The last time the Broncos hosted the Patriots in the AFC Championship game, in January 2014, there were a number of key players out because of injury. Among them was Broncos linebacker Von Miller.
This time around, Miller had a chance to impact the game and he did so in a big way, on the biggest stage.
“It’s not just me,” Miller said postgame. “(Derek) Wolfe and Chris (Harris Jr), when I look at those guys I can just tell it’s more than just the Super Bowl. When you have teammates like that it’s easy to lay your neck on the line for them and that’s what I’ll continue to do.”
Miller set a franchise record for sacks in a playoff game with 2.5, and also became the first player in NFL history to record multiple sacks and have an interception in a playoff game, but he’s focused on bigger things.
“I remember after the Super Bowl loss, sitting in the locker room and I just remember guys crying, it was just a depressing moment. Lerentee (McCray), he came to me, he didn’t play either, he said ‘We’re going to get back here. We’re going to grind and we’re going to get back here.’ From when he said that I just knew it. From that moment I wanted to do it for Peyton (Manning) to get him back there and all the guys that hadn’t been there I wanted to do it and that’s just where I put my mind at.”
Along with Manning, the Broncos have rallied around the idea of getting another future Hall of Famer a chance to play in the big game in DeMarcus Ware, and Miller who has played so closely to Ware may have been leading that charge.
“He’s a natural leader,” Miller said. “When you see DeMarcus Ware you think ‘great guy’, and the only thing he needs is a Super Bowl. With him being my idol, I’m going to lay my life on the line for him.”
Earlier in the week, we learned Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak has been preaching a message to his team about it being easier to win for the guy beside you than for yourself. Miller’s has bought into that. It’s more than just the Super Bowl. It is a chance for Miller and his teammates to not only wash the taste of Super Bowl XLVIII away, but a chance to battle for the players they’ve been through all the ups and downs with.
