuchanan4902]

I've been a huge Bronco fan since I was five, way back in 1972. I remember watching this game live and have to say it's much more relaxing to watch it knowing the outcome, though I still had sweaty palms. Being a Denver fan, of course I'm biased, but I think Elway was the greatest QB ever. He had the strongest arm, was the 2nd fastest player on the Broncos when he joined them, was a great scrambler, but didn't have the support of a strong running game or great protection like other quarterbacks. I used to call them the Denver Elways, because it seemed like week after week he would put a team of average offensive players on his shoulders and carry them to victory! During the preseason the year they first won a Superbowl, I had written a poem called "To Wear the Ring." It was a tribute to the great career of Elway and ended, "after all he's accomplished if he could do one more thing, he wants to win the big one, he wants to wear the ring." After Denver won the AFC Championship, they were having a "Bronco party" at a mall in Colorado Springs, where my sister lived, and she was able to get up and read my poem. She said lots of people clapped and asked her for copies of it. When Denver's won the Superbowl that year, Elway was one of the players to go to Hawaii for the pro-bowl. I was living there at the time and my brother and I went to Nick's Fishmarket, the restaurant that was owned by Broncos owner Pat Bowlen. They were having a meet and greet for the Broncos who made the pro-bowl, including Elway, Shannon Sharpe and Terrell Davis. Elway was later than the others to show up, and we thought he wasn't going to be there, so my brother gave Pat Bowlen the poem I had written, and told him it was a tribute to John Elway. Later Elway did show up, but there was such a mob of people around I never got within 10 yards of him, until at the end when he was leaving and people were lined up to try to get autographs. As he passed by, my brother leaned in and yelled, "this is the guy who wrote the poem." Elway stopped, looked at me wearing my Elway jersey, and gave me a "Mile High Salute", which was something the team had done to the crowd every time they scored a touchdown that season. One of the hilights of my life!

[@angryaugust36]

Watson got clocked, that hit would be a fine today haha and the trainer's like you're okay

[@shawnn7502]

I noticed that. Rough hit. Concussion for sure.

[@roland7584]

There were so many hits in this footage and it's not even the entire game. Every hit they just get up rather than pointing at the opposition telling them to watch it or else. They all know good football hits and respect the game and the other team for making them.

[@scottsstuff423]

My favorite Elway play of all time (with due respect to the helicopter) was a game against Seattle and Elway was back to pass and the defender was blitzing, untouched, full steam ahead toward Elway and Elway calmly just waited until the last second and ducked right under the dude and then proceeded to throw a 80 yard TD pass without missing a beat. It was such a privilege to be able to watch him every weekend perform his magic.

[@KwaIified]

the orange crush cups at 16:34 really brought me back to 1987....wow...and the huge Marlboro Country sign above the scoreboard

[@hankthepatriot3733]

Even had watched this live and KNOWING how it turns out doesn't change how DRAMATIC and INTENSE (and so little room for error and the pure atheism!) this DRIVE is!!! Definitely worth it's ICONIC status!

[@JAWrightonline]

Pure atheism or athleticism?

[@bluemarvin743]

Watching this almost 40 years later is just awesome. Trash flying around on the field and no one is even attempting to pick it up. Announcers forgetting players' names all the way into the 4th Quarter. Marching band playing. Some kind of ball other than a football thrown onto the field. Elway muddy from head to toe and no one gives him a towel, so he wipes his hands on the back of a teammate's jersey. Announcers commenting that putting a smaller, faster guy in the wide receiver position could mean it's a special, trick play. Referees who look like they're most comfortable on barstools, and not the gym. This was a great era for the NFL. It looks so sanitary and safe now, by comparison.

[@thewolfdoctor761]

That was real football back then. Today's game has become so over officious it is difficult to watch.

[@EJJ-EvArms]

So interesting to see two running backs in the backfield on every play, even on obvious passing downs. Also, Elway isn't in shotgun on every single play. The game has changed so much since then.

[@gregwilson7818]

Yep, back when there used to be a "fullback" and a "tailback" - you don't even hear those terms anymore...

[@jasonnacci4091]

8:55 - 9:30. No words spoken, the editing of the camera feeds and the build-up of crowd noise tells the story.

