The Steelers and the 'Immaculate Reception'


Montana's magic (Murray's miss) send 49ers on their way in '83


'Captain Comeback' leads '72 Cowboys past 49ers



  Friday, Jan. 8 8:39pm ET
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From ESPN SportsCenter

 
BEST DIVISION GAMES
  This is the fourth in a five-part ESPN SportsCenter series on the best NFL Divisional playoff games of all time, selected by a vote of ESPN.com users earlier this month. Follow the series on-air and on-line as ESPN brings you the best of the best.
One franchise had a rich postseason history.

The other was in only its second year of existence.

The Denver Broncos and Jacksonville Jaguars squared off in the 1997 playoffs. The Broncos knew that they belonged. The Jaguars wanted to show everyone that they were for real.

From the start, the Broncos seemed to be on the express route to the AFC Championship game, jumping out to a 12-0 lead in the first quarter.

On the other side of the ball, Denver's defense stymied the Jaguars' offense. Holding Jacksonville to just 28 yards of total offense in the opening frame.

In the second quarter, things started to turn around. Tory James' apparent interception of Mark Brunell was called back for pass interference. Three plays later, a scrambling Brunell found Natrone Means to start Jacksonville's first touchdown drive.

 Mark Brunell
 Mark Brunell put the Jaguars on the NFL map.

"That was a big play", says Brunell. "It enabled us to get some points and get things going. It was kind of a momentum switch for us. And to be honest with you, I didn't think Nate would bring that in. The sun was in his eyes and I just kind of floated it up there".

Means later finished off the drive with an 8-yard run to cut the deficit to 12-10.

Now Jacksonville's offense was rolling. Up 13-12 in the second half, Brunell, hooked up with Keenan McCardell to cap off the Jaguars' opening drive of the half.

The score remained 20-12 when Denver "seemed" to slow down Jacksonville. But as Bryan Barker punted the ball away, Denver's MIchael Dean Perry didn't get off the field in time and the Broncos' were flagged for too many men on the field. The penalty resulted in a Jaguars first down, and eventually three points.

Finally, Denver's offense kicked back in. John Elway hooked up with Ed McCaffrey three times to set up a Terrell Davis 2-yard score.

"We were able to start doing something offensively and help the defense out," Elway said. "But then Brunell came in and made some big plays and they just never stopped, and it's tough to catch them if they don't stop.

The Jaguars never lost a step. This time it was Brunell's legs that carried them to within striking distance, before he found Jimmy Smith in the end zone for six.

"Mark Brunell had an exceptional game," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "Not only running, but scrambling and making some of those throws. We haven't had people do that against us this year."

"He's the only reason that they won if you ask me," Broncos' defensive end Alfred Williams said. "He kept drives alive with his arms and with his legs you know. And we just never faced a quarterback like that."

Elway mounted a comeback of his own, as he found McCaffrey in the end zone with just under two minutes left. Denver was not able to win possession of the ensuing onside kick, propelling Jacksonville to the AFC Championship game and sending Denver home.

"In my years of playing football or doing anything, I've never felt this bad before in my life," said Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe.

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