1984 Divisional Playoffs Steelers at Broncos

our game breakers great speed and great talent we've talked for years about Swan and stalwart and here our spell work and lips breaking the records that those to itself and on the other side to 1,000 yard club members winder and Steve Watson that's the first time in 25 years Denver's been able to accomplish that well they need to get the break opens with winder he's got a hammer so they can open the way for the passing game so that Elway can get the ball up on top to Watson Watson one of the most athletic receivers that you will see in the NFL the Pittsburgh Steelers will kick it off gene Lang and Gerald will hike deep for the Denver Broncos Chuck Noll he has been in 20 playoff games his record 14 and 6 Reeves in his second chance [Applause] wait the winner in the Orange Bowl 75,000 partisan crowd Anderson [Music] for the Pittsburgh Steelers [Applause] we'll hike [Applause] the 22 and here comes the offense for the Denver Broncos Jack John Elway Jack's son on the field it'll be Brian we're going to be watching him Howard and Bishop the guards linear and stuttered other tackles okay a good blocking would be tied and Butch Johnson and Steve Watson are the wide receivers for Denver Way was great feet and mobilities he showed it Seattle two weeks ago yes right is this H backhand [Applause] they'll wait and who is also a good receivers to the 20 he caught 44 passes this year here is that Steeler defense always known for their rock-hard defensive play the Pittsburghers line up this way with done in the middle Goodman and Nelson on the outside the linebackers Mike Meriweather on the way to the Pro Bowl David little Robin Cole he's in the Pro Bowl this year and Hinkle the back for Woodruff and Washington at the corners the veteran Donnie shale he usually is toughest in the bacon generic Williams at safety second down [Applause] about four Elway fumbles the snap from center and drops on it at the 25-yard line where there's some key matchups Merlin Olsen and where will you be focused early they'll look right in this center bill Brian the best of the offensive linemen against done the strongest is a defensive lineman now people to watch on offense Elway with his running winder and Watson they're the key people offensively defensively Meriweather shell and Cole will have the cameras on them a good part of the day I just about got out of breath coming up there the other two got me dick come on down third down and a long five from Denver both wide receivers right with Johnson in the slot lways first throw heat gun - Watson first down at the 38 Steve Watson who grew up in Baltimore and idolized the great Raymond Barry and he has many of the same articulate moves does not have blazing speed but working on Woodruff Woodruff gives him a cushion here and he gets to the sideline excellent job you saw how much room he had to make that play in Elle Worth Elway has such a strong arm that those defenders cannot give that much room to these Denver receivers back to the single back wall fence new tight ends the HVAC beam Jim why he's in motion wondering hit hard number 56 Robin Colbert II nearly loosening the ball from the grasp of winder Kolbe moved to the inside Merlin and he seems to have found a home there well I think the Pittsburgh Steelers have known for a long time he's a better inside linebacker but for years they were in a 4-3 and the man inside was none other than Jack Lambert you can't move Lambert out and when they went to the 3-4 he finally got his chance inside and in his first year has proven to be an outstanding inside linebacker a starter in the Pro Bowl and he says he's just learning now that's interesting that core has filled a big gap this year along with David little with the injury to Lambert he is not here in Denver today the old way doesn't like the defense and it'll be second 9:00 we have our first time out so here in Mile High Stadium Elway a fumbled snap from center and now calls time no score early netted the Steelers with one more Lawson they've earned they're 14 and 6 in postseason play the Broncos are two and four and of course the Steelers with those four Super Bowl rings and there's still three players in uniform today they would like one for the thumb to come through second [Applause] this is what he did the Seattle expert comes up to stop him after only a two yard game number 53 Brian Hinkle a third-year backer from Oregon excellent speed among the linebackers for the Steelers Hinkle runs about a56 Meriweather about a 5/5 and you saw him closing quickly on Elway who's an excellent runner Elway has averaged four and a half yards per carry on the year there you see the Steelers defense AFC ranked and that's what they're going to be counting upon today stop the run they would love to keep Denver in third and long situations like there [Applause] [Music] that'll have to be credited as a sack as Harvey Clayton 33 on a corner blitz Phaeton coming off the left corner so quickly that no one picked him up the steelers liked to overload in his own they'll put enough people over there that you simply cannot block them Merriweather was coming he was picked up but Clayton number 33 around the outside and Elway could not get away from him Chris Norman to punt 40-plus average but much better here at Mile High and back to receive the dangerous Lewis lips he has one touchdown on a punt return this year he stands at the pittsburgh 20 [Applause] leg the return Hunt's receiving and running Norman end-over-end lips 2025 the twenty seven or eight good coverage by the Broncos a 42-yard but a six yard return the Steelers have the ball for the first time 11 minutes remaining in the first quarter chanting defense and the defense will be facing this Pittsburgh Steeler offense in Mike Webster was woefully costea rookie milk em the offensive line Stallworth and lips on the outside Benny Cunningham another would be starting a tight end with powdered and Abercrombie the last 10 games he's 6 and 3 as a starter and on the ground a game of about 8 yards as Dennison finally brings down Pollard running the ball up inside deck Pollard driving straight up the middle behind the block of Abercrombie Carter the nose guard Jones and Chavous on the outside active linebackers the inspirational leader Jackson Busic the leading tackler Dennison Oh [Applause] and Smith safety one of the Denver players made the Pro Bowl and yet their second best in the league in stopping hurricane from scoring you said on the other side we're going to look at the nose guard and the blocking center how about this time anytime you talk about running game you start right in the center at all-pro center Webster against the muscular nose tackle Rubin Carter some of the people to look at offensively for Pittsburgh hitomi we've talked about the two game breakers Stallworth and lips and on the defensive side [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] it's a recovered Townsend recovered the bull Jones forced the fumble [Applause] believe what has happened the Denver defense living up to their reputation as they forced the turnover and recover the fumble Malone taking too much time and he is not terribly mobile back there Rulon Jones runs it down and knocks that ball away right there the Denver defense pounces on it and they have the football on the 23 yard line watch it again number 61 the man top of that football now the first break goes to the Broncos who went 13 and 3 because of those turnovers they were second best to Seattle in the league by david little and gary done little from florida the younger brother of former all-pro guard larry little and done out of the pittsburgh people felt he should have made it to the pro bowl now they really felt that he had a fantastic season for them and you talked to players around the league who had to bump noses with him has great strengths occupies the middle of that defense and larry little has just done a tremendous job imagine having to step in and take the place of Jack Lambert now I feel full I'd want that job dick but that's living in the shadow David little of his brother Larry and then the shadow of Lambert now he's on the main stage second down and it almost intercepted by Woodruff that ball tone so hard that the tight end K couldn't handle it and neither could wonder if even on the ricochet it still had too much velocity and handcuffed the pittsburgh defender I've got a believe that John Elway is still suffering from butterflies out there set it in that game in Seattle took him to full half to get over it here he said he thought it might be less than that but I think the energy and the adrenaline just caused him to gun that ball too hard he's also throwing in two receivers and defenders who are looking back into the Sun that's got to be terribly difficult down there right now [Applause] or Clint Sampson is in along with Alexander and Johnson for wide receiver shotgun 39 in complete intended for Samson and the field-goal unit will come on the field for Denver rich Carlos we're seeing the two most accurate field goal kickers and all of the NFL of those who have kicked 50 successfully or more Carlos is second only to his opponent today Gary Anderson of the Steelers and while he had his difficulties late in the year hit a couple of uprights that may have cost Denver wins he certainly came back in San Diego and Seattle and the season was an excellent one 21 of 28 total this one will be 39 yards [Applause] [Music] for the kicker's wide to the right no good so the Steelers ducked the proverbial bullet as a fumble at the 23 of the Steelers and the Broncos can't capitalize you must be able to take advantage of those early opportunities you get the big turnover and a relatively easy field goal for Carlos who has good range with you side drifting off to the right well it's sunny and around 50 degrees down here in Denver and off in the mountains oh they're enjoying their own form of glory no score middle first quarter Shepherd fumble deep in Pittsburgh territory can't capitalize I wonder Berlin you were down there you saw them come out and the players faces on the reaction that once a team seem more tense or more up than another I learned that lesson a long time ago watching my own teammates living with them I couldn't tell how they were doing for a day it's impossible to tell just looking at faces and reacting what's going on out there well a Happy New Year to the fans in Denver [Applause] Broncos have at will [Applause] [Laughter] and exchange but Tom Jackson there comes up for the ball now let's check the penalty it's going [Applause] that's where it gets a second chance almost in the exact spot the first one at the 23 this one is there sit the 22 it looked like a fumble exchange right there Malone never got the football up from Webster and the alert Jackson and that is a way to describe this Denver defense they are terribly alert they jump on that football and look at those opponents fumbles recovers Seattle with 25 Denver with 24 plus two today so a winder the lone setback behind at the 22 of the Steelers right [Applause] for about five before David little and a posse of white shirts can bring him down dick one of the things that you know about this Pittsburgh defense they play run on first down and they have been hurt during the year by quarterbacks who would go after them with the passing place so far Denver has run the football almost repeatedly on first down and on that down they picked up a good four yards but they have not been getting much yardage on those first down runs actually as they mention at second and five come sit off the winder and a good play by Woodruff on the corner he took the outside away and despite the fact by winder planta could not make more than two yards on the completed pass you saw Woodruff giving a lot of room on the outside a few moments ago to Steve Watson but did not give that kind of room made an excellent reaction to the ball closed it off it's going to be third in about three and a half yards to go Watson and Alexander to the right foot left is butch Johnson the game he's the win wide open his winder first and goal when a valuable asset this winder is in his third year out of Southern Mississippi he can run it and he can catch it will hide in to open that up three wide receivers and a good receiver up at the wing but it was winder who just went in and hooked up there and you saw ankle number 53 slip as he reacted to that throw I don't think he would have stopped the first down and or completions for Elway three of those to winder first and goal today and did not get there a scrimmage is Edmund Nelson in his third year from Auburn down low with Donnie Schell there to secure the play at closer to the 9 yard line Whittle be second and gold now the Steelers have not allowed a touchdown in the first quarter in the last 13 games so they've been tough early defensively and they really are getting the test today in the Tuck Noel's Club has coughed up the ball twice inside their own 25 [Applause] they will on their side here they come go away wide open gym right touchdown that's a touchdown pass all year until the last game in Seattle he got a big one there and he opens the scoring today he came dangerously close to losing that football let's look at the pressure from Meriweather who's coming hard but Elway uses his speed to get outside that's the mobility that this defense is so break them you saw right almost bobble that football Karlis hits the extra point lead seven