Denver Broncos: 5 best bounce-back seasons in team history

PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 11: Quarterback John Elway #7 of the Denver Broncos looks to hand off the football during the 1997 season AFC Championship game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium on January 11, 1998 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Broncos defeated the Steelers 24-21. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

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Gaston Green runs through a hole during a game against Cleveland on December 8, 1991. /

1991 season

The Broncos suffered from the Super Bowl hangover in 1990, carrying the effects of that sound defeat against San Francisco into the next season.

The Broncos went just 5-11 in 1990, losing the season opener against the Raiders and then following a two-game winning streak, lost nine out of 10 games. That is the kind of thing you rarely see in Denver.

But the team came roaring back in 1991. The team won the division after posting a 12-4 record and then in the divisional round of the playoffs, defeated the Houston Oilers 26-24 in one of the more memorable playoff games in Broncos history.

They met the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game. The Bills were in the middle of their best run in franchise history and though this game took place at Orchard Park, it was one the Broncos should have won.

David Treadwell missed three field goals in the game and Elway was knocked out of the contest with a bruised thigh. Gary Kubiak came on in relief and nearly won it for Denver, but all the mistakes ended up costing them a trip to the Super Bowl as Buffalo won 10-7, scoring their only touchdown of the game on an interception return.

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