NFL Game of the Week

The Broncos' road to Super Bowl XXI began Sept. 7 against their natural rivals, the Raiders. Denver well remembered how their two overtime defeats to the Silver and Black in 1985 cost John Elway & Co. not only the division title, but postseason play of any kind. Now Elway and the Raiders' shaky Marc Wilson hit the airwaves with force. John Elway, of course, had the largest force, leading a drive (not The Drive, mind you) that gave Denver a 38-36 comeback win.

Buddy Ryan, the former Bears defensive coordinator turned Eagles coach, wanted nothing more than to get revenge on the World Champions on September 14, 1986. What stood against him was the Bears ""46"" Defense that he had molded, plus the fact that the Eagles had yet to win in Chicago. But this game was hardly the mismatch people had predicted.

Named by the NFL as the greatest game of 1986, this showdown of September 21 pitted two first-round picks from the touted Quarterback Class of '83. Dan Marino of the Dolphins and Ken O'Brien of the Jets lit up the scoreboard, breaking the NFL game aggregate passing yardage record in the process.

Sullivan Stadium (as it was then called) hosted the Backup Bowl October 12, 1986. New England turned to veteran Steve Grogan at QB, while the Jets called on Pat Ryan to sub for the injured Ken O'Brien. For the moment, New York had the better team of starters.

It took time to develop, but two hot quarterbacks, Tommy Kramer of Minnesota and Jay Schroeder of Washington, put up a pass-happy showdown vital to both teams' postseason chances. While long plays dictating the outcome, three squandered PATs forced an overtime that the Redskins won, 44-38.

Phil Simms had gone through a series of setbacks since he was drafted. Even in 1986, the Giants used their defense to stay the course to a Super Bowl. But in a game at Minneapolis on November 16, 1986, Simms passed the test of a winner. He has said that completing a 4th-and-17 pass is the highlight of his career.

Cleveland had waited 17 years to gain a season sweep of the archrival Steelers. Now, on Nov. 23, the Browns' QB Bernie Kosar, just two days before his 23rd birthday, had the talent to make the sweep a reality. But Pittsburgh would not go down without a fight, forcing overtime.

K.C. had never won at Los Angeles Coliseum. But now, with the Chiefs and Raiders with 8-6 records, the Chiefs would prevail 20-17. This loss virtually ended L.A. Raider playoff hopes.