to nothing bad exchange between the center Webster in the quarterback Malone Jackson recovered the fumble second and goal [Applause] NBC [Music] bull shortens the field only 22 yards five plays the nine yard pass for the payoff to Jim right [Applause] Pittsburgh beautiful high kick he's had a big hole up but it closed and down he goes at the 27-yard line dick one of the things that I think might be happening out there the Steelers have tried to alter their snap count ehrenburg's still on the field as you see the cameras pick him up shaken up obviously but one of the things that the Steelers have tried to do Denver jumps around a great deal on defense they've tried to alter their snap County they're going on a quick count or on a long count so they can force Denver to end up in the defense they don't want to be in if they go quick or get a chance to react to that defense that they go slow the end result is that they have bothered themselves Arenberg helped off hit in the face New Year's Day big football day here on NBC and we have late for you the Orange Bowl bumpkin burg something to do with the face even the helmet can protect the hazardous duty of being a kick returner darren como made the tackle it was up high looks like he's trying to stop a nosebleed watch this shot coming from the right hand side of your picture right there como just buries an arm into ehrenburg's head and Arenberg down like he was shot 27 yard line first time for the Steelers [Applause] 22 the [Applause] 23:07 mmm dumps it off Abercrombie 33 yard line and of about 6 Dennis Smith the safety man from Southern California will be running for his alma mater the Rose Bowl against Ohio State on Tuesday a long snap on that play Malone took that one safely he wants the short pass here and I'll tell you if Abercrombie wasn't such a fine athlete he would have missed that ball had to turn all the way around to get it dick he was looking for it inside the ball was thrown outside Abercrombie made the adjustment [Music] driving to the 48-yard line and that's where the Steelers are so excited about this young man from Baylor University when he was within a tackle of going all the way tremendous blocking on the offensive line the Steelers will trap you to death up front they came with a tackle trap on that play coming in from the outside watch the trapper coming from the left side of your picture right there number 63 will clean right there knocking up a man down making room for ever party who exploded into [Applause] 7-nothing Denver [Applause] fifteen and he is to the 45 of Denver the first trip into Bronco territory for the Steelers a seven yard pass to Frank Pollard Smith again made the tackle and Pollard also from Baylor it's an all Baylor back field behind Malone he led the team in rushing with 851 yards has learned to be a pretty good receiver certainly has and he talked to me in the locker room just before the game he said I'm really sorry I couldn't get a thousand yards he said that was my ball I'm side and gonna go out to his totals on this second and the short three [Applause] loses a couple Anna Smith Rick Dennison Dennison from Colorado State a free agent number 55 he has been perhaps the biggest surprise in the development of this young Denver team here the leading tacklers Busic and Denison you see them what number one a number three they were the two biggest surprises for Dan Reeves he said they came on so strong at those two inside line back in positions and look Steve Foley a safety the number two tackler for this Denver team actually two safety seats that's it broke the nose on air but we'll see him again before this game is through [Applause] [Music] over the middle complete to Pollard and Frank Pollard has a first down at and Malone just getting rid of that woman pressured again by Rulon Jones rule on coming in over the top of pee trust husky and there is there you saw Pollard going out of your screen on the bottom you'll see him coming back in getting away from Jackson on that play Jackson couldn't keep up with him as he broke across the middle nice play isolate on the linebacker get the pass to him Malone doing a good job on this Drive of picking at the Denver defense piercing his backs he's three for three passing Abercrombie for the 26-yard line reminder we will be selecting the Bud Light most valuable player in today's game and a $1,000 contribution to charity in that man's honor we'll announce that later in the fourth quarter Lily right coming up for Miss safe heard from his corner position and forcing well on that last play did make the tackle but it was a fair game about second and six in the day at the 26 yard line 7 nothing Denver leads on a nine yard pass play Elway to right after a fumble recovery at the Pittsburgh 22 Steelers trying to get even [Applause] lips to the right wide receivers haven't caught a pass yet here's a little reverse to lips cause we're enfold a bit Tom Jackson 57 staying at home with fellow linebackers Steve Buzek abacrombie will carry this ball around the play was kind of broken up a little bit you can see the lips arrived a little late I think Abercrombie is supposed to go out further and because the play was Miss time it was much easier to read by the defense to of the linebackers read it quickly and closed it down for a little bit of a loss looked like Dennis Smith was coming up on a force an Abercrombie wasn't sure he'd be able to even get the ball to this crombie he's going to be awfully close depends on where they market if it's inside the 20 it's a first down and that's where they have marked it [Applause] first down for Pittsburgh in a clutch throw and catch one of the things that Pittsburgh coaches and players talk about repeatedly is how quickly Malone has come along and his ability to read and recognize defenses you've got to remember the Chuck Noll one of the few coaches in the NFL who allows his quarterback to call most of the plays now on that particular down he's sent a play in he will do that more with Malone that he went up with a Terry Bradshaw but Malone calling most of his own plays that's remarkable in that he has had really very little game experience in fact when he first played with the Steelers he was a wide receiver Bradshaw is still a record reception the end zone intercepted and dropped Louie right here to have that one picked off and couldn't hang on right was voted the top defensive player by his teammates this year here in Denver that's a high honor because it could have gone to any one of eleven men let's watch Darrell Nelson young rookie here makes a very big play at the end of this particular down now the interception is had right there now watch him reach up and slap that ball out of the defenders hands now that's just a good alert play by a rookie on that particular down here's another shot of it just ripped it right out of Louie Wright's hands otherwise interception they bring out 220 it's Denver's ball second and 10 from just inside the 20 Abercrombie and look at the flower my gain of about eight for Abercrombie maybe even nine he was her number one pick couple years ago but just never could find a place they had Franco Harris and Pollard and that Greg Hawthorn they moved her thrown around finally traded him and finally in the last five games Abercrombie has become a regular and he has delivered with Aaron Burgau on the bench he'll be even more action in this game because he'll probably stay in on third downs there is Joe Collier the defensive mastermind of this Denver defense and this is where his defense is compass inside and tough enough that Malone didn't like what he saw too many orange shirts in the wrong position and he has called time with just 19 seconds remaining in the first quarter the Broncos lead by a touchdown full sidebar pieces of duty we enjoys a sportscaster when we arrived a couple hours ago this is how Mile High Stadium looked and then the transformation and all the color of this sellout crowd of 75,000 how much orange is there at the stadium you almost get arrested if you don't wear it in fact one of the judges on Monday is going to wear his bright orange robe it's his playoff robe in court here in Denver it is rather contagious no shows here they only had a few a hundred don't use their tickets all right here it is second third down and a short to fighting the noise of this crowd there it is outside doesn't make at Elton Beals a rookie from down by ski fully and this is where the injury hurts them right here Ehrenburg ordinarily would have that position Eldon Beals goes in not as well prepared for that responsibility we talked about Foley as attacker look how quickly he responded to that little toss and he's a deadly one-on-one tackler look at that play took the legs right out from underneath that back that is the first quarter Anderson and the field-goal unit was coming on for Pittsburgh they'll go for three to start the next quarter to convert Merlin Olsen welcome back to the second quarter Denver leading seven nothing Gary Anderson from South Africa to Syracuse and he has there is in this lake some field it will eventually kick 164 yards this one is a chip shot from whoo we just slid it inside that write-up right Anderson gives the Steelers their first points of the game important to convert to put those points on the board Anderson almost fell prey that the same devil that put Carlos's quick first kick outside let's watch the holder Craig Colvin look at him spin that ball to try and put the laces back toward the goal post so that there won't be a problem with having those laces going the wrong direction look how dangerously close that ball was just whiting to the right just as Carlos's kick is done earlier good thing it was from his closest 28 today's game is brought to you by the new Chrysler Corporation we don't want to be the biggest we just want to be the best by Duracell the coppertop battery when it comes to making them last longer we never stopped and by Stroh's and stro light fire brewed for smoother taste well it's know me up there but sunny is most often it is down here in Denver actually they don't get a lot of snow here in the city the tourist bureau wanted custard mine folks of that Anderson's kick as a deep one n line run it up he downs it and it'll be the Broncos at their own 20-yard line quarterback John Elway boy his heritage is something as you know is dad Jack is the head coach at Stanford but his grandfather played football against the immortal Jim Thorpe of the Carlisle Indian so lways relationship with this game goes a long way back he's five for seven to start interesting dick when you talk to him one-on-one you don't get that commanding leadership kind of response from him and yet you talk to his teammates there's no question when he is out on the field he is in command 1873 [Music] those on first down and hits Watson at the 28 [Applause] covered my Washington or he does have a rifle of an arm but that was what everyone talked about last year this year the opponent talking about those marvelously quick feet of his well he has made a lot of big place has turned a lot of broken plays into big plays and talking to Tony Dungy the defensive coordinator for this Pittsburgh team he was more afraid of Elway scrambling ability he said that's how he makes this big plays if we can keep him in the pocket we feel we can control him yep Tom Gatlin the Seattle defensive coordinator said the same thing two weeks ago it's his scrambles and that indeed set up the win that's a lateral pass so white this is an old that's right open as Watson [Applause] gadget plays [Applause] first of Wilhite and it had to be a lateral to make the second pass legal here is Wilhite swinging to the outside look how far behind Elway is now Wilhite throws this ball under touchdown look how open Watson is and Watson electing to come back and try Walker's got the first down way down inside the 23rd time they've used that pass this year winder outside [Applause] they wound up making three let's look at that play again we'll hide had he thrown a clean spiral would have had a touchdown we're looking at it from the other side of the field now quick toss out to Wilhite and again look that ball just found a fluttering up there that's whether you throw that in practice all the players quack like ducks you notice Watson again breaking over trying to pick up blockers and did get some extra yardage before Dwayne Woodruff number 49 finally drove him out while you work on those plays and they're fun during practice and when they come through for you in a game that has to be an emotional as well as a game for the team [Applause] [Music] Watson and that was a lateral - but that was no intent for him to throw another he's down for loss of three they'll be third and ten he's trying to take advantage trying to get two blockers out in front of him this should keep Bishop from his guard position coming out along with Butch Johnson trying to block but no room for Watson and the stiffening of this Pittsburgh Steeler defense means that Elway is looking at third and long again elect cocky substitutions on the fly Steelers bring in four new men as they change the defensive alignment on third and ten they've got four defensive linemen they will go with six defensive backs again receiver's that's what they've got on the field right now [Applause] I mean he's yard scramble and a first down for Elway John Elway and this is the kind of play we mentioned turning what looked to be a sure sack a broken play