Nine years and 10 days after the Denver Broncos’ first AFC Championship appearance and win—nine years after Tommy Jackson told John Madden, “It’s all over, fat man!”—there was “the Drive.”
January 11, 1987.
One of the greatest days in Broncos history.
One of the most iconic games in NFL history.
The day a 26-year-old John Elway, in a uniform stained with mud from his right shoulder to his right foot, became a legend.
With 5:32 left in the fourth quarter, the Denver Broncos trailed the Cleveland Browns 20-13. They needed a touchdown in front of a hostile Cleveland Municipal Stadium crowd to prevent the Browns from clinching the AFC’s spot in the Super Bowl.
Thanks to a muffed kickoff, Elway got the ball at his own two-yard line. The challenge was monumental.
When the offense huddled 98 yards from their destination, guard Keith Bishop told his teammates, “We’ve got them right where we want them.”
The idea appeared to be delusional, but he was right.
Elway began the drive with a crucial 5-yard pass to running back Sammy Winder, giving Denver breathing room.
Then Elway handed the ball to Winder on three consecutive plays, leaving the Broncos 85 yards from the end zone.
Then Elway carried the ball himself. 74 yards to go.
Elway hit Steve Sewell and Steve Watson on back-to-back passes to approach midfield. At the two-minute warning, Elway needed 52 more yards.
Then disaster struck. An incompletion. A sack. 3rd & 18. Browns fans had the Super Bowl in their sights. Cleveland Municipal Stadium was rocking.
Elway silenced the crowd with a 20-yard laser to Mark Jackson. First down. Elway pumped his fist. 28 yards to go.
With no time to huddle, the Broncos rushed to the line of scrimmage. Elway lobbed a ball out of bounds with 1:19 left on the clock.
Then disaster struck again.
Elway lined up in shotgun. He sent Watson in motion. The snap was early and glanced off Watson’s hip. Elway snagged it and fired a dart over the middle to Steve Sewell. 14 yards to go. The clock ticked under a minute.
Elway ran for nine yards. The Broncos were five yards away with 42 seconds left.
He drilled Mark Jackson on a slant. Jackson spiked the ball. Touchdown. Rich Karlis nailed the extra point.
After an easy drive to open overtime, Karlis sealed the 23-20 victory with a walk-off field goal.
In 15 plays that spanned five minutes and two seconds, Elway conducted the most clutch performance in league history.
“The Drive” sent the Broncos to Super Bowl XXI and solidified Elway’s legacy as one of the NFL’s great quarterbacks. His poise, precision, and leadership—along with his mobility and rocket arm—defined his career and created one of the most unforgettable moments in Broncos history.
To commemorate “the Drive” FOCO has released this new limited edition John Elway bobble head, get yours here!
