Predominantly Orange
FanSided

Denver Broncos: Which devastating playoff loss was the worst?

By Travis Wakeman

DENVER, CO - JANUARY 12: Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates with Jacoby Jones #12 against the Denver Broncos during the AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on January 12, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JANUARY 12: Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates with Jacoby Jones #12 against the Denver Broncos during the AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on January 12, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
DENVER, CO – JANUARY 12: Jacoby Jones #12 of the Baltimore Ravens catches a 70-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter against Rahim Moore #26 of the Denver Broncos during the AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on January 12, 2013, in Denver, Colorado. The Ravens won 38-35 in the second overtime. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – JANUARY 12: Jacoby Jones #12 of the Baltimore Ravens catches a 70-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter against Rahim Moore #26 of the Denver Broncos during the AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on January 12, 2013, in Denver, Colorado. The Ravens won 38-35 in the second overtime. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /

January 12, 2013

Much like the game against the Jaguars 16 years prior, the result of this game seemed to be in the bag before it even started. But as Chris Berman used to say, “that’s why they play the games”.

During the Broncos’ 11-game winning streak that season, about a month before this game took place, the Broncos went into M&T Bank Stadium and handled the Ravens pretty easily in a 34-17 victory.

Why would this game, in Denver, be any different?

When Trindon Holliday returned a punt 90 yards for a touchdown, the first punt return for a touchdown in Broncos playoff history, it didn’t seem like it would. But on the next possession, Joe Flacco hit Torrey Smith with a 59-yard touchdown pass and the Ravens struck again when Corey Graham intercepted a pass off a deflection and returned it 39 yards for a score.

The Broncos were down 14-7, but there was no way they were losing this game, right?

Manning went right down the field on the next possession before finding Brandon Stokley for a game-tying touchdown. The teams then traded touchdown passes and the score was tied at 21 at halftime.

To start the second half, Holliday returned the opening kickoff 104 yards for a score, becoming the first player in NFL history to return a punt and kickoff for a touchdown in a playoff game. It seemed sure that the team would soon deliver a knockout blow to Baltimore, but the Ravens would not go away.

The Broncos had a 35-28 lead late in the fourth quarter and forced the Ravens to turn the ball over on downs with just over three minutes left in the game. That should have been the end of it, but the Ravens were able to force a Denver punt with just over one minute to play.

This is where the name Rahim Moore comes into play and goes down in Broncos history for all the wrong reasons.

Holding a 7-point lead, one of the most unbelievable plays (video) in the history of the league took place. With just 42 seconds left on the clock, Moore allowed a pass to go over his head and it was caught by Jacoby Jones to tie the game.

Though this game would go into two overtimes, Denver’s heart had been ripped out. That was evidenced by the fact that with Manning as his quarterback and two timeouts in his pocket, head coach John Fox opted to take a knee and be satisfied going to overtime.

In the second overtime, another interception by Graham would set up Justin Tucker‘s game-winning field goal and the Ravens pulled off one of the craziest wins in NFL history.

Home/Broncos News