that was Keith Geary number 92 trying to take him down but Elway just ducked inside and hit it upfield and used his good running ability to pick up that first down they spotted at the 7 so it's a 13 and that's what the school ethos was talking about [Applause] yard to the 6 Gary Dunn of Miami of Florida making the tackle will see the Hurricanes and the Bruins to start our January 1st triple header Miami and UCLA in the Fiesta then Ohio State USC at the granddaddy in Pasadena and finally Oklahoma and Washington in the Orange Bowl so make your plans to be with us a New Year's Day [Applause] in the second quarter at second and goal for the Broncos at the Pittsburgh six [Applause] is in the game to Paris off the shoulder pads Donnie shell on the coverage for Pittsburgh I think Donnie shell may have shaken that ball loose if Paris hadn't dropped if he may have heard shells feet as he comes up just a little toss into the flat but watch this shot from number 31 right there I don't know if he'd have been able to handle on that hang onto that football or not third and goal so far the ball game both teams have converted two of four first bar third down situations this certainly the most crucial as Denver would love to be able to get this one into the end zone and not have to just settle for three he went to his H back Jim Wright for the first touchdown they calls time in this situation that's the second time that Elway is called timeout both young quarterbacks electing to use their timeouts instead of going against the defense they don't like well those three left in the second quarter hi Stadium in Denver a big play third and goal at the six a Capital opportunity here for the Denver offense well they went to the trick play to set up this chance to score let's see what Elway is called home going for the six intercepted by the Steelers Gary Dunn the nose guard brings it back to the nine [Music] Elway threw it up for grabs they were coming right on top of him you saw his eyes as he looked into that defense and apparently he did not sense the Blitz at least he was not ready for it they were on him so quickly he just unloaded the football tried to get it out in front of the receiver but it dropped right in the hands of number 67 Gary Dunn watch the pressure he's looking to his left and when he looks back that's Mike Meriweather we told you to look out for Meriweather and the whole play knows why on this particular play this one he's trying to lay out in front right here I think he wants to get it to winder he's simply overthrew and Gary Dunn [Applause] I want to ask you about that play after pollard drives up to about the 17 yard line now that was an unusual position to find a defensive nose tackle Dunn was playing like a defensive back it appeared that they were using what we what we would call a mirror for that middleman in other words he was anticipating run I think he's drifting to the outside where he is he's expecting a rollout and I think he'd gone out there to be in position for that instead he finds himself with a football in his hands a post unlikely situation for a notable second down and three so three times a Broncos have been deep in the Pittsburgh and of the free and they come away empty twice it's seven to three of our codes Abercrombie driving to what appears to be close to a first down at the 21 Steve Buzek we replace Randy Gradishar and leads the Broncos and tackles made that stop there is done getting a breath of air does it help at all in this mile-high country to use the oxygen well I think it might help you at least in your head a little bit I think that's worth it that no question that this altitude is going to bother you and I don't think you can acclimatize yourself in just a couple of days you just got to gut it up and go but if you think that oxygen helps it probably those [Applause] or almost five more the Steelers are a long distance away from a possible lead s our goal line actually our goalposts camera don't seem like a long ways when you look at it from Wade out on the other end zone course Malone would like to get his stealers moving here they're trying to hammer right up to Center dick they're going right at the middle of that Denver defense music and Dennison inside [Applause] first pass and despite the fact fell down that great talent that bounce back to the feet and pick up the first down so lips has his first catch and nine yards what a rookie year he had at not only in receiving the ball and complimenting John Stallworth but in his threat as a punt returner and as you said earlier Berlin a lot of people may have missed the note that Stallworth and Swann in their best year did not have a season to equal the year that stallworth and lips had this year wide open is Stallworth oh he slipped away from hearten and fortunately for Harden and there wasn't enough sidelines for saw worth to keep on going but that will be another first down in 12 yards the first catch for Stallworth who has caught a touchdown pass in eight straight playoff games talk about a money hitter usually be found on the left side lips on the right at least on first and second down in long yardage situations anything goes for this team but you saw Stallworth working on hard and that's not a good matchup scholar that veteran see Thomson 87 is in for Pittsburgh [Applause] and music [Applause] talking to Merle more before the game a linebacker coach he said we're going to try and get penetration we're going to do some blitzing early look at Foley up quickly that's what he did he broke the rhythm of the play and that swarming defense look at all those orange shirts nowhere for Abercrombie to go the defense for the Broncos and taking the ball away recovering fumbles 17 men share 13 different men had an interception and 16 others were involved in sacks his team defense dan lives pupil of Tom Landry one of those at Landry helped the law Mike Ditka's into the NFC Championship game look at the time from alone to find lips and even Louie Wright can't cover a man and it's a first down at the 38-yard line of Denver you put your finger right on it you can't give a quarterback that much of an opportunity his receivers have time to work Malone looking left left left and finally goes back to the right side the lips lips had made a little outside move let's see what he did that get away from Louie right now this primary move is there he'll look back here that look back area sees that his quarterback is in trouble and he's just trying to get open they're got low etern de round a little bit downfield 25 yards go nuts on the catch and here come the Steelers they trailed 7 to 3 to Stallworth and stallworth has another pittsburgh first down interesting strategy by Chuck Noll and Malone they ran the ball they ran the ball throughout the first quarter and suddenly four big pass plays on this drive it's very interesting dick they they talk both teams talked so insistently about the necessity of being able to run the ball I don't think it's so much that they have to run it as they have to be able to know that they can get those yardage that yardage rushing if the other team cannot take they still have all the options first down at the 25 you saw roles [Applause] great games have expected to get there [Applause] and lips had pulled up short as right hand in well-covered what do you think about that Noel's coaching job does you have to agree in fact it's interesting to me the truck mole has never been selected as a coach of the year net amazing for Super Bowl championships I think one of the reasons dick he has never really catered to the press to the media in fact he has kind of a mo idea about her value and things all together but this man is the consummate coach a dedicated coach a low-profile coach he cares about what his players are doing what his team is doing [Applause] in particular six rookies have started wearing this it's second and ten [Applause] Dennison and what we're talking about youth this is certainly not an experiment but the result of great youthful play this year because Denver too has gone with a very young came almost twenty of them are younger than Elway and he's only 24 dan Reeves and again Dan was selected as coach of the year by Sports Illustrated to honor the kind of responsibility and the kind of leadership he has given his team but fighting on both sides of the field tremendous coaching for the second quarter protection open his Abercrombie Atwater [Applause] Robins rookie from Arizona there is the young man touchdown saving deflection there are some passes that my does not throw well this is one that he does throw well a takeoff pattern trying to get it over the top of Randy Robbins and look how high Robbins went to bet that pass away that's a touchdown another inch or two and Randy Robbins would not have been able to reach that ball that's great deeper yard field goal attempt by Anderson here made the 28 yarder does the same thing so the two most accurate kickers active in the Anderson and Carles have each missed today and strangely the misses all to the right side of the goalposts that ball just stayed out there never did hooked back to the inside good snap good hold he knew the minute he put his foot on that ball [Music] Colquitt spots the ball the swing of the leg and Anderson's face will tell you the rest the building of these two teams 15 rookies or first-year players for the Steelers and 14 for Denver and one of those Robins making a touchdown saving play in that last series then Anderson missing 14 [Applause] 7:3 seven minutes left on this first half stay tuned NFL 84 monitor shaadiram dem reveal the first game accent they were surprised Washington and no surprise there and almost an intercept by Eric Williams as good deep coverage on Butch Johnson Mike marrow whether he had 15 and a half 15 SEC's this year coming in right there on Paul Howard he's got a face full of Howard's hand and just blasts Elway and the ribs as he gets there but he had a few fingers in his facemask on that one from Paul Howard I liked his quote what do you dislike most about football and Meriweather said the contact you know they tried to compare him to LT Taylor in New York and he said look I'm not that kind of linebacker he said LT runs over people I run around [Applause] a little tougher than he's giving himself credit [Applause] outside why [Applause] watson as about 11-yard play out of it out of bounds at the 34 officials straddling that first down marker and of course if it is against the Steelers it will be a first down so important for a defense not to quit when a whistle is blown that way by Gaston Gary Dunn and Keith Gary we're offside says referee Fred Wyatt first down they'll take the play out at the 33 right at the top of your picture you see the jump there Elway using his voice I think that's what it is he's giving them a loud barking count staggering it got them to jump in their eagerness see if we can pick that up [Applause] that's a noise he doesn't like to hear as he is smothered by done and little company that hit by David little reminiscent of a stick he put on Marcus Allen in the Raider game on a critical fourth down situation you see him there listed as the fourth leading tackler Meriweather and Johnny shell again a safety the second leading tackler robbing coal and David little as you would expect the tackling dominated by three linebackers but kind of a surprise to see a safety in there but shell has always been accused of a linebacker and his safety up being a linebacker on a safeties position and also right let's play when it comes to the intercepts you want to talk about that and it was both sides movement that time for butch Johnson [Applause] Donnie shell now [Music] the Denver offense I thought it was an orange shirt it looked like Clarence K the tight end may have gotten out to quick and drawn the defense offsides [Applause] no question about Elway's ability to throw that ball deep and Johnson did a great job of suckering the defensive back sliding in behind him to pick it up bad news for dead there's Clarence K right the top of your picture and you saw him off ahead of the count and that is a rookie mistake and this is the kind of game unfortunately that that kind of thing happens so much intensity so much emotion on the field and with so many young players we're going to see some of those critical mistakes today they decline the penalty to bring up third and nine that's where the statistics are misleading - that might have been just a five-yard number in a penalty yardage total but it was a 43-yard loss on the pass play well that's 48 yards that you lose and one big gulp Pittsburgh pretty happy about that one [Applause] Elway down the middle income by Woodruff watson the intended receiver we'll check the penalty but first prophecy from Dan Reeves reads talked about the importance of these number 93 that's that is a crucial play again a big mistake [Applause] Keith Willis there's there's Dan Reeves it was talking about the importance of these games in the playoffs and how critical they are here it is [Music] every aim for sudden-death there's no question about it there is no tomorrow if you lose this one somebody else goes to Miami so yesterday was watching the Seattle game at Miami what great respect he has for both coaches and particularly Chuck Knox and how well Knox is treated him head coach [Applause] wide open Clarence K didn't have a white jersey within 20 yards of him but no way was throwing under pressure [Applause] and in