Super Bowl: 5 key plays that led to Broncos' first championship

Super Bowl: 5 key plays that led to Broncos’ first championship

Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway (R) gives the thumbs up as his father Jack (L) congratulates him after the Broncos defeated the Green Bay Packers 31-24 to win Super Bowl XXXII in San Diego, CA 25 January. AFP PHOT/Doug COLLIER (Photo by DOUG COLLIER / AFP) (Photo by DOUG COLLIER/AFP via Getty Images) /

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24 Aug 1998: Safety Steve Atwater #27b and cornerback Ray Crockett #39 of the Denver Broncos confer during a pre-season game against the Green Bay Packers at the Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Packers 34-31. /

Steve Atwater strip-sack

On the ensuing possession, it seemed that the Packers were starting to feel the pressure. Facing a 3rd-and-5 from their own 34-yard line, Favre was hit by Denver safety Steve Atwater. The ball popped free and was recovered by Neil Smith.

The Broncos did a great job of putting pressure on Favre with their defensive backs in this game. They got pressure on him several times that way and that impacted many of the key plays throughout the day.

Terrell Davis was the game’s Most Valuable Player and will always receive the most recognition for this victory, along with Elway, but Denver’s secondary were the unsung heroes of this game.

Atwater would come up with one of the most memorable plays of this game in the late stages, though it came at a huge cost to himself.

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