[@mrufino1]

Now we would have 3 former refs on telling us why something wasn’t called even though it was a penalty, or why it was called because someone sneezed near the QB.

[@Bravo8292]

Listen to the pads pop! Men played this game back then!

[@ivanboesky1520]

Slow men 😀

[@Bravo8292]

Darrell Green! Renaldo Nehemiah! Lots of Speed and Power back then! Joe Green was in a literal fist fight every play! Bo Jackson! Jesus Christ! Shut up!

[@thewolfdoctor761]

Fast than today's players. Easily.

[@gertrudevanshandy]

@@ivanboesky1520 Not at all. ONe of the top WRs in last year's draft ran just a 4.52 in the 40. Even a QB like Mahomes, with great escapability, just runs a 4.8 in the 40. Guarantee you Randall Cunningham was WAY faster than that.

[@PeacefulPariah]

@@gertrudevanshandy Pardon but are you really claiming that players are slower now than in the 80's? I'm not trying to be mean but that is the dumbest claim I've heard in a while. Scoffing at a QB with a 4.8 - 40 is asinine, as most QBs past and present are not even sub 5.5. Yeah, Cunningham was ridiculously fast but that doesn't prove anything other than the fact that Cunningham was a freak of nature (he once ran a 4.22 - 40🤯). Look at the current linebackers, the Tight Ends, the lineman ffs. Most current DL run sub 5 - 40s, and many current OL do too. That's was not the case 20-30 year ago. This is not my subjective opinion. This is provable - look at NFL Combine stats, and university stat archives.

[@manko717]

I miss the grass stains and mud

[@jamesbednar8625]

BROWNS fan. This was an awesome game!!! Was in US Army and stationed in West Germany at the time. Had to stay up late in order to watch this game. Also remember staying up late for that double overtime win against the JETS. Back then games were pre-recorded and sent to Germany for the troops to watch roughly a week later. Only LIVE games were playoffs and Super Bowl. Heartbreaker of a game for sure. Next year same thing watching these two teams play again and witnessing "The Fumble". UHG!!! Also, do not forget "The Interception" in the early 1980s against the RAIDERS when the BROWNS just needed to kick a field goal to win and advance to the next level, but they went for a touchdown instead and RAIDERS intercept and win the game. RAIDERS go on to win the Super Bowl against the EAGLES that year. Cleveland "destiny" I suppose. Elway was a BEAST last part of this game and into overtime. Also. nice to see the old Cleveland Municipal Stadium again.

[@larsbambi1575]

I'm from Buffalo, this goes out to Cleveland and Detroit. One of the three of us has to win a Super Bowl!!

[@rogerbraswelljr.923]

Man I was really pulling for Detroit this year. Detroit Cleveland Jacksonville and Houston have never been to the SB. It's eventually going to happen. I was also hoping your Bill's do well too. Y'all deserve a ring.

[@jamesswain2465]

Must be something with Lake Erie

[@Savagethecokecan]

Lions should have been in it, Campbell really fucked the pooch on that one.

[@ToddKirchner-q9m]

Include me to the party as a Purple People Eater. The Vikings have been rebuilding since 1977.

[@jeffreyrobinson6628]

What’s maddening about Minnesota is the 1998 NFC Championship to Atlanta. Gary Anderson missed field goal to go up 10. Minnesota couldn’t stop the Falcons when they had to. They got the touchdown to tie it then won it with Morton Andersen in overtime

[@MonGoalian]

Greatest sports quote of all time, when Broncos got the ball at the 2 Keith Bishop said in the huddle We've got them where we want them.

[@anthony_rivera4735]

I like how the drive and the fumble both happened on consecutive years with the same two teams.

[@va.cracker9318]

Man them are daggers the browns fans are still bleeding from. They have not sniffed a super bowl since, hard to dawn them colors every year got give them props no bandwagoning there.

[@ronmarvicsin7709]

Don’t forget when the raiders intercepted our bill in the end zone

[@naysayer1238]

@@va.cracker9318 don

[@Eric-z8k6f]

@@ronmarvicsin7709 Red right 88.

[@stephenwipf5224]

Fumble from the same Runningback. Byner if i'm not mistaken. Such a great running back for him to have to deal with that must have driven him crazy.........poor guy.