fact the fans wanted a roughing penalty John Elway back and it's Mike Meriweather storming in from the outside all over the top of him but ly got away and then got dumped now that that's the that's what made the fans here angry why isn't that a penalty it probably should have been it looked late from here deck so Keith Willis gets away with one now the ball is clearly away and he's already taken two steps and gets hit if that is interrupting the penalty faster penalty what is a Courtney I think the reason maybe it wasn't called the official looking back did not see how far Louis came on that play and they see him I think he would have dropped the fly [Applause] again this time it was mark kitano and Watson has the catch [Applause] [Laughter] absolutely amazing for Watson to be able to catch that football it went right through the hands of Sam Washington and his concentration was so good that he didn't lose it that battle they take the game out to the 50 of 10 yards Gaetano a free agent from Valdosta State in Georgia and he too took the hook and something that lways doing is drawing those Steelers offside I think it's the way is barking is cadence looking at it from the other side of the field you'll have a chance to see the penetration right there and again it's a rookie in an emotional situation well into the second or well into the - running from the ball was there 1873 gets the winery as his longest game stolen away and I didn't hear a whistle that might be Pittsburgh's ball no they're saying it was down dick the whistle was blown both of these teams working at stripping that football away a much greater consciousness of that in the NFL and I think that comes from the ability that Denver and Seattle have shown during this season of taking the football away by stripping it away from the runners and receivers pretty quick whistles has the Steelers there's that give away take away it's two to one in favor of Denver today against Pittsburgh done with the interception and a couple of fumbles recovered by Denver let's look and see what happened at the end of that play you see him on the ground while you're laying on the ground robbing coal in and snapped that football away Bowl a powerful man but obviously winder was on five minutes remaining seven two three denver driving to try to add to that lead in second down and a it's closer than two gets inside the 40 and that should be enough for the first down Gary Dunn spearheaded the defense of charge and the Broncos have four more downs championship game will be the early of the two games next Sunday here on NBC we invite you to join us head as the winner here Denver or Pittsburgh will meet the Dolphins for the right then to go on to the Superbowl Dolphins back in stride Marino throwing well and the most important thing their defense playing as they had played early in the year shutting down a running game which is something they were not doing late in the season [Applause] [Music] the butch Johnson in good call by the official who took his time measure to see if that was a forward pass or a lateral pass and ruled that it was forward incomplete if I were a coach I'd have a hole to push his neck on that one he can't guess whether that was a lateral or not he's got a cover that ball there it is again always throwing so quickly that that ball not very far behind it looks like it's almost dead even with the line of scrimmage he saw the official he gave it a good look and made us the Denver Broncos and the NFL is prohibited [Applause] they're chasing away little finishes the job little will probably get credit for the sack but it was Meriwether why does he hounded quarterback great speed great quickness he's the kind of guy that will make your day long if you're a quarterback and even with Elway's ability to use his feet you see the one-on-one matchup right there Meriweather getting back outside and Elway just can't get away from him dodge him all the way back into the traffic david little number 50 takes him down he led the team in tackles Meriweather with 98 led the team in sacks with 15 Gastineau the NFL leader with 22 and honzik Tippin at 17 linebackers the only other linebacker who bested the marihuana's record on the year clock running out here in the first half 73 Denver down and 22 [Applause] rising the watch beyond the line of scrimmage and their lights go down illegal forward pass the line of scrimmage was the 49 of Denver he threw it from the pittsburgh 49 I'm sure he got a little assistant they got a little assistance in making that call from the Pittsburgh coaches who were looking right through Elway at the yard marker on the far side Elway again showing you this is a planned rollout by the way this is not just a rollout after-the-fact plan to give me more time looked all the way back across the field and here he is just stepping beyond the line of scrimmage that's where coaches waving frantically and they did get the call referee's having a little trouble with their microphone on the field today buddy why they unable to communicate as well with us as he would like to that's five yards and loss of down fourth down now and nearly 30 lips drops back to the 15 pressure defense pressure defense ten men up dick let's see if they're coming after Chris Moore look at him jump around like a fire drill down there I think there isn't pressure on that butter get all that movement I think they're coming let's will let it go pounds we'll see how they market will be around the 20 not even that good 22 yard line Kenward number 52 the outstanding special teamer the last two seasons he'll be nailed on the outside by Harvey Clayton number 33 who's trying to stay in his way keep him from getting downfield and there's a second blocker coming over to help scoop Gillespie but scoop got scooped on that 132 yard punt win 3:10 left in the half it'll be Pittsburgh with a ball at the 22 trailing 7 to 3 they probably have the shortest lineman offensive lineman and they're also maybe quicker than some of the other linemen they used that crap technique and the screen old-fashioned football and Collard rumbling to the 37 yard line with three minutes left in this first half looking at it from the endzone you'll have a chance to watch this screen development there goes a flag oh now we got a fight down on the field let's let's watch the action there nothing serious but a flag is down emotional I mean these players I you could sense it as they came out you couldn't tell which team was most emotional but there's no question a great deal of intensity personal files against Pittsburgh that's not one of those double calls and nullifying penalty so Pittsburgh nailed and that'll deny a sizable gain for Chuck Noll Steelers will not be happy about that as it will mark his team back at the end of that play is where the file occurred you see Pollard running downfield let's watch and see let's keep looking here maybe we can figure out it's pollard man who has tackled and being roughed up he apparently kicked or something down into that file very often when you're down and you're vulnerable a defender will crash into you or be pushed into you and you think he's done it intentionally often it's totally unintentional I had it I had that it happened to me a couple of time trying to get away from people with ended up stepping on them or kicking them Pittsburgh moving the ball much better on first down in this game but they trail where at count seven two three first attempt exactly where they started this series [Music] they justified the game by powdered on the screen he picks up yardage to the 29 it'll be second and three in the clock running to 44 left a chance to watch one of those traps that we talked about let's look at long right here we'll be coming across in your picture to do the trapping on the other side take a peek at it now you'll be coming from the right side of your picture driving across number 74 and actually in that situation Jackson had come so deep that he didn't even have to make the play Jackson taking himself out of the play and they were able to go right straight on now wants the work away your favorite animal that Holt illustrator just popped up on we got the idea anyway electronic wizardry it's like all that computer work trying to get in and out of hotel sometimes you can't make it NFL 84 all the gang and nice to have a mod was shot with us here in Denver that his thoughts about the first half of play and also the key plays in case you missed them the Chicago Bears and moved on to the championship game in the NFC against the San Francisco 49ers Walter Payton brilliant defense some is well the president didn't call me not even the one that lives just a few miles down the street in the plains Georgia complete and they've missed him he's home again now and he's to the 48 yard line Cunningham who caught only four all year in fact one of the amazing statistics in this era of the tight end and pro football is that the total catches by all the tight ends on the Pittsburgh squad for the year is 11 that's just one day for the Winslows of the world two-minute warning with Denver leading here at Mile High 7 to 3 Steelers have two timeouts left they used one earlier in this half clock running 147 followed showing you how he amassed an excess of 800 yards they go right back to the line of scrimmage [Applause] it off the Pollard makes a milkman [Applause] a man who's been on the ball number 74 Terry long is quite a story there perhaps has no other player in the NFL quite like him he is 510 510 if that doll 272 pounds when he left high school he weighed a hundred and sixty a hundred and sixty went into the special services the Armed Forces yes 60 parachute jumps and went to the weight room went from 160 to 272 and has made this team as a rookie from East Carolina and he has played a great deal during this season Liman six-four six-five he's bothered again Twitty and finally Dennis Smith gets him out of bounds at the 15 yard line and there was some good blocking on that right side of the Pittsburgh line where long is working with two until Kim the Broncos had a blitz coming they're coming hey see Jackson coming up inside and when you blitz against a drop play often you just kill a play but if you miss it you have a back running and the next people to see him are the secondary Dennis Smith the next guy with a chance to get Pollard out of bounds Pollard getting a big first down and the Steelers driving down to the 16 yard line 124 left on the clock plenty of time for Chuck goals open his store and the veteran John Stallworth is out of bounds at the to remember he has 10 playoff touchdowns eight consecutive games with at least one and he came within a yard and three quarters of another this is the kind of thing that Tom Moore the offensive coordinator wanted to have happen a good mix of passing and running by establishing the running game you saw the draw a moment ago to open it up you forced the defense to honor that and then you can come back and find some open territory look how much room number 82 John Stallworth had to work in but a good job before they drove him out of our stop the clock with 117 or some confusion [Music] in the end zone and the Steelers lead for the first time [Applause] a very late touchdown call the officials looking back and forth and finally one of them threw his arms in the air it looked like second effort from Frank Pollard as he was stopped momentarily just short of the goal line and then twisted his body in using great strength he has huge thighs good strength forcing himself into the end zone we'll look at it after the extra point Colquitt to hold for Gary Anderson who narrowly made a 28 yard field goal and then Miss wide right from 40 [Applause] [Music] now in the middle of the uprights this time here is that touchdown play followed as you will see will be stopped watch the surge now you'll be coming in against two extra blockers Veals over there Anthony Corley over there into the end zone and this the result on the sidelines Chuck Noll rarely showing any emotion he leaves that to the players and the assistant coaches that's about about as big a standing ovation as you'll get from the headmaster of the Steelers Pollard has given Pittsburgh a 10-7 leap the only mistake they made maybe they scored too soon 114 still left and Rooney and Patrick Bolin wishing each other well of course you just saw the chief art Bruni will be 84 late in January we want to wish him well watching back in Pittsburgh enjoy with bill Macatee on NFL look at that kick by Anderson and we'll I says no way I'll take it at the 20 I made a comment earlier that Anderson in practice tries field goals from 64 and makes them rather consistently if he ever gets a chance and they need a long one in this atmosphere mile high we might see em break Tom Dempsey's long-standing NFL record there's no question he has the leg to do it he has the confidence to do it a day like today the air is not as warm if it were warmer say about 85 degrees that would help him the ball tends to get a little bit tighter in this kind of situation does not reflux as well doesn't travel as far but you can kick a good long one up here today anyone remember the Broncos have only one timeout they only had to spend two earlier 14 left in the half they trail for the first time winder caught from behind Brian Hinkle we talk about the speed of Meriweather but he well he has four six-speed looking at it from the opposite side of the field you have an opportunity to see