With the Broncos in the playoffs for the first season since 2005, The Denver Post looks back each day at a previous playoff appearance:
Everything went right for the Broncos in the 1989 AFC championship game at Mile High Stadium, a 37-21 victory over the Cleveland Browns. A crowd of 76,005 was treated in mid-January to sunny, 53-degree temperatures and a spectacular offensive display by the home team, especially in the second half. After leading 10-0 at halftime, the Broncos shifted into another gear and finished with 497 yards of offense. That stood as a team postseason record until Denver rolled up 511 yards against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 1997 playoffs.
John Elway threw for 385 yards and three touchdowns, running back Sammy Winder scored a rushing touchdown and another via the pass and David Treadwell kicked three field goals. Denver’s defense did its part, intercepting Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar three times, two by safety Dennis Smith.
The Broncos never trailed, but that doesn’t mean it was easy. Cleveland twice pulled to within a field goal in the third quarter: at 10-7 on a Kosar TD pass to Brian Brennan, and 24-21 on a scoring run by Tim Manoa.
With the victory, Denver qualified for its fourth Super Bowl and a Denver Post headline proclaimed: “Next Stop, Montana!”
Unfortunately for the Broncos, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana stopped Denver with an emphatic 55-10 victory two weeks later in New Orleans.
Tom Kensler, The Denver Post