[@billionairelivesmatter2]

There has been debate over the years as to whether Karlis actually made that final kick. It went too high for the upright. If the upright was 10 feet higher the ball may have even hit it, but we will never know for sure.

[@jude999]

Why Denver got rid of those awesome uniforms i will never know.

[@SpartacusColo]

Pat Bowlen wanted more money.

[@ROMBomb001]

They need to bring them back, and not just once a year.

[@Growup1163]

The Orange Crush!

[@joemamma416]

Didn't they win the superbowl the first year out of these uniforms?

[@billolsen4360]

@@joemamma416 I remember getting my Irish Catholic boss into an orange jumpsuit to go greet the Broncos as they flew back into the Denver Airport Sunday night after their first SB win.

[@Patrick-s5o5t]

Those were the glory days of playoff football when players took great pride playing for their team and city not worried about their contract

[@jamesswain2465]

I met Brian Brennan on a flight from Orlando to Cleveland back in 1990. I went and sat next to him to have him autograph my Browns hat then the buckle seatbelt signs came so I just sat next to him all the way back to Cleveland. I didn't mean to bother him.

[@gregwilson7818]

If you watched the entire sequence from 5.43 left in regulation thru OT, not one penalty flag thrown except for the kickoff out of bounds. It's also amazing how the players (defense) knew how to tackle, instead of just hitting the ball carriers. They actually wrapped up the players and took them down. Current players don't understand this concept.

[@gregwilson7818]

Another thing I loved about the broadcast was the absence of the crap on screen. If you watch football today, you have a thick banner across the bottom displaying stats, scores, down and yards to go, the broadcaster's logo, etc. taking up part of the screen. Then you have another across the top with other misc. info. And it's always changing, popping up new data, new stats, details from other games, etc. The older broadcasts there was nothing on the screen, you would see in white lettering the score or down and distance, then it would disappear. You could watch the whole field in peace...

[@johnperrigo6474]

@@gregwilson7818 I agree. Also, now you have announcers telling you about other shows on their network, like anyone really cares while you're watching an exciting game.

[@dn9597]

As a Browns fan who watched this game in real time at the tender age of 12, it still haunts me. It's one of my childhood traumas

[@deanmckean7770]

I watched it also. I from northern ohio, and the fumble the following season was 2 of the greatest years of my life. The only time better was when didn't even have a team in the 90's. Good times.❤🎉

[@kellygrudzinski184]

Yup same here!

[@kellygrudzinski184]

I was a freshman in high school

[@broncodeviltexas]

We shouldn't let sports affect US that much but as a Houston Oilers season ticket holder, I feel your pain . (Bills game) 😬

[@jamesbednar8625]

Was in US Army stationed in West Germany at the time of this game and THE FUMBLE the following year. Back then, had to watch any LIVE football games after midnight. All other games were pre-recorded and sent to Germany a week later.

[@imco9972]

That game brings back so many memories for me. The coaches, players, the announcers. ❤

[@daevydjae]

Here's some trivia: Mark Mosely, #3 for the Cleveland Browns and the straight-on kicker you saw, was the last full-time straight-on kicker after that 1986 season.

[@johnkelley8647]

John Elway is top 5 qB of all Time. His ability to stay cool under pressure with that flamethrower arm and mobility… Deadly

[@roland7584]

No doubt!

[@MrEOM41]

I love how QBs used to draw back in this era

[@leroydubya]

I was in the newsroom of the old Rocky Mountain News in Denver helping to cover this game. All of us were in disbelief as to what we were seeing on the office TV as Elway led his team down the field from their own 2 yard line. Maybe today's NFL QBs should watch this. Heck, high school and college QBs, too. As for me, I went to the old Stapleton Airport to cover the crowds welcoming the Broncos home. Then the Broncos played the NY Giants in Super Bowl XXI. Nuf said.