this offside pursuit this is just great pursuit from the back side of the field 53 he'll chase winder all the way across the field and winder simply did not feel him there he was looking at the blocking up front and Hinkle able to use his for six running back down fans are booing because Denver has made no attempt to stop the clock it's down to 33 seconds they'll go deep here wide open as Watson is he what a toll dance by Steve Watson he the best toenails in the league stretched all the way out a chance to see his ballerina like catch here look at those toes absolutely flexed to the maximum like a fallen sequoia beautifully done and they're out just inside the 35 yard line twenty-second six seconds left in the half and they'll wake and get this ball down the field a little bit further they may be in position to let Carlos have a try the water at six catches for Watson as you look at Carlos number one Watson with six catches 109 yards in receiver in this first half [Applause] and he's at the 44 [Music] call it right here Denver takes their final timeout you remember they had to call too because of confusion earlier Elway's saying why well if you look at the clock they're only 18 seconds to left in this game now they may not have time to get things stopped and get their field goal team on the field a little bit of difficulty here but look at the concentration by Watson knows he's going to be sandwiched Eric Williams and 49 Dwayne Woodruff a sandwich right there but he hangs on to the football you know the fates of the game are really interesting we asked Watson yesterday on a temple no one drafted him six years ago in here he is he had 69 catches this year he's well over 200 he's been a brilliant player I said did you know you were who could be this good he said yes but everyone thought I couldn't run that well I was kind of a skinny guy said well why'd you pick Denver I thought to be some magic story that maybe they did a better sales job he said I went to Denver because I looked at the rosters and I saw Haven Moses the great receiver here in Denver was going to retire is it I'll take his spot alleged confidence and a chance with did he play with the Firebirds back into some of the old team's pots down Firebird I think that's where he had a mental league or whatever continentally yeah he his hobby is art and Watson is certainly an artist on the field and has come up with two more key grabs to give Denver a hopes of adding to their seven-point total and a possible field goal that could tie it at the break Dan Reeves calls the plays for the Denver Broncos and he has sent his choice let's see what they do to try and pick up to the our age and get the clock stopped they have to work the sidelines or go for it all they can't afford to be tackled in bounds no timeouts left bake the winder a throat a Wilhite stops the clock with 12 seconds there at the 40 so this would be a 57-yard field goal try if they were to try now but they've got enough time for at least one more pass ploy trying to get some confusion they're moving their people around three wide receivers a couple of backs up close to the line that puts five receivers quickly into the secondary but the Pittsburgh defense able to cope adequately on that play and only a short game if you're wondering Carlos is longest field goal in college and the NFL is 50 yards 50 [Applause] lines Watson not inbounds he was out of bounds both feet in that time that would have given Carlos a fairly good chance in one it was around the 26 Watson doing his magic a number of times but on that particular play unable to put both of those toes on the ground you'll see it on the sidelines there one foot and the second on the sidelines you just see him why would you talk about this being a game of inches now if with shorter toes he can fight the pin it might have been able to stop now they're going to gamble with seven seconds rather than trying a 57-yard field goal always hopeful that he can get a good pass and out of bounds in that seven seconds and they throw it up and try and get a penalty here hi cat no cat okay get much help from Dan Reeves so Carlos is going to have to come in for a desperation long prior will they go for one little bomb in two seconds well it looks like Carlos will stay on the sidelines and they will [Music] [Applause] Player of the Year by fans here in Denver and one of the five finalists for the NFL man of the year these fans make this whole stadium rock you'll see our cameras occasionally rocking as they stands stop and show there wild as any in the NFL if not the wildest 57 yards away from it [Applause] nope [Applause] that one spiraled its way downfield and that is how the first half comes to a close underdog Pittsburgh perhaps following a script written earlier by the Chicago Bears takes the lead at the intermission 10:00 to 7:00 dick talking to Denver players and listening to all the press in the media they were very confident that they would be in Miami next week they can't afford to ignore this Pittsburgh team they found that out the hard way here in the first half we've played 30 minutes the score Steelers 10 Broncos 7 now stay tuned for NFL 84 right after this [Applause] [Music] passing the football you see Malone's numbers 11 for 15 Elway 12 for 21 to turn overs [Applause] Gary done stopped the drive deep in Pittsburgh territory for the Steelers I think treble hearing the count [Applause] for a couple let's reset the offense for you Malone the quarterback Pollard and abercrombie are the running backs a very young line in fact the Steeler started four rookies on offense today that's a remarkable number for a playoff team a line makes you blind with the injuries of Wolfe Lee long Elkin Webster and Winkle tight end Cunningham sing some duty along with Darryl Nelson a rookie and the wide receivers lips installer they really came into play in that to the touchdown late in the first half that cooked [Applause] third and eight [Applause] offensively for the Broncos they line up in the three-four Chavis Carter and Jones they'll change things now in a past situation Ryan Dennison Busic and Jackson are the linebackers Luiz ride Mike harden of the corners Dennis Smith and Steve Foley [Applause] the safety spot Kaspersky in there position for Pittsburgh wide open his lips but he can't hang first down at the 32 bass was a little low that lips should have gathered in [Applause] unable to control the football turns it over let's see if maybe Denver won't gamble here they're going to get good field position anyway they might just go for the return here they have ten man up Gerald will hike back to the 30 to go foot has never been [Applause] he didn't punt in the entire first half so this is his first attempt today ten men on the line of scrimmage they're coming [Applause] first poll [Applause] Roger Jackson 28 unofficially he got there first it looked like they loaded up on the left side the came from the right side [Applause] and got his hand on that football and the way a close look on the other side at Colquitt and there's the bat right there make marijuana 50 trying to protect him [Applause] over the top the ball out of [Applause] a devastating play for the Steelers and it's amended lifting opportunity for Denver just inside the four yard [Music] [Applause] credit Roger Jackson with a block of Copeland who in six years never had one block he had one partially blocked last year in the playoffs by the Raiders but that one as plain a block as you'll ever say I won't care him way out of bounds at the for app Oakland is a two-step punter and usually gets the ball away very quickly a little bit slow that time but I think a very hyped up Denver defense had gotten that special teams group pipe pumped up and Jackson flew in from the outside got his hands on that football there coach Fran polls for who that particular play second in there we'll hike looks like he wants to throw he's gonna run he's dropped at the line of scrimmage that was a tackle eligible past Dave stuttered number 70 a left tackle he had to announce he was an eligible receiver he was the man in the end zone that will hike was looking for they were going to throw that all the way back across but a very alert Steeler defense was not fooled at all on the play that's another one of those tricks that Dan Reeves worked on all week stuttered from University of Texas he caught a touchdown earlier now it's third and goal and the Steelers could turn the emotion around if they should stop the Broncos from this golden opportunity 10:00 to 7:00 Pittsburgh leads early in the third quarter - warning plays have gotten to know [Applause] with winder Elway under pressure has to throw it away and the Steelers have held Lena Woodruff on the coverage of Butch Johnson and Elway under tremendous pressure from Keith Willis big Keith Willis booming in from the outside and looked like there was some confusion there Elway trying to talk to people no confusion what Keith Willis was going to do he set his sights on Elway and Watson working one-on-one on Dwayne Woodruff number 49 not Watson but butch Johnson number 86 working one-on-one on Woodruff not able to break free in time now this isn't much more than an extra point try by Carlos but an emotional victory for the Steelers defense to stop Denver after that blocked punt Tyler says 140 we picked that first one to the right let's see what he does with this one 21 yards and he's got it it's tie 210 well the two defenses we said early Merlin you underlined that back the strength of the two teams the reason they are here the defenses well the defense blocks the punt then the Pittsburgh defense holds they're just a field goal and it's even at 10:00 today's game is brought to you by Mazda and the full line of sophisticated Mazda products by Allstate for home auto business health and life you're in good hands with Allstate and by GE rechargeable batteries GE we bring good things to life and it's been all uphill here in Denver for the offenses it's tied at 10 and they're working on John Elway's upper right thigh and he was limping noticeably they may be through the hamstring they say he'll be back with a groin pull Karlis a good kick and here comes Louie lips Erol mecklenburg from minnesota the size of a defensive lineman the speed of a linebacker in fact he'll even run with the defensive backs look how quickly he's downfield eludes the block right there by Todd C bar number 59 and then just brains up by the Louie lips and this Denver team is coming on with an emotional surge here on the second half at mecklenburg at 6 3 and 2 50 him I want to make a fullback out of him he has two interceptions this year 1 for 63 yards flagged down as Pollard is wrapped up it looked like the flag was thrown and a whistle bloomed before the play everyone kind of stopping gives us a chance to talk about Pollard who had an exceptional first-half and maybe the key to the Denver the Pittsburgh lead at the intermission we had our eyes early on abacrombie but it's been Pollard who has carried the load so far for the Pittsburgh running attack all marked at the 9-yard line a five-yard penalty for the legal procedure to see that picture shaking that's the whole stadium rockin with these denver fans [Applause] defense here possible form alone to be Collard breaking tackles and gets to the 15-yard line pickup of about six which will put him over the 80 yard mark for the afternoon we pause briefly for station identification from Denver this is the NBC television network this is w NBC TV channel 4 tied at 10 the winner goes to Miami for the AFC Championship next Sunday [Applause] [Music] Brian number 50 [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] but great speed and moves of but he's had a couple of surgeries on the knees and he just doesn't move the same dick he can still run quickly straight ahead that's not his problem his problem is in the quick lateral moves he just cannot slide laterally and you saw him there accelerating but when he had to go sideways he just could not go [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] almost intercepted [Applause] no respect around the country they say before they get it [Applause] to be a bit jittery as he anticipates this fun he had to slow [Applause] they just beat the 30-second clock beautiful kid [Applause] [Music] better return we'll height to the 50 to the 47 of the Steelers [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] there's Joe Collier those instant photos of the various alignments all your the man who calls the plays defensively for the Bronco defense he's the man who sent in those aggressive blitzes you see Dennis Smith's coming in Mecklenburg coming in and all-out blitz and it paid off ten bail here in Denver territory Kashif John John Elway that holster for that [Music] well if it's a severe one you can have a hard time with it he may not show the mobility that's made him so dangerous we'll have to keep an eye on it from the Pittsburgh 47 hook by white [Applause] complate to winder here there was a legal motion against Enver gym right the tight end I don't see a flag oh how could I don't see a flag dick and it was obvious now the Thai team can move not forward well he can move forward if he stops if there's a one-second pause but I don't believe he was stopped for a second and it looked to me like he was over had his head over the ball Chuck no I'm sure absolutely frustrated on the sideline he was looking right down the line at that play now maybe we'll have