1977: The Year of the First-Ever Denver Broncos Playoff Game

Denver wasted no time in scoring in the first quarter of their first-ever playoff game. In fact, all throughout the game, the Broncos were the beneficiaries of their stalwart defensive play. The Orange Crush defense forced the Pittsburgh offense into committing four turnovers, each of which occurred in Steelers territory.

Having a shorter field with which to deal with, Denver’s offense was practically assured of putting some points on the scoreboard. A blocked punt led to rookie Broncos running back Rob Lytle’s score, as he ran right up the gut practically untouched from seven yards out to post a 7-0 Broncos lead.

Pittsburgh answered in kind, as they successfully finished a scoring drive in the second quarter with a 1-yard Terry Bradshaw quarterback sneak. Denver wasted no time in responding, as All-Pro linebacker Tom Jackson returned a Steelers fumble 30 yards. From there, Broncos halfback Otis Armstrong ran 10 yards to paydirt to reclaim the lead, 14-7. Just before halftime, the Steelers answered back with a 1-yard Franco Harris run.

The two teams were deadlocked as they entered their locker rooms at the half.

As both teams left the field, Denver head coach Red Miller had a few caustic comments for the game officials and Steelers head coach Chuck Noll and defensive line coach George Perles. Their subsequent argument was ignited when All-Pro Pittsburgh defensive tackle “Mean” Joe Greene punched Broncos offensive guard Paul Howard in the solar plexus after one play had ended. Greene’s punch was precipitated by Howard, whom Greene claimed was regularly holding him on several plays in the first half.

The referees failed to observe Greene’s punch, but on the very next play, they did observe Greene punching Denver center Mike Montler in the stomach.

Greene was therefore penalized 15 yards for Unsportsmanlike Conduct.

Miller first complained to the referees that Greene should have been penalized more than he was. Miller then went after Noll and Perles in the tunnel leading to the locker rooms underneath the stands. None of his encounters with the two Steelers coaches was recorded for posterity, but it probably included some of the chosen vernacular that one would commonly hear in the back alley of a Harlem gang fight.

Denver came out in the third quarter as fired up as they had ever been all season long. Their defense put an abrupt halt to Pittsburgh’s scoring during that third frame.

In contrast, the Broncos offense began to open up, which resulted in another touchdown. Veteran Denver quarterback Craig Morton was banged up all week prior to the game, but he gutted it out nevertheless. Morton hit his tight end, Riley Odoms, with a 30-yard touchdown pass, giving the Broncos a 21-14 lead.

True to their winning pedigree, however, the Steelers managed to stage a comeback. Bradshaw drove his offense to the Denver 1-yard line in the fourth quarter. From the doorstep of the Broncos goal line, the Pittsburgh quarterback tossed a very short pass into the end zone for his tight end, Larry Brown, whose catch tied the game once again, this time at 21-21.

Then came the Steelers turnovers, one right after the other. Both came via the thievery of Tom Jackson, who intercepted two Terry Bradshaw passes. Those miscues resulted in one of two Jim Turner field goals, which boosted Denver’s lead to 27-21. But Jackson’s second interception led to the play that ultimately won the game for the Broncos.

It came when Morton lofted the ball deep for his slot receiver, Jack Dolbin, who had beaten reserve Pittsburgh defensive back, Jimmy Allen, on a corner route.

Dolbin caught the ball over his shoulder and just inside the corner of the end zone. The Mile High Stadium crowd went…well, a mile high. Dolbin’s touchdown gave Denver the insurance that they needed to post a 34-21 win. It was the first playoff victory in the 18-year history of the Broncos franchise.

And even though its memory would be eclipsed the following week when Denver claimed the AFC Championship, their triumph over the Steelers on Christmas Eve of 1977 would always be declared as the team’s first win ever in the playoffs.