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Unhappy memories Loss to Jags in '96 still motivates Broncos in playoffs
Updated: Friday December 29, 2000 10:52 PM
BALTIMORE (AP) -- The Denver Broncos haven't lost a playoff game since 1996 -- precisely because they lost one that year. When the Broncos play at Baltimore on Sunday in an AFC wild-card game, they should bring a wealth of postseason experience with them. Since falling to the Jacksonville Jaguars at home in that 1996 game, they have won seven consecutive playoff contests and two Super Bowls. "That loss drove us when we won the two Super Bowls," linebacker Bill Romanowski said. "We never forgot how bitter that loss was." Denver captured the 1997 NFL crown as a wild-card team, then had the AFC's best record on the way to the championship in 1998. Without that '96 defeat while holding home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs, however, the Broncos might never have reached greatness. "It is funny, since I have been in the NFL, I have gone a lot of different directions relative to wild card, home-field advantage," Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan said. "It comes down to one thing: Once you are in the playoff picture, you have got a chance to do something special, but you have got to play some error-free football; you've got to really play well as a group; and regardless if it's home or away, there is an opportunity presented to every football team to do something special."
The Broncos were special in John Elway's final two seasons. But this is a different cast on offense, with Elway and tackle Gary Zimmerman retired, star running back Terrell Davis injured and quarterback Brian Griese's status still uncertain. Plus, on the other side of the field is tight end Shannon Sharpe, an integral part of Denver's championships who signed with the Ravens as a free agent before this season. Still, the Broncos have plenty of experienced postseason players, from linebackers Romanowski and John Mobley to receivers Rod Smith and Ed McCaffrey to placekicker Jason Elam and punter Tom Rouen. Of Denver's starters, 15 have been regulars in Super Bowls, including strong safety Billy Jenkins, who started for St. Louis last year. Those veterans aren't likely to get shaken by the vociferous crowd at PSINet Stadium in the first home playoff game for a Baltimore franchise since 1977. In fact, some of them look forward to it. "It gets you going," McCaffrey said. "You always like to be at home, but you can get it going on the road, too. We've proven that in the past." In '97, after avenging the previous season's playoff loss to the Jaguars by routing them at Mile High Stadium, the Broncos went to Kansas City and won. Then they captured the AFC title with a victory at Pittsburgh before edging Green Bay in the Super Bowl in San Diego. The Broncos never have played at the Ravens' home - they haven't even been to Baltimore since 1983. And while this is the first playoff game for the city since the days of Bert Jones and the Colts, the Ravens aren't exactly new at this kind of thing. Sharpe, safety Rod Woodson and tackle Harry Swayne all have been to Super Bowls. Defensive linemen Sam Adams and Tony Siragusa, quarterback Trent Dilfer and wide receiver Qadry Ismail are other playoff vets. Sharpe, of course, has been the most successful, and he isn't afraid to relate his experiences to his new teammates. "I just tell them what it's like," Sharpe said. "Everybody wants to be part of a winner. Fortunately, I've been in a system, an organization, that prided itself not just on the playoffs, but Super Bowls. When we started the season, that was our goal, winning the Super Bowl, not just the playoffs. I brought the same philosophy here."
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