his shot a bit but they're already out of the huddle second down and two [Applause] Marko's [Applause] [Music] [Applause] mr. Cole Elway limping on that entry but it certainly hasn't affected the strength of his arm it may hold them to keep them from calling some of those rollouts that have they've tried to use to get him away from the rush of the Pittsburgh defense on that last play you see him as he is is definitely treating that leg rather tenderly first down at Pittsburgh 33 850 left third quarter I came at him [Applause] for Watson there he is bones at the 20 innovate and it appears that every time Elway throws that ball and stretches that groin he injures it a little bit more it came away from that last throw really nursing that pulled groin but again showing you the great strength of his arm as he gunned the ball to the outside now look at him as he comes down here look at the way he comes away from that ball I think he may be he is he's going to have trouble going through the rest of this game effectively [Applause] winder big hole and wrestle him down now the gauntlet has been thrown down by the Bronco defense they've come out and dominated so far in the second half Tony Dungy the man who calls the defense's for the Pittsburgh side of the line has got to get his troops rallied here he's up in the booth we got a shot of him earlier in the day now he'll be sending those defenses down through one of his coaches on the sideline and out to david little who's his leader on with the we'll be the first black head coach in the NFL getting the ball incomplete to Butch Johnson who made a gallant Ryan it was Johnson you'll recall as a member of the Dallas Cowboys who made a diving catch in the end zone that helped to eliminate Denver the Broncos back in that big year of 77 Elway so strong that at times the ball is zipping and it's just hard to handle that one loan away and like a catcher jumping out of the Crouch kind of hard for Johnson to get his hands on it Steeler defense trying to stop Denver again and I wonder if if that pulled groin may bother his throwing motion back to people they stopped him from that good quality this Steelers offside yes a flag is down Elway [Applause] against the Steelers they were leaning offside [Applause] tapping another remarkable year nine catches for Watson and he's working on a career-best a hundred and fifty-eight yards today that was a book from well Karlis to make it 17 to 10 [Applause] it's just good [Applause] [Music] [Applause] shuns the ball right into the camera and right into the arms of Steve Watson boy let's watch the throwing action of Elway you saw he had to be right on the money Donnie show was on his target and although he limps a little on the follow-through he says that's right down the middle Steve Wright and the solo by Watson that got him all for us downstairs today as Watson makes his little break inside it's Donnie shale trying to cover but that ball just zipped in there no chance to knock it away Steve Watson [Applause] given the Bronco and their friends a fan so late 17 to 10 with 750 uproar lips at the one looking for a crack and fights to the 34 [Applause] 33 yards on the return go back and take one more peek at that well we're going to take a peek at the man who made that place Watson getting a well-deserved rest on the sidelines now reminds me a lot in temperament of Steve Largent the great receiver with a Seahawks he's very mild-mannered keep sort of guide expresses himself [Applause] impossible formal all day to throw and there's lips first down at the Denver 43 Lewis lips what a pic he was out of Southern Mississippi 23 yards on that play Ayers lips breaking down he's got plenty of time to work on Louie right right knows he's got help down deep lips finally hooking up inside of that help that's the safety back there behind him but gave him plenty of room the play will see it from behind much left and then [Music] protection the key to that play Frank Fowler trying to get outside [Applause] at the forty steve music-making the play the backer from southern california you see came up with that football after the play you see the pollard now has nine carries for 71 yards but he does not go anywhere watch music stripped the ball right here look at him go after that football he'll come away from that stack with the football the officials said that he was down but that's the way Denver has taken the ball away Robbie gets the call and he dances close to a first down and I believe he has a first down inside the 33 yard line Dennis Smith at safety making the play Smith one of those rare athletes at safety that has the talent to cover man-for-man and that is a tremendous bonus in the deep defense of the Broncos as you look at Pollard well control this game established on the line of scrimmage and right now the Steeler offensive line trying to get it back rust Oskie has done a good job in there wolf Lee Webster long and he'll come all trying to get this thing moving they want to get the ball back into the end zone get this game back to a time [Music] third and inches no first down Pittsburgh this is what they're working for today $10,000 the winner today automatically will walk to the toy the winner next week in Miami shooting for the Super Bowl prize 46 for 64 it really is the 64,000 question in San Francisco but beat the odds wide open his lips and he has another first down near the 15 Louie right body slams him but lips holding on to the football and a 17 yard advance a nice throw by Malone again time to throw the football and they've established that running game they're giving themselves room right here but look how deep Louie write plays lips respecting his feed lips cutting it up short Louis slipping a little bit I don't think he could have been back in time anyway but that's the Denver philosophy keep everything in front of you fourth order [Applause] at 17 to 10 Combee or you could see the instincts of Abercrombie setting up the block said that instantaneous little fake and move as he feels the defense it didn't look as if there was much there but he gained nearly 5 he just sacrificed his body on that one threw himself in there but Pollard out of there they lose some of the punch Pollard is an excellent blocker he's back in now Merlin all right followed back on the field you got a day like today you don't you don't stay out of there with a little shoulder Nick Oh tight back in there and Hammer well they've been alternating two lifts he started it with a 23-yard game then Pollard ran an Abercrombie then lips then Abercrombie that they lips turn [Applause] [Music] [Applause] no touchdown to look though he didn't catch the ball rustle lips after all and he had his hands on it but Louie Wright did a good job of slamming in there to knock it away the two defensive ends Rulon Jones and Barney Seamus 75 and 79 finally breaking through that offensive line to get pressure on mark Malone Malone back has plenty of time but finally he gets two defensive ends through on him now watch him here just throws that ball deep sees lips breaking across deep lips goes up gets his hand on the ball but simply could not control it and I think that's the ball at ordinary [Music] [Applause] [Music] wicked ellipse and he is going to get the touchdown anyway or Izzie's what yes [Applause] and you've got a reaction from Chuck dole on the sidelines on that one the thing that is rather amazing about Lois lips is that he has such great strength for a small receiver and he is not afraid to stick his nose in there good body control good strength he doesn't look to be that strong but you saw him there fighting out of the blocks fighting out of the tackles and getting himself in position to surge across that goal line here's a try four point by Anderson that would tie it at seven we're even again with 319 left the lips said to me said hey I'm not small I'm too short 510 but I'm 190 and I may be a little deceptive here's that last play just a quick slant pattern but Lud watch what lips does with the football breaking one tackle breaking a second tackle away from Foley and fighting two defenders to finally stick that ball out over the end zone all he has to do is break the plane you'll see it again from a different angle there's the first missed by second missed by Foley and now fighting fighting and leaning out see him sticking that ball out that's what broke it that's what got the D touchdown boy he doesn't give strabinsky that big a hand 319 remaining in the quarter it's even at 17 be running for hour but like most viable player today is his Steve Watson his counterpart with the Broncos well two of the game breakers we mentioned Anderson kicks it off really rootin going to take a chance they'll start at the 20 with 3 minutes and 13 seconds left in the third period when you pull a muscle in a game like a groin muscle and we're talking about John Elway very often the thing that hurts you most is having to come off the field and sit we'll keep an eye on Elway to see how it man looks like he's moving pretty well we will watch him anyway let's see what this let's see what the Steeler defense is going to do dick they're back even now they know that they've got to put some pressure on Elway they've got a start making things happen defensively you look at Dunn he still has that Joe green that kind of back way comes up throwing to Watson then he's got another one for a painful five and that gives him a career tying high Tim well that breaks his mark ten receptions for Watson 10 for 163 yards that's the most he's ever caught in an NFL game they saved his best for a most important afternoon that way comes right out throwing the ball but you saw the hitting by the Steelers on that play that scoring drive seven plays a long drive 66 yards Denver does not allow people to carry down the field and stick it in the end zone six yards for Watson on the catch right has a purse down at the 32 you see the throwing action of Elway he throws that ball so hard in fact I was talking to Dan Reeves about Elwes difficulties in that blizzard against Green Bay earlier in the game in the year when Elway was almost totally inefficient and he said the reason he could not hang on to the ball he throws so hard you see that powerful throwing motion I've never seen a quarterback with as much arm strength or using as much higher strength than throwing the ball there's a Yankee shiny a baseball player you first down winder one thing that Steeler defense has denied that a lot of teams couldn't stop is that cut back by winder they seem to be waiting for it have you talked to people who have watched this Steeler defense in fact brief said it himself he said they are the most active defense we played and great strength at linebacker great speed at linebacker that's it's a characteristic of both of these defensive teams they really flow and swarm to the football we have a good dusting to show you on that the thousand-yard rushes this year and how they have fared against that Pittsburgh defense winder is the sixth all is dead that is not a fumble as Keith Gary number 92 drilled away it's a sack of nine yards and I've got to believe that Elway's injury may be hurting him ordinarily you probably would have seen him Elway reversing out of there he's not afraid to whip out of there let's watch him here he feels the pressure and you kind of saw him being tentative right there I think ordinarily he would have whipped out of there and run the opposite way but that injury is hurting as Mobility at this moment the other thing is it may be a tip for the Pittsburgh defense they're going to figured hey we're gonna know where to find him now we're gonna look for him in that pocket instead of his rolls or any scrambles that takes away some of the secret and some of the mystique of this Bronco offense if Elway is back in that pocket and can't get out third down and open is Alexander but not for long as he's rip to the turf by number 41 doors at Donnie Schell 31 that's 41 it was Sam Washington who did it Washington following all the way in from the outside but look at Elway he's still he's suffering with that groin hoping he could get the ball into the hands of a receiver who could sprint make something out of that play but Washington following him all the way in and you'll see it here Washington coming in from the outside Alexander has the ball there but again defensively they know how far he has to go for that first down shell number 31 also there to here to assist on that tackle looking at the clock they don't have to punt it they can let the clock run out here in the third quarter and apparently Chris Norman would rather kick in the other direction one second and that's at the end of the third quarter ten points for the Broncos but the Steelers have come back with a touchdown of their own in the third quarter and after three is tied at 17 we'll be back at Denver after these messages from your local station [Music] Monday a New Year's Eve special from Florida they are in Bowl parade share the excitement with host Joe Garagiola and grand marshal Bob Hope eight and through three quarters there even though statistics actually mean nothing throw those out there tied in the game score and they're playing 15 minutes or sudden-death to decide who goes to Miami Chris Norman will open the fourth quarter with a punt Ulua slips dangerous return man going to the foam ball for his return lips bubbles and a scramble says they have it he lost the ball at the bottom of the stack but he