Elway's 98-Yard Miracle: When The Drive Made History

On November 8th in sports history, one significant event took place in 1987 when the Denver Broncos faced off against the New England Patriots at Mile High Stadium in Colorado. This game would go down in NFL lore as "The Drive."

With just 5:21 left on the clock in the fourth quarter, the Broncos found themselves trailing the Patriots 20-17 in the AFC Divisional Playoff game. Denver quarterback John Elway took over at his own 2-yard line, needing to lead his team 98 yards for a touchdown to keep their Super Bowl hopes alive.

What followed was a display of quarterback brilliance that would cement Elway's status as one of the greatest players in NFL history. Elway methodically moved his team down the field, converting on crucial third downs and making clutch throws under intense pressure from the Patriots' defense.

The drive reached its climax on a third-and-18 play from the Patriots' 48-yard line. Elway dropped back to pass and faced heavy pressure from the New England pass rush. Just as it seemed he would be sacked, Elway miraculously escaped the pocket, scrambled to his right, and launched a missile downfield to wide receiver Mark Jackson for a 20-yard gain, keeping the drive alive.

Elway and the Broncos continued their march towards the end zone, ultimately reaching the Patriots' 5-yard line with 39 seconds remaining. On second down, Elway found wide receiver Steve Sewell in the end zone for the game-tying touchdown, sending Mile High Stadium into a frenzy.

The Broncos would go on to win the game 23-20 in overtime, with Elway leading another impressive drive to set up the game-winning field goal. "The Drive" would become one of the most iconic moments in NFL playoff history, a testament to Elway's leadership, toughness, and ability to perform under pressure.

Elway's statistical line for the game was impressive - he completed 22 of 38 passes for 257 yards and a touchdown, adding 10 rushes for 36 yards. But it was his intangible qualities - his competitiveness, his refusal to quit, and his ability to inspire his teammates - that truly made the difference on that memorable day in Denver.

"The Drive" would propel the Broncos to the AFC Championship Game, where they would ultimately fall to the Cleveland Browns. But Elway's legendary performance on November 8th, 1987, would forever be remembered as one of the greatest moments in sports history, a shining example of the power of perseverance and the indomitable spirit of a true champion.

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI