For Some Broncos Fans, Jacksonville Still Personal

The Denver Broncos and Jacksonville Jaguars don’t often find themselves on opposite ends of the field. They’re not in the same division. They haven’t met in the postseason since the 1997 campaign ten years ago. In the last ten years, the teams have played five times – only once in Denver – and split the series 3-2 with Denver having a slight edge.

Yet for some Broncos fans, playing Jacksonville stirs up memories of the worst loss in Broncos history. For some, including me, it’s still personal.

The date was January 4, 1997. The 1996 NFL season saw the Denver Broncos as the AFC’s #1 seed with a 13-3 record and home field advantage wrapped up throughout the playoffs. It looked like John Elway would get another chance at his elusive Super Bowl before retirement.

In came the Jacksonville Jaguars, a team in its second year of existence, to bout with the heavyweight Broncos in a Divisional Round rumble. The Jaguars shocked the Broncos – they blocked our first point after attempt; they held Terrell Davis to the lowest postseason rushing total of his career (91 yards); they scored on six consecutive drives to beat the Broncos 30-27. The 13-3 1996 Broncos, destined for glory, were going home early.

Elway would later call this game the worst loss of his career.

We may have beat them handily in the next year’s playoffs en route to the Super Bowl. Our most recent outing against the Jags turned out to be a solid win, too. But my blood still boils when I see teal, black and gold in Mile High. I remember that day, and how angry and sad and just totally pissed off I was as a teenager. Those feelings stay with you, and so for me, Jacksonville games have always been games worthy of obsession.

With another championship-caliber team taking the field this year, let’s not let the underdog Jaguars catch us off guard. Let’s win, and win handily, and head into Indianapolis next week fully charged and ready to roll.