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

By Travis Wakeman

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)
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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Denver Broncos defender Steve Atwater (R) breaks up a pass intended for Keenan McCardell (L) of the Jacksonville Jaguars 27 December in the second half of their AFC Wild Card game at Mile High Stadium in Denver, CO. The Broncos won the game 42-17. AFP PHOTO/Jeff HAYNES (Photo by JEFF HAYNES / AFP) (Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images) /

1997 season

It’s not that the Broncos were bad in 1996. In fact, that was one of the best teams in franchise history. But having to come back from what might have been the worst defeat in team history was a big task.

The Broncos look close to unstoppable in 1996 but were stunned in the divisional round of the playoffs that season by the Jacksonville Jaguars, who were in just their second year of existence.

Denver started the 1997 season out at 6-0 and was cruising through the season, but so were the Kansas City Chiefs within the same division. Though the Broncos finished the year at 12-4, the Chiefs were 13-3, making Denver a Wild Card.

But first things first. In the Wild Card round, the Broncos actually drew the Jaguars. This was the first stop on the “Revenge Tour”. The Broncos made a statement against Jacksonville, beating them 42-17 before having to go to Arrowhead Stadium in the next round.

In a hard-fought contest, the Broncos managed to upset the Chiefs 14-10, sending them to the AFC Championship Game. That would be no easy feat either, as the Steelers awaited at Three Rivers Stadium.

The Broncos were able to get the win there too and despite being massive underdogs in the Super Bowl against Green Bay, the Broncos prevailed 31-24 to capture the Lombardi Trophy for the first time.

The heart and character of this team really shone through in the 1997 season. The loss to Jacksonville a year prior was crippling, but the team bounced back the way only a true champion can.

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