Throwback Thursday: Broncos – Packers 1984 blizzard game

The Denver Broncos versus Green Bay Packers; it’s an historical match-up in many ways.

Everyone remembers Super Bowl XXXII (can you believe it was nearly 20 years ago?) as one of the greatest Super Bowls in the history of the game. Brett Favre in his prime and the Packers favored over John Elway on his last legs with a tremendous Terrell Davis. The game was a back-and-forth battle, with Davis running through the Packers line despite a migraine headache, Elway running one in himself on a play-action and Denver’s defense holding on to win.

It was Elway’s first Super Bowl win, the Denver Broncos first as a franchise and one of the most magical years in team history.

But, do you remember the 1984 blizzard game between the Packers and Broncos?

On Oct. 15, 1984 the Green Bay Packers came to the Mile High City to play during a blizzard. It was the 200th Monday Night Football game and a special one in Broncos history. During the game, over a foot of snow fell and the Pack couldn’t hold onto the ball to save their lives.

On Green Bay’s first play from scrimmage, Tom Jackson poked the ball out of Gerry Ellis‘ hands; Steve Foley picked the ball up and took it 22 yards to the house. 7-0 Denver.

The Packers again got the ball, and again on the drive’s first play, fumbled the ball as Broncos linebacker Steve Busick stripped it from Pack back Jessie Clark and Louis Wright picked up the ball out of the snow to return it 27 yards and another Denver TD. 14-0 Broncos, 36 seconds into the game.

In the second quarter, barefoot kicker Rich Karlis booted through a 30-yard field goal for the 17-0 lead going into halftime.

Green Bay kept fighting, though; Ellis rushed for a five-yard touchdown in the third quarter and James Lofton caught a 54-yard touchdown with 7:49 left in the fourth to bring the game to 17-14 Denver. The Packers then forced a 3-and-out and moved the ball quickly into Denver territory. From the 19, quarterback Lynn Dickey dropped back and was sacked by Karl Mecklenburg, who forced a fumble and basically ended Green Bay’s hopes of winning.

That forced fumble by Mecklenburg was the Packers’ fifth turnover on the day and the win accounted for Denver’s fifth straight on the season, moving to 6-1 overall.

https://twitter.com/BroncosHistory/status/658711547712262145

(Special thanks to @BroncosHistory for these awesome pics!)

Ironically, 1984 is the year Pat Bowlen bought the Broncos and the year he created the Ring of Fame. On Sunday night when Green Bay comes to town, Bowlen will be inducted into the Ring of Fame himself in a special and no doubt emotional halftime ceremony.

And, not only will this game be special due to Bowlen’s Ring of Fame induction, but because it will make history as well. This will be only the fourth time in NFL history two teams who are 6-0 or better have met to play one another.

Maybe, like in January of 1998, the two will meet in the Super Bowl.