Greatest Bronco plays of all time: #8 immaculate deflection - The Orange Mane

titan · 03-30-2010, 12:33 PM

Resuming my countdown of my all time greatest bronco plays:

Some of you may be thinking "Are we going to see any recent plays in the countdown?" Well here's a play from last season that will go down as one of the great Bronco finishes ever:

Couldn't get the video to show up in this post so click on this link to see it on my blog

I'll always remember this play in part because of the dramatic finish and in part because of the unusual circumstances in which I saw it. Here's my story:

Since 1968 I have probably missed watching a complete Bronco regular season game less than 10 times - this was one of them. I had an early morning flight to Las Vegas for a business conference that was going to start that Sunday afternoon. I did not want to miss Josh McDaniels first game as head coach. I knew it was going to be a key game, as I wrote about in my blog the week before the game:

"If the Broncos beat the Bengals ...

It'll be a huge boost in the team's confidence. All the critics of the offseason changes and disappointing preseason will be quieted. If the Broncos can beat a good Bengals team on the road, I predict they start out 4-0. The schedule then gets much tougher, and they'll finish with an 8-8 record."

My flight was delayed and I finally got to my hotel towards the end of the third quarter. I had to find a sports book so I could at least watch the finish! I walked over to Caesar's Palace and the Broncos/Bengals game wasn't on any of their big screens. Finally I spotted in a small corner of the sports book a single tv showing the game. I stood with a crowd of about 15 broncos and bengals fans watching the last 6 minutes.

I arrived at the tv just in time to see the Bengals start their go ahead drive. When Cincinnati scored the go ahead td with 38 seconds left I didn't have much hope. I was already late to my business conference so I started walking out of the sports book. Just then Caesar's Palace switched the game to one of their "big screens". I stopped, turned around, and thought "I might as well watch the last couple of plays."

Then the miracle happened. This 53 year old Bronco fan was jumping up and down like a 12 year old as Stokley crossed the goal line! Bronco fans in the sports book were high fiving each other. A Bengals fan ripped up his wager ticket in disgust.

I said "forget the conference!" and stuck around the sports book to see the replay about 15 times.

Finally I did make it over to the conference and I was in meetings until late that night. I got back to my hotel after 10 pm and saw a guy with a Chicago Bears jersey in front of the elevator. "I'm from Denver, how did Cutler do tonight?" I asked (not knowing anything about the Packers/Bears Sunday night game)

The Bears fan glared at me and walked away without saying anything.

For one game at least, McDaniels was looking pretty good as the new Denver head coach, and Cutler's 4 interceptions gave Bears fans a glimpse of what was to come later in the 2010 season. It was a good day to be a Bronco fan!

Next on the countdown: Another big play by a current Bronco player

Dukes · 03-30-2010, 12:38 PM

"Stokely, down the sideline...." Best quote of the year IMO

Dagmar · 03-30-2010, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by titan

For one game at least, McDaniels was looking pretty good as the new Denver head coach, and Cutler's 4 interceptions gave Bears fans a glimpse of what was to come later in the 2010 season. It was a great day to be a Bronco fan!

Next on the countdown: Another big play by a current Bronco player

My favorite play of all time, thanks man!

Beantown Bronco · 03-30-2010, 12:41 PM

If Gus Johnson doesn't get voted into the HOF, there is no justice in the world.

Dagmar · 03-30-2010, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beantown Bronco

If Gus Johnson doesn't get voted into the HOF, there is no justice in the world.

I love that guy.

WolfpackGuy · 03-30-2010, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beantown Bronco

If Gus Johnson doesn't get voted into the HOF, there is no justice in the world.

Gus is the man.

I think he needed a towel after the Kansas State-Xavier game last week.

BigPlayShay · 03-30-2010, 01:05 PM

lol, I love McDaniels screaming into his head piece "WE'RE GOING FOR TWOOOOO"

no-pseudo-fan · 03-30-2010, 01:09 PM

Completely awesome...I couldn't believe it happened. I hoped for something good...then BAM!!!

Blueflame · 03-30-2010, 01:09 PM

Actually I thought the deflection Eddie Mac caught in the end zone vs. the Vikings was more impressive than Stokley's catch....

HAT · 03-30-2010, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blueflame

Actually I thought the deflection Eddie Mac caught in the end zone vs. the Vikings was more impressive than Stokley's catch....

Of course you did. McD wasn't on the sidelines for that one.

worm · 03-30-2010, 01:18 PM

In my opinion there wasn't enough riding on this play to make it worthy of any all time Bronco play list for me.

Perhaps if the Broncos would have made the playoffs you could make the case that this game defined a season. Instead...it was just a miraculous outcome to an early season game in a forgettable season.

Hardly enough for #8 status of all-time.

Blueflame · 03-30-2010, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HAT

Of course you did. McD wasn't on the sidelines for that one.

Y'know... some of us have a great deal of affection for Eddie Mac... not everything has to be connected to Josh McDaniels.

So I suppose if I said that I thought a play made by John Elway was more impressive than one made by Kyle Orton, you'd say "Of course you did. McD wasn't on the sidelines for that one."

Too funny.

Dagmar · 03-30-2010, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blueflame

Actually I thought the deflection Eddie Mac caught in the end zone vs. the Vikings was more impressive than Stokley's catch....

Booooooooo! Troll!

Killericon · 03-30-2010, 01:48 PM

Best part was how he ran across the field at the end of the play to tun off more time. Amazing play.

dbfan21 · 03-30-2010, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blueflame

Actually I thought the deflection Eddie Mac caught in the end zone vs. the Vikings was more impressive than Stokley's catch....

That was quite an awesome play too...and I believe it happened in the waning seconds to win the game for the Broncos...1996, I believe.

gunns · 03-30-2010, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blueflame

y'know... Some of us have a great deal of affection for eddie mac... Not everything has to be connected to josh mcdaniels.

So i suppose if i said that i thought a play made by john elway was more impressive than one made by kyle orton, you'd say "of course you did. Mcd wasn't on the sidelines for that one."

too funny.

lol

Blueflame · 03-30-2010, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbfan21

That was quite an awesome play too...and I believe it happened in the waning seconds to win the game for the Broncos...1996, I believe.

November 24, 1996... the touchdown catch made the score 21-17 Broncos to take us to 11-1 for the season. We finished the year 13-3, winning our division and the top seed in the AFC. What a disappointment to drop the playoff game to the Jagwads (still ticked off about that... )

tsiguy96 · 03-30-2010, 03:31 PM

great play. i reallllly want to know what mcd was screaming about!

strafen · 03-30-2010, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HAT

Of course you did. McD wasn't on the sidelines for that one.

What a real moron you are. Get off McDaniels nuts NOW!!!

BigPlayShay · 04-02-2010, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blueflame

Actually I thought the deflection Eddie Mac caught in the end zone vs. the Vikings was more impressive than Stokley's catch....

Here you go:

Blueflame · 04-02-2010, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigPlayShay

Here you go:

Thanks for posting this... rep!

Giving the nod to Eddie's deflected catch in no way minimizes Brandon's catch (it was wonderful and the difference-maker in the game)... but Eddie's was just a thing of beauty. Gotta love Eddie Mac...

03-30-2010, 12:33 PM	#1
titan Perennial Pro-bowler Fan of Old School Football Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 963 Adopt-a-Bronco: None	Greatest Bronco plays of all time: #8 immaculate deflection Resuming my countdown of my all time greatest bronco plays: Some of you may be thinking "Are we going to see any recent plays in the countdown?" Well here's a play from last season that will go down as one of the great Bronco finishes ever: Couldn't get the video to show up in this post so click on this link to see it on my blog I'll always remember this play in part because of the dramatic finish and in part because of the unusual circumstances in which I saw it. Here's my story: Since 1968 I have probably missed watching a complete Bronco regular season game less than 10 times - this was one of them. I had an early morning flight to Las Vegas for a business conference that was going to start that Sunday afternoon. I did not want to miss Josh McDaniels first game as head coach. I knew it was going to be a key game, as I wrote about in my blog the week before the game: "If the Broncos beat the Bengals ... It'll be a huge boost in the team's confidence. All the critics of the offseason changes and disappointing preseason will be quieted. If the Broncos can beat a good Bengals team on the road, I predict they start out 4-0. The schedule then gets much tougher, and they'll finish with an 8-8 record." My flight was delayed and I finally got to my hotel towards the end of the third quarter. I had to find a sports book so I could at least watch the finish! I walked over to Caesar's Palace and the Broncos/Bengals game wasn't on any of their big screens. Finally I spotted in a small corner of the sports book a single tv showing the game. I stood with a crowd of about 15 broncos and bengals fans watching the last 6 minutes. I arrived at the tv just in time to see the Bengals start their go ahead drive. When Cincinnati scored the go ahead td with 38 seconds left I didn't have much hope. I was already late to my business conference so I started walking out of the sports book. Just then Caesar's Palace switched the game to one of their "big screens". I stopped, turned around, and thought "I might as well watch the last couple of plays." Then the miracle happened. This 53 year old Bronco fan was jumping up and down like a 12 year old as Stokley crossed the goal line! Bronco fans in the sports book were high fiving each other. A Bengals fan ripped up his wager ticket in disgust. I said "forget the conference!" and stuck around the sports book to see the replay about 15 times. Finally I did make it over to the conference and I was in meetings until late that night. I got back to my hotel after 10 pm and saw a guy with a Chicago Bears jersey in front of the elevator. "I'm from Denver, how did Cutler do tonight?" I asked (not knowing anything about the Packers/Bears Sunday night game) The Bears fan glared at me and walked away without saying anything. For one game at least, McDaniels was looking pretty good as the new Denver head coach, and Cutler's 4 interceptions gave Bears fans a glimpse of what was to come later in the 2010 season. It was a good day to be a Bronco fan! Next on the countdown: Another big play by a current Bronco player

03-30-2010, 01:05 PM	#7
BigPlayShay Ring of Famer Novaking Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 4,236 Adopt-a-Bronco: Got Cut	lol, I love McDaniels screaming into his head piece "WE'RE GOING FOR TWOOOOO" Last edited by BigPlayShay; 03-30-2010 at 01:11 PM..

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03-30-2010, 12:38 PM	#2
Dukes Ring of Famer Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 6,317	"Stokely, down the sideline...." Best quote of the year IMO

03-30-2010, 12:41 PM	#4
Beantown Bronco Athletic Supporter Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Mass Posts: 19,039 Adopt-a-Bronco: Matt Prater	If Gus Johnson doesn't get voted into the HOF, there is no justice in the world.

03-30-2010, 01:09 PM	#8
no-pseudo-fan True Orange & Blue Follow me... Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: EPT Posts: 2,136 Adopt-a-Bronco: Hidalgo	Completely awesome...I couldn't believe it happened. I hoped for something good...then BAM!!!

03-30-2010, 01:09 PM	#9
Blueflame Miss Congeniality Welcome to Peyton's Place Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: in my cups... lol Posts: 33,037 Adopt-a-Bronco: Randy Gradishar	Actually I thought the deflection Eddie Mac caught in the end zone vs. the Vikings was more impressive than Stokley's catch....

03-30-2010, 01:18 PM	#11
worm Great moments are born... ...from great opportunity Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3,947 Adopt-a-Bronco: #20	In my opinion there wasn't enough riding on this play to make it worthy of any all time Bronco play list for me. Perhaps if the Broncos would have made the playoffs you could make the case that this game defined a season. Instead...it was just a miraculous outcome to an early season game in a forgettable season. Hardly enough for #8 status of all-time.

03-30-2010, 01:48 PM	#14
Killericon YES A DT!!!!!! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: From Calgary, in Halifax for School Posts: 7,730 Adopt-a-Bronco: watermock	Best part was how he ran across the field at the end of the play to tun off more time. Amazing play.

03-30-2010, 03:31 PM	#18
tsiguy96 Ring of Famer New to the Forum Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 12,559 Adopt-a-Bronco: None	great play. i reallllly want to know what mcd was screaming about!