was real they gabbing and now they say he hasn't Oh lips on a scramble to recover his mistake in that pile of humanity it's interesting that kicker as he's watching the flight of the ball and knowing those men are coming down on attack fury as he looks up at the football you saw the quick look down and he was looking away as that ball arrived looking at the rush here's another shot of it you see him drop his eyes to look for the rush just a little before he fought for that ball under the stack and got it that an athlete to scramble back and get it there was nothing but orange around him it's tied at 17 never seen that shot before on television Ted Nathanson Larry Cirillo producing this he looks away from the ball it's still in the air now the balls in there now I looks back up and then he'll take another look it's the last look right there as he tried to pick up the coverage that cost him the ball fumbling it but he had the presents to fall on his mistake at the 15 tied at 17 almost the entire quarter remain fourth-period in Denver wide open and/or Crombie and the Steeler receivers seemed to be open consistently as much as we've seen any offense against this Bronco defense this year well they're getting great protection and that really has been the key the Broncos very aggressive up front they're throwing a lot of people and that means man-on-man coverage the result is that when malone has had time to throw the football and see Collier trying to get his defensive troops fired up when Malone has had time he has been able to find his receiver six yards on the play [Applause] should help Pittsburgh's offensive lion would be trapping the Denver defenders look back into that offensive line you'll see an official upended on this particular play look how big a hole they're able to open up and again we'll look out running over everybody in there Abercrombie that umpire who has to stand in there like an umpire art Dennis is 78 them until we saw their but he's the umpire who has to fight off those plenty of time to find Pollard and Frank Pollard as to the 40 in there another first down before Tim Ryan and Dennis Smith can collaborate and it's apparent that the dick Hulk who coaches these backs has told them when you get in traffic you cover up that football Pollard locking that ball up with two hands as that Denver defense swarmed out there was able to control it that's a fine gain second and short in this particular situation the offense can do anything they want to do it's literally almost a throw away down to try a deep shot downfield [Applause] now they're gonna go to Pollard [Applause] gilsu can write and lawyer that force that play from the corner the Broncos have been putting their half backs up close to the line in a wing position and they're using those half backs to kind of bump the defensive ends in that particular situation he was blocking but Louie right flying in from the outside showing you his athletic ability shut off all of the alleys to the outside and there was no room inside for Frank fallen Louie Wright said I have the typical cornerback personality introverted and sometimes temperamental [Music] has the first down and more and Louie right saved a touchdown that would have been a John Riggins special right was the last man between hollered and a long run number 38 Elton Beals one of those rookies that we've been talking about in at a wing position he'll start in motion and head down and become a blocker as he starts up into the line burying a shoulder right Tom Jackson's ribs making some room inside for Pollard that's the kind of trapping and boy they come from everyone and again and the Pittsburgh Steelers that was the - to the game both coaches said it's tied now at 17 for the Steelers seem to be moving the ball easily much more [Music] do by Steve fully intended for tight end Ben bolli who has six interceptions to tie teammate Mike harden for the club lead this year it was a quarterback at Tulane in fact wanted to play that position so much he didn't sign with the NFL originally he went to Jacksonville of the old world football league as he won the quarterback realized maybe the scouts and the coaches were right that he would be better off somewhere else and now a star at safety and in fact has 39 career interceptions [Applause] to the Denver 46 yard line a gain of at least six more and maybe a seven yard game third down and though between three and four yards earlier in the game rich Ehrenburg on a kickoff return to start the game was hit in a high tackle broke his nose and he still suffering a headache from that low and obviously [Applause] [Music] the Steelers [Applause] 9 Broncos on the line of scrimmage and one of them stops the Steelers will have to punt Barney Chavez 79 the veteran from South Carolina State met him in the hole with all the youth and all of the enthusiastic youngsters on his team appropriate that one of the 12 year veterans one of the real pros on Joe Colliers defense would be there to make that big play so just as the Steeler seemed to be moving the ball with ease foley makes a fine play on defense then Chavez follows up with a stop and on fourth down and for Colquitt to punt Wilhite is at the 10 so much time too much time the 30 seconds and that will by the Colquitt he'll just be able to hit a little harder amazing how that block has affected the Steeler punting team though they looked as the same setup was laid up out there by the Bronco rushing team and you saw some very worried bodies as they were getting ready to try and block Merlin often have forgotten we were talking about this yesterday a forgotten man in football is the up back in that punt formation he's the one that has to call the defensive alignment and that pressure rests on Ron is that Ron Johnson can't quite read his number no it's not Johnson 26 coupe Gillespie the rookie from William Jewell is the man who's the up back has to call out the defenses [Applause] like that was a half and he covers at the 14 yard line he started to raise his hand then he dropped it that would have been a interesting call for the official there was not a clear over the head for fair catch it's academic he falls on the fumble at the 14 a 37-yard punt by Colquitt will hide a little bit disgusted with himself but have had a chance to get a few yards back that he been able to control that football it's a 10-minute season tied at 17 [Music] he's now the veteran in that defensive line eight years and goes back to the Super Bowl champion Steelers the thought right now for the Pittsburgh defense is to shut Denver down keep them down here if they can force a punt here or ideally take the ball away I've got an excellent opportunity to put it in the end zone and deck again even though these two kickers have each missed a field goal today - excellent kickers on the field it may come down to that and we'll play this one until someone wins guns have delight on one hop didn't complete it'll be third and 10 now there's a passive the hallway normally would hit easily but under some pressure and with that groin injury it may have affected the trajectory the further we go in this game the more difficulty Elway will have that pulled groin will tighten up every time he comes off the field and you see him he took a shot on his leg on that play and again because of his lack of mobility he becomes more of a sitting target look at Meriweather 57 coming off the outside throwing himself through there and it was his body that buried in the back of Elwes leg right there that's the opposite leg from the one Elway has wrapped bird and Tim shotgun from the 14 there's that shovel pass the Wilhite breaks one time fights to the 22 but he'll be short by a couple John Goodman saved the first down in Elway limp so off they're trying to beat that defensive and you see John Kubiak on this side Gary Kubiak on the sidelines and Kubiak has gone in several times during the year and played extremely well so if Elway continues to have problems in that bowl Brian gets worse we could conceivably see Kubiak in this ball game he was the one who led the Broncos to but was a very big early win against the Raiders in Los Angeles when Elway was hurt Chris Norman to punt Lois lips back at his 36 [Applause] takes a look at the defense no fair catch and he's cut from behind at the 37 by Rickey Hundley or that big linebackers showing you why he was a number one pick to be able to chase down lifts from behind he 6 2 and 238 from Arizona let's we showed you the drama a moment ago as he was looking here he is again the punt you see the punter he looks back looks at the coverage back up at the football the heck at the coverage or that is dangerous business but this one he feels cleanly and gets away for short yardage before he's finally run down by number 98 Ricky huddling peel assistance on NBC Saturday from Hawaii the hula bowl you'll see Doug Flutie the Heisman Trophy winner ball so Tony the great the Lombardi Award winner from Texas so Saturday and Sunday next more great football for you the bullet Bowl on Saturday it will be merry against the winner here this afternoon for the AFC Championship on Sunday opens up at its 37 yard line were tied at 17 with eight minutes 28 seconds left finally knocked out of bounds at the 46 of Denver an Abercrombie ripping off another big gain and Elway with that facial expression acting as though he may not be able to continue it's not the groin pole now it's the left knee you saw him buckle under on that play where Merriweather rolled on his back of his ankle again credit that to the lack of mobility ordinarily with those quick feet Elway would have been out of that pocket would been sliding and stepping but he just can't move and it's it's cost him in the second half Steelers on an 18 run yard run by Abercrombie this time it's pollard throw a big hole and he has another pittsburgh first down at the 33 it has been rare this year that a team or a runner has been able to move effectively against that bronco defense but pittsburgh has done it today they've given up an awful lot of yardage against the pass in fact 27th in the league yardage against the pass but the trapping of the pittsburgh offensive line and that was Ross Huskies 63 with a trap block there to spring Pollard through the line have just been devastating today 90 [Applause] [Music] [Applause] that Denver defense [Applause] Abercrombie still on the ground slow to get up now he's bouncing up and heading back Merlin Abercrombie now has caught four passes and he has run 14 more times that's 18 carries that means a hundred and seventy-nine times this year he's handled the ball without a fumble all year long Abercrombie has not popped up the ball paying big dividends [Applause] traffic by the steel [Applause] [Music] it's tied at 17 in Abercrombie not get off the ball well that time I think he knew how much he needed for that first down I think he's picked it up Gary Anderson strips off his warmup he's starting to visualize himself kicking that ball through the goalpost through the upright see him right there he'll be thinking his way through that kick and he's thinking his number one he'd rather have it a 1 than a three and there's the three man Carlos field goals have decided eight of Denver's 16 games half of their games were three point games Denver winning six losing two how many times have we seen [Applause] [Music] the 23 performing in his Smith [Applause] standing game sniff the strong saftey 6-3 200 pounds he was a seven-foot high jumper in college but he's aggressive as well who talked to the coaches on the pittsburgh side of the line and one of the people they singled out very quickly was Dennis Smith where his great athletic ability and his hitting ability he really comes up there in socks people less than six minutes remaining 17 all [Applause] Thompson to the 11 and that'll be a first down for Pittsburgh as Thompson the rookie from Florida State has his first catch Thompson has been a decoy much of the day here he's working one-on-one on Louie Wright goes inside right knew he had help inside but suddenly there was no one there Weegee Thompson fighting for that extra yardage did not have the first down until he turned up field six foot six he he stretched his frame on that one could see made those 17 catches during the see [Music] [Applause] or three maybe four they certainly have tested the heart now that Denver defense and that must mean that Mike Webster that all-pro center of the Steelers is doing his job you pointed that out as a key matchup at the start today Merlin Webster working now on Rubin Carter who was on Boyer earlier Stan Jones and offensive line coach for the Broncos rolls his people in and out tries to keep them fresh in there but that that has not kept them from being [Applause] [Music] water continues nineteen [Applause] tackler bills himself Tom Jackson I don't know if that was a planned play or not or whether it was a mixup as Malone looked like somewhat of a bootleg maybe we can it was like yes and Jackson bought no part of it I believe he was coming on the Blitz on that play and of course coming as he was he was already committed he was not even looking at that fake handoff dan Reeves applauding Jackson's defense it's now and Paul at 8:00 for a first down [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] incomplete intended in Sweeney and it was deflected I believe by either Robbins or Steve Wilson I think Randy Robbins number 48 and we saw him make the game he's come up with