[@kevinbrown19]

Very impressive

[@TotalFreedomTTT-pk9st]

Cleveland fan - yeah Elway mastered throwing to the out of bounds and he was so super jock type - like he looked 'football' - and had big thighs so he could stand in longer and take some shots - glad for the wins years later

[@earlmonroe9251]

I was a QB back in the day and my HS school coach had this game on VHS. During the entire off-season, he would open the gym and broadcast "The Drive" on a wall. The offense would run each play of that drive, so that we would all learn exactly how many seconds it takes to run consecutive plays while the clock in running. We learned when to step out of bounds instead of trying for an extra yard or two; we learned to always hand the ball directly to an official rather than leave it on the ground with the clock running. We learned how to save our timeouts. I will bet that EVERY player would say that we learned more from running "The Drive" over & over & over than all of our other drills combined. It's amazing that 30+ years later, there are a LOT of coaches & QBs at the NFL level that have no clue what they are doing in the 2-minute drill. "The Drive" is an excellent teaching tool of how efficiently a team can march down the field when the coach & QB are both in sync ... no panic whatsoever ... just total focus and precise execution. I fondly remember our team finally getting the chance to do it ... with only 29 seconds on the clock, we drove 64 yds and saved our only timeout until we got inside the 10 yd line with 4 seconds left. The final pass was broken up by a great play by the DB, but what a phenomenal job by everyone in the huddle to remain Laser-Focused on their jobs, because we had done it so many times in practice.

[@jonnyblayze5149]

That mufuka elway had straight ARM. boy could toss a pigskin

[@NickCC23]

The Tom Jackson mentioned towrd the end is the same Tom Jackson that became a long time partner of Chris Berman on ESPN.

[@marvinstheman88]

Elway still has the best arm ever. That ball flew out of his hands. Remarkable to hear the crowd progressively get quieter as the drive went on. That drive broke the whole franchise.

[@andrewjost6714]

He had a great arm, but he could never throw a touch pass... always had to be on a line. The sad thing was he was devastating on receivers... they often had to stop to catch a bullet, and so the receivers rarely could catch in stride and often took a lot of blows... But he was great...

[@johndaniels7609]

Terry Bradshaw is in that conversation. Flick of the wrist Lazer beams.

[@jamest3552]

That way he only had to lead the receiver one step.

[@catchmeifyucan1]

Dan Reeves wearing the trench coat on the sidelines like a secret agent 😂

[@rafterscott]

Yes kids, back then bare footed kickers weren't uncommon.

[@smoothALOE]

It’s weird to see any kicker that’s not soccer-style, too. However, I was watching the kicker for Atlanta a few weeks ago and he appeared to be a straight away kicker.

[@BlackPawnMartyr]

That was shocking and i was born in '81. I guess i just forgot about that. So weird seeing it now.

[@jamest3552]

I only remember Karlis being barefoot, who else?

[@FredRogers-uh2qt]

Tony Franklin was the original barefoot kicker who played for the Eagles and the Pats from late seventies until about the mid eighties.

[@JeffW77]

@jamest3552 Dick Kenney of Michigan State University was a barefoot kicker. Played in big game against Notre Dame in 1966 that ended in a 10-10 tie.

[@wreckim]

Jackson spiked the ball...I thought 'what a mistake' ...should have kept it....but he found it, and did in fact keep it. What a tremendous drive...and thanks for the post!

[@qlanes4235]

That was FOOTBALL!

[@youMatterItDoesGetBetter]

No flags baby. Man to man.

[@ivanboesky1520]

That was slow players 😀

[@Just_Pele]

@@ivanboesky1520 Not as slow as modern NFL fans.

[@BrianBoese-im8jm]

98 yards to go... Inspiration!!

[@floofycatz]

I always love to think of an alternate timeline where Elway opted to play in the MLB as the Yankees right fielder. His arm would kill baserunners trying for an extra base :)

[@jamest3552]

Bo knows.

[@joeblow2069]

Merlin Olson was wrong. If Lang lets the ball roll into the end zone the browns could have jumped on it. There were several Browns closing fast and that is a live ball.

[@23ryanfisher]

What is this game? They are actually tackling each other and there’s no flags almost every play? This is back when Football was great.

[@markpennington9797]

Actually tackling each other? You missed the touchdown?

[@gothard5]

football is still very much enjoyable to watch

[@rayyou7032]

This was real football before refs run the games.You didn't see all the PI and holding bullshit you see now.7 is a legend way before these guys now.

[@mattnorcia5593]

And jerseys getting dirty

[@Eric-z8k6f]

@@mattnorcia5593 How good was Elway’s uniform by the end? Classic old school football.

[@Ja-rl1tq]

I never get tired watching this, seen it live, rewatched 100+ times!

