Season Finale Comeback against the Raiders
While the 1995 season ended with disappointment, it allowed the nation to see what was to come of the Denver Broncos. 1995 would be the last season in which John Elway missed the playoffs in his career. But he provided a comeback against a big time rival.
The Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders played in the season finale in California. For the Raiders, a win would earn them a playoff birth. Denver was eliminated from the postseason. But they were planning on taking the Raiders with them.
The Denver Broncos had a lead at the half that slipped away when the Raiders outscored Denver 14-0 in the third quarter. But John Elway would not go away.
In the fourth quarter, Jason Elam would first kick a short field goal to bring the Broncos within eight. Then, Elway worked his magic by throwing a touchdown strike to Ed McCaffrey, who made a spectacular catch one handed. The Broncos were down two. Mike Shanahan gambled and went for two to tie it up. Elway called his own number on the two point try and was successful. The game was tied.
But it did not end there. After a Raiders fumble that helped set the Broncos up, Elway drove the team down the field and put it all on the leg of Jason Elam once again. He was successful and the Broncos knocked the Raiders out of the playoffs with a 31-28 win.