another big play here to deny it a touchdown but they do have a short shot at a field goal with the score knotted at 17 an opportunity for Pittsburgh to go ahead Gary 26-yard attempt to the left [Applause] average in the entire NF has missed two today one just sliding wide left he missed the first one earlier to the right and this one getting off to the left well you saw Anderson's reaction what about danrage reaction he had to consider the three points in the banks but he gets a reprieve that was 335 left in this playoff contest as he has missed a relatively easy 26 yard chance and now the Denver Broncos they've gone to school in this situation eight times this year the games have been decided by three points in the they are six and two [Applause] trying to get this crowd down you hear their knowledge of a problem they give it to him starting from the 20 a hand off the winder [Applause] [Music] David little there as well and we'll watch the clock for you 3:20 left Reeves a little upset the substitution late going on the field he wanted Alexander out there Big Daddy Wright coming off the field gives Elway a little bit of outside speed and takes the big [Applause] i from the 25 intercepted by [Applause] [Applause] and just as Elway and his Bronco teammates felt they had dodged a fatal bullet when that field goal went to the left suddenly the Pittsburgh defense jumps up and bites them anticipating the play Elway gunning the ball throwing into coverage and Eric Wright just stepped right in front of the receiver moves all the way down the field Eric Williams that erfect right gets all the way down finally knocked out of bounds but there's an excellent opportunity to get seven and I'm sure that Gary Andersen barring that would love another chance of three Elway watching the second-year man from North Carolina State take it all the way to the [Applause] [Music] not a shark now is he [Music] they've had some brilliant goal line stands this year this will be their toughest test colored top [Music] [Applause] clock is running to 36 to 35 left and Chuck Noll probably saying the ideal thing for us would be to score in fourth down and use as much as that time as we can so that Denver won't have opportunity to come down and get one of their own he said keep it going here take your time keep that clock moving to 17 to 16 counting down they've got to run a play they can't just let it run out father [Music] thank the Abercrombie wide open and what a play by Mike Harden Nelson touchdown and the defense that was one saving touchdown Robins a rookie is save two others last-minute deflection you might ask how in the world that he know the ball was arriving he's reading the pass receiver and as soon as his hands went up Parvez hands shut out and touched that ball and Chuck Noll who had gambled with the play who had run the play-action pass knew that it was just a fraction of an inch away from a completion and erson the Steelers don't make it may have another try [Applause] never scores [Applause] they had him stopped at the line of scrimmage and the big fullback from Baylor second effort has put it in the end zone twice today the Bronco defense has stopped Pollard short of the wine and Pollard's leg strength and determination has given him a touchdown he has had an outstanding day a season that began with the troubles involving the superstar Franco Harris the fullback and Harris ultimately in a very painful decision for the Rooneys and Noll and Pittsburgh did not play for this team this year Fowler took his place and has saved his best game in his five-year career for Denver today Anderson to tie the point 159 [Applause] [Music] [Applause] 24:17 you'll see the surge of the lion here you'll see Pollard he has hit in the backfield right there stopped his legs knocked out momentarily but he turned back inside kept his balance and came up to the goal line popped that ball over and that driven back and what did show up Chuck the whole have to say about it yeah I think his thought that Steeler football and he may be writing his own fantastic finish in Denver today Alcoa presents fantastic finishes 1970 Tom Dempsey will try to do the impossible kick a 63-yard field goal Joe star paddy gets the ball down Dempsey caught it solid and it's it's good Tom Dempsey is kicked a 63-yard field goal with no time left on the clock the Saints beat the Lions 19 - seven saving three of its time outs Anderson will kick it to lang and will hide before most of this day his kickoffs have been so deep the Broncos have had to take the touch back he drives this one [Applause] [Music] [Applause] he comes scooting over and scoop Gillespie tripped him up Elway stays in the game bad leg injury and a groin pull [Applause] and a reminiscent of Ravi Bosco in that BYU Holiday Bowl with his injury bringing his BYU team back to a victory there's will - booming upfield boy that hurts - hit on the back here neck and this hometown crowd encouraging Elway to get his Bronco offense in gear that got 71 yards to go to the end zone Watson his key receiver out of the picture to the left and he had to throw that one away Alexander man-to-man coverage immediately following coverage we'll be airing the Silver Spoons program we'd like to welcome those viewers that have just joined us Denver and Pittsburgh gear and they playoff challenge the winner to go to Miami next week and the Steelers leave the broncos 2417 there's the lineup on NBC tonight that will be capped off by one of the truly outstanding motion pictures of the last several years Emery frond almost the personal tribute to the man on Golden Pond [Applause] [Music] and denver spends a time up the fourth set one Patrick Boland denver's owner on the sidelines looking on I'm sure terribly concerned but again you've got to believe that a healthy John Elway would not have been trapped on that play as they ran the blitz inside David little he's really kind of helped us in there in there now he's a sitting target a sitting target for that defense now this poured down territory now with the clocks still running 125 they had their three timeouts remaining but now they need big yardage there's Watson too tall for him and he was open that would have been a first down out at the 40-yard line working one-on-one on Sam Washington he got himself open and Elway again under pressure took as much time as he could got that ball away but slightly above Watson's head let's look at Steve Watson getting down field now Sam Washington will not let him get behind just barely too high to handle and there again how much does that injury affect his ability to plant and get through on his throws and when you can't do that you tend to be high especially when a man is draped all over you starting to wear the smile of a winner Frank Pollard is our Bud Light most viable player today congratulations he'll have $1,000 donated to the nut United Way on behalf Frank Pollard and his performance today a hundred and seven yards for Pollard his best day of the year he's got to be walking on air on that sideline looking up at the clock and realizing with a minute twenty fourth and more than 20 yards to go it's going to be a tough tough situation for John go away with the ball at the 19 yard line so it's 4th and 21 yards for a first down he had his man Watson on the last play but this is if if the can't make 21 or more the pittsburgh steelers will go to miami the officials have taken a timeout briefly as they run down the field maybe we can take a chance to show you a few of the men who have contributed greatly to the success of these two teams during the year the assistant coaches Elrond there they wait till after this play now there they are black woods Dungy is Cheryl hope views coab myers more these are all Steeler assistants yeah they get a little credit but all the work don't they they do a tremendous amount of work here it is fourth down 21 three-man rush away made something big and there is it out deep but it's out of bounds and that's it the Steelers can start to celebrate [Applause] it will not be a year of celebration for Dan Reeves now that they are out of this situation and out of the playoffs but they have had a fantastic season Reeves and his assistant coaches have just really brought a team that was expected even by their own scribes in Denver to finish in the bottom third of the NFL they have just had a tremendous year you saw a null saying three timeouts I don't know if he was referring to himself he certainly would want to call time Denver's already used one of their so they have only two on Blackledge there by the side of Chuck ball and you use sense the disappointment I think especially on the faces of the of the Denver Bronco veterans like Rubin Carter and Barney's Davis some have been around for a long time Tom Jackson all right Denver uses a timeout and we want to acknowledge those who have brought you the pictures and sounds from Denver today executive producer NBC Sports Michael Weissman the coordinating producer of NBC's football coverage is Ted Nathanson today's Denver Broncos and earned a trip to Miami dick you were only a couple of yards away from having your prediction come true as Williams virtually got into the end zone but he stepped out of bounds first certainly setting up the touchdown scored the Steelers three and five lifetime against the Dolphins but they have never won in Miami even they weren't expected to be there this year remember some were saying they would even make the playoffs as they struggled late in the season he's calling Mark Malone off the sidelines Keith Bishop number 54 reflecting the very somber mood of the Broncos and dick every game like this as its what else but I'm sure here in Denver the big point F will be the question of what would have happened if John Elway had not been injured if he hadn't hurt his groin what that would have done in this second half for the Denver offense there's no question of hurt him tremendously now Denver can not stop the clock they've used their final timeout with 102 remaining now it's a matter one of the things that I still feel the football could improve if you didn't win the game by doing this that you should make a legitimate attempt at trying to advance the football but that's only one lonely voice in the crowd 24 to 17 and the clock will run as will some of the tears Jerald Wilhite tom jackson bronco assistance you talked about Merlin Fran poles foot he says I just want to live long enough to see my Broncos in the Super Bowl that dream won't come true or they played so hard for that man they have had a great year or two there there there is no reason for this Bronco team to have anything but pride in the kind of season they've had you saw the two leaders on the sidelines Collier and Reeves well there's going to be one final opportunity for for Denver because with 26 seconds left and fourth and 14 as soon as the next snap is made and a touch of the quarterback change of possession will stop the clock so presumably the Broncos will have around 20 seconds left a chance at a player to in desperation so Elwes arm will uncork again the one thing that that has to go through the mind of Bronco fans and coaches and players alike is how well they have done with a team how far they've come they start with a big jump on next season they will certainly be counted among the favorites for the playoffs well some some would consider this a risk if indeed Anderson is going to try a field goal that a black field goal that bounced the other way [Applause] presumably a 40-yard attempt to clinch the win this might be in an attempt to get his confidence back there and that won't help it's wide to the right so Anderson [Applause] [Music] of all active kickers missus three out of four today [Applause] yard shot the last chance [Applause] Elway goes on the field with just seconds left in the ballgame no timeouts I think I think that they wanted to get this young man's confidence back he cannot believe it he can pull any beat they get that ball but we difference well the Broncos want to make their fans believe many under the shotgun 22 seconds left and no timeouts for away Watson but he's in the field of play and there's no way to stop the clock thirteen 'we needs to take the snap and throw [Applause] too late now one second he will have one play one second left remind her to stay with us Ahmad Rashad try to get some of the comments from the players involved in today's game if time permits want to thank also the court of Costanza statistician Joelle King Ron Chopra's Rhea Friedman put Dodds for their support in the booth will be heading to Pasadena for the Rose Bowl on Tuesday and then on to Miami for the AFC Championship game the Dolphins apparently against the Steelers but here is the final play of the game unless there's a penalty look at the Steeler defense they have been way back at the 25-yard line in there [Applause] they won't get it and the bowl games over the Steelers have won at 24 to 17 today the day for the underdog the Bears beat Washington and Denver is upset by the Steelers dan researching out Chuck Noll they both said the running game would be the key the Steelers were the superior runners and threw Frank coloreds efforts have one 2417 Dick Enberg Merlin Olsen will see a new year stay tuned for NFL 84 right after this

Channel: Maurence Shipley

Views: 21,012

Keywords: NFL, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, 1984

Id: g-mYAYvAgMY

Length: 143min 14sec (8594 seconds)

Published: Mon Dec 10 2018