[@timdanner2596]

It's so refreshing -- and something I hadn't notice on numerous rewatches -- to hear announcers provide limited commentary and instead let the action and crowd reaction tell the story. This clip should be required viewing for all those current announcers who think they have to have their mouths open every second of the game (usually in the form of yelling) because they think viewers are tuning in to hear them blabber.

[@richardgazinia5482]

They should make Jason Garrett, who I think is the worst at just blabbing on and on, watch this, the Kirk Gibson HR and the Bill Buckner play over and over to understand that there are times you need to shut up and let the TV audience soak up what is going on inside the stadium. Vin Scully was a master at letting the moment breathe.

[@MightyAvengingLeo]

Also, every other play didn't have a flag.

[@andrewmiles8702]

It’s Dick Enberg and Merlin Olson right? Enberg was classic….

[@johnperrigo6474]

Agree 100%! I thought I was the only one who felt that way!

[@NickCC23]

As for the NFC Championship (mentioned): a dominant Giants defense and lots of Meadolands wind.

[@cbod14]

Over the years Elway has become under appreciated. This man literally dragged three of the worst teams of all time to The Super Bowl.

[@8avexp]

And they got whupped each time.

[@natecavender897]

@@8avexpyou’re confirming his comment. They got whipped because john elway dragged their ass to the Super Bowl

[@SECRETARIATguy224]

@@natecavender897 Don't agree at all. The teams they played were just better.

[@Milliardo66]

@@SECRETARIATguy224That’s literally what he said

[@SECRETARIATguy224]

@@Milliardo66 I do not agree with you.

[@kar4938]

Legend has it in Denver that Elway said "We've got them right where we want them" in that first huddle.

[@marcusanderson933]

It was Keith Bishop who made that quote.

[@blackbycoloronly]

You don't hear fans cheering like this today.

[@thewolfdoctor761]

Today's players are spoiled and so are the fans.

[@huluvsya6462]

At Arrowhead you do!

[@blackbycoloronly]

@@huluvsya6462, touche!

[@huluvsya6462]

​@@madelinewhitley14 Only because they're cheering for the Chiefs when KC plays there 😜

[@madelinewhitley14]

@@huluvsya6462 Whatever, I don't give a sh*t, I never asked you anything. Goodbye.

[@tomharris5661]

I remember the term "The Drive" referring to superbowl XXIII

[@TicklerDude]

36 seconds away from a victory for the Bengals. That drive defined Montana as the best QB I ever saw

[@John_Michael2000]

And Elway had no idea he was about to go back to back to back Super Bowl losses.. in two weeks he would lose to the NY Giants and Phil SImms, and the next year he would lose to the Washington Redskins and Doug Williams, and two years after that he would lose to the San Fran 49er's and Joe Montana.. John had to wait 8 more years before he finally had his SB ring when they beat the Packers and Brett Favre in 1998, and he got his 2nd ring the year after that when he beat the Atlanta Falcons and head coach Dan Reeves. Now that's a guy whose story people should know.. Talk about heartache. He's the head coach of Denver in this game, then loses the three Super Bowls I just mentioned.. Then when he becomes the HC of Atlanta he loses to his old QB John Elway... Wow

[@jamest3552]

Elway owns Denver.

[@John_Michael2000]

@@jamest3552 John Elway played for Denver.. how can he own them?

[@jamest3552]

@@John_Michael2000 The town not the team dude.

[@John_Michael2000]

@@jamest3552 Oooh...ok.. Yes you're right

[@slapdat.byteme]

“Norman!”

[@BrianBoese-im8jm]

Come back kid for sure..

[@jefferyalberter9922]

Interesting how they still had end zones painted for both teams even though it wasn't a neutral site game.

[@ChrisC709]

I remember a few teams had done that in the CCG. I recall Washington doing it in the 1983 NCCG against the 49ers. I don't know if it's been done in the last 25 years.

[@brianbaird1503]

Elway had a gun ...... a warrior. Like him or not, u couldn't deny his athleticism

[@TicklerDude]

Mahomes be like......Hold my beer

[@Riles3152]

That was a complete master class on how to quarterback a team down the field for a score, in a road playoff hostile environment, with everything on the line.

[@bvbxiong5791]

...and with subpar talent.

[@joekubina5897]

With some luck mixed in.

