Denver Broncos Flashback: Gus Frerotte leads comeback

The Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers face off Sunday. We are going to flashback to 2000, when Gus Frerotte helped lead a Broncos win over Ryan Leaf.

For the final time of the 2019 season, the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers will face off. Both teams have a long running history against each other. Denver currently owns the 67-52-1 advantage.

However, some of the games between the Broncos and Chargers have been close. One instance where there was a solid game was back on November 19th, 2000. Both Jim Harbaugh and Brian Griese played against each other in the first game. However, both did not play in this one and the fans were treated to a shootout between… Gus Frerotte and Ryan Leaf?

But it did not start off that way. Ryan Leaf and the Chargers got off to a red hot start. Mind you, the Chargers were 0-10 at the time of this game, so they were playing with a little bit more pep in their step. And they certainly did in the second quarter when the Chargers scored 21 points. All three of them were on long plays. Two long passes from Ryan Leaf (45 and 68 yards) and then Frerotte threw an interception that was returned 75 yards. At halftime, the Chargers were up 24-10.

The Broncos were able to bring it within ten points in the third quarter. But another long touchdown pass from Ryan Leaf, this one was an 83 yarder. Going into the fourth quarter, the Broncos were down 34-17.

But the Broncos were able to outscore the Chargers 21-3 in the fourth quarter thanks to two touchdowns in under four minutes. Ryan Leaf would try to bring the Chargers back, but a fourth down incomplete pass ended the game.

Gus Frerotte had quite the game that day. He would throw for 462 yards and five touchdowns. But he also threw four interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown. This game could very well have been Ryan Leaf’s best game as a Charger, throwing for 311 yards and three long touchdowns.

It would be the final time the Broncos would face off against Ryan Leaf. The Chargers would finish 1-15 on the season. Denver would go on to finish 11-5 and appear in their first playoff game in the post-John Elway era. It did not go over well as they would lose in the wild card round to the eventual Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens.

It was quite the game. And it was part of a winning streak the Denver Broncos went on. Hopefully Sunday provides some solid moments. Go Broncos!