[@Riles3152]

@@joekubina5897 What was lucky about that drive?

[@joekubina5897]

@Riles3152 how many times have you seen a qb in the shotgun and the snap hits the man in motion and still makes it to the qb?

[@casanovacortez1647]

Broncos kicker #3 Rich Karlis, back when the NFL had bare footed kickers. Brave soul.

[@Anon-zl4ne]

Man do I miss watching those Elway rocket passes every Sunday.

[@tynosille6747]

That elway is top 3 ever and I'm a chiefs fan! He dragged bad teams into the superbowl the first 3 times. Put him on the Joe Montana 49's teams and Elway would've won 8 superbowls in the 80s and early 90s and Joe Montana would be best remembered from notre dame on those same Denver teams that John Elway carried into the playoffs and superbowls. John Elway broke my heart so many years as a chiefs fan but I still recognized greatness and I believe Elway is right there with mahomes and Brady as best ever. Elway had the best arm ever for sure damn he threw hard and threw a pretty/ deep bomb!

[@LiamDeege]

The Broncos were not in danger, they WERE the danger.

[@ChrisPierreBacon]

Except the week after when they got absolutely molested by the Giants.

[@SocialAssasin]

Helps when the jackass ref who is standing right under the upright rules a FG good when it clearly was not.

[@forevertj]

@@SocialAssasin That is true, but take solace in the fact that no AFC team was going to win the Super Bowl, From 85 to 97 not a single AFC team won the Super Bowl, The NFC dominated. The Browns would have lost had they gone.

[@Anon-zl4ne]

It is not clearly anything. @@SocialAssasin

[@LiamDeege]

@@forevertj I mean the Giants would've likely been the odd one out had it not been for Wide Right 1, but I agree since the 49ers and Cowboys were always at the top for the most part during the late 80s and early to mid 90's. It's also unfortunate that neither team has won a Super Bowl since 94 and 95 and the Cowboys don't even know how to win in the 2nd round anymore.

[@Craig-ib7gk]

That hit on Watson at the end of the play at 28:21 would have the defensive player ejected for life if it were to happen with todays rules. Crystal clear, targeted helmet to helmet blind side hit. I'm shocked he held on to the ball, and neither Dick Enberg nor Merlin Olsen said a single word about the hit.

[@Kevin-v3b]

Those were the days.Remember when Jax beat 1 seed Denver?

[@33DC33]

Say what you want about #7, his talent and skills were unmatched! Elway was the total package...a field general that would warrant mega money in today's game. One of the rare players who elevated the play of everyone around him.

[@gertrudevanshandy]

He's kind of forgotten in today's GOAT discussions. He's certainly top-7 for QBs of the last 50 years. Marino, Montana, Elway, Brady, Mahomes, Manning, Brees, Fouts, in no particular order?

[@33DC33]

@gertrudevanshandy I would say top 3 or 4. Hard to put anyone in front of Brady and now the trajectory Mahomes is on, he may be #2. Elway went to those first 3 SBs without a supporting cast. Montana played on one of the best all around teams....Rice, Clark, Craig and had tuff defenses. Glad I got to see all of those on your list play in their prime! 👍

[@SneakyCheeseThief]

I really miss the days when football was a dirty game. Now it’s all bright colors and pristine uniforms on HD.

[@thewolfdoctor761]

With half a screen of unwanted graphics and stats always displayed.

[@BrianBoese-im8jm]

Tough to put a damper on your day !! But we have Elway !!!

[@jacksquat4140]

This game was played on January 11, 1987 at Cleveland's Municipal Stadium.

[@victorramirez3153]

Thank You!

[@jacksquat4140]

@@victorramirez3153: It was my pleasure.

[@shawn1432]

John Elway was the absolute King of the two minute drill, he always drove the Sea Hawks crazy and me because he had this ability to take you apart…he did it time and time again to all the teams inside the two minute warning…he was something !! Back in the 80’s that was real football

[@zerimar26]

That play at 13:45 to Mark Jackson. I wish it was clocked to see how fast that pass was. That was a bullet.

[@PeacefulPariah]

I remember Elway throwing it so hard this one time that he broke the guy's hand.

[@madelinewhitley14]

​@@PeacefulPariahHe broke his finger, not his hand.