I’ll never forget the shock and disappointment when Green Bay lost to the Broncos and the AFC in Super Bowl XXXII on January 25, 1998. The defending Super Bowl Champion Packers were expected to blow Denver away.
Elway was aging, and the AFC was weak at the time, losing 13 straight Super Bowls. Winning back-to-back or multiple Super Bowls was the standard for dominant teams (Cowboys and 49ers most recently).
When Elway dove for a first down on 3rd & 6 to pick up 8 yards, and eventually win the game, it was a punch to the gut. I’ve never been so upset about a football game. Packers vs Broncos history to me is all about that moment.
Fans were treated to a heck of an upset with critical touchdown receptions, staggering interceptions, relentless sacks, and game-changing fumbles. Both teams refused to back down, setting the stage for an unforgettable fourth-quarter finale at the Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.
The only Super Bowl in Packers vs Broncos History
Super Bowl XXXII saw the favored Green Bay Packers, led by rising-star & 3-time MVP quarterback Brett Favre, squaring off against the AFC Conference’s Denver Broncos, with John “The Duke” Elway at the helm.
Denver was coming into the playoffs as a wildcard team despite a 12-4 regular season record, coached by Mike Shanahan. Denver beat the Jaguars, Chiefs, and Steelers on the road.
The Packers came in as the defending Super Bowl XXXI champions with a record of 13-3, winning the NFC Central Division, coached my Mike Holmgren.
Super Bowl XXXII Game Summary
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Packers (NFC) | 7 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 24 |
| Broncos (AFC) | 7 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
In the fourth quarter, Packers quarterback Brett Favre managed to tie the game at 24-24 by completing a 13-yard pass to Antonio Freeman in the end zone early in the fourth quarter.
The Broncos rallied when they got the ball back. Quarterback John Elway led the team down the field, and Terrell Davis scored the winning touchdown at 1:45 left in the game.
The Broncos won their first NFL Championship. The Broncos defeated the Packers – their first ever Super Bowl loss. The Packers were the first team favored to win the Super Bowl by double digits to lose since the Vikings loss in SB IV.
When the Broncos won the Super Bowl in 1998, it was the first Super Bowl win for an AFC team in 14 years. Davis received the Super Bowl MVP award, recording 30 carries for 157 yards, 3 TDs, and 2 receptions for 8 yards. This impactful production came despite Davis sitting out almost the entire second quarter with a migraine.
Key Players
Terrell Davis – Super Bowl MVP
Running Back Terrell Davis was the true difference maker in the game. 157 rushing yards, 30 carries, 2 receptions, and 3 touchdowns. Davis’s three rushing touchdowns set a Super Bowl record and represented 3 of their 4 touchdowns, including the game winning Broncos touchdown.
No other running back has won a Super Bowl MVP since Super Bowl 32.
John Elway – Helicopter Dive
This was Elway’s Fourth Super Bowl appearance and first Super Bowl victory after three previous losses in the big game.
The Broncos had the ball on a critical 3rd down and 6 from the Packers’ 12-yard line. Elway dropped back to pass, but seeing no open receivers and knowing how important the play was, decided to run for the first down himself.
Elway, who was 37 at the time and near the end of his career, dove for the first down and was hit by two Packers defenders in mid-air. This caused Elway to spin around like a helicopter, but he held onto the ball and picked up 8 yards.
Two plays later, the Broncos scored a touchdown to take a 24-17 lead.
Elway completed 12 out of 22 passes for 123 yards, with 1 interception.
Brett Favre – Three Time MVP
This was Favre’s second Super Bowl appearance, his last Super Bowl appearance, and his first Super Bowl loss. Favre’s Super Bowl record is 1-1.
In this game, Favre was 25 of 42 passing for 256 yards and 3 touchdowns, with 1 interception. Favre threw 2 TDs to Antonio Freeman and one to Tight End Mark Chmura. Favre was picked off by Steve Atwater. Atwater intercepted Favre’s pass intended for Chmura in the first quarter of the game.
Reggie White – The Minister of Defense
The Green Bay defense was led by veteran Pro Bowler Reggie White, who led the team with 11 sacks. White, LeRoy Butler, Gilbert Brown, Eugene Robinson, Darren Sharper, and others were unable to register a sack against the Broncos offensive line.
Key Scores
Green Bay Packers
Antonio Freeman had 2 touchdown receptions and Mark Chmura had one TD reception. Ryan Longwell kicked 3 extra points and a 27-yard field goal.
Denver Broncos
Terrell Davis had 3 rushing touchdowns. Jason Elam kicked 4 extra points and a 51-yard field goal.
For full stats, please visit Wikipedia.
First Meeting
On September 26, 1971, the Green Bay Packers faced the Denver Broncos for the first time in their history. The Packers team was in a rebuilding phase due to age and injuries, and Bart Starr was out of this game due to injury.
Former Packer Don Horn was the starting QB for Denver. The Packers intercepted him 6 times.
The Packers had a youthful backfield featuring Dave Hampton (#25) and John Brockington (#42), known for their speed and power.
Zeke Bratkowski (#12) came out of retirement at 39 years old to provide experience. Rookie quarterback Scott Hunter (#16) showcased his speed and scored a touchdown in the third period. The Broncos struggled, managing only one touchdown in the game. Ultimately, the Packers emerged victorious with a 34-13 score.
Elway’s First Game versus the Packers
On 10/15/1984, Elway played his first game against the Packers, winning 17-14 on a snow-filled night at Mile High Stadium.
The Packers found themselves in a surprising 14-0 deficit. Gerry Ellis and Jessie Clark’s fumbles on consecutive kickoff returns allowed the Broncos to score two quick touchdowns. The Broncos extended their lead to 17-0 with a field goal by Rich Karlis before halftime.
Despite a valiant second-half effort, including a touchdown run by Ellis and a scoring pass from Lynn Dickey to James Lofton, the Packers fell short. This loss marked the Packers’ sixth consecutive defeat after a promising season opener, resulting in an 8-8 record for the year.
2019 Matchup
In the Broncos vs Packers game on September 22, 2019, Aaron Rodgers showcased his skill by making several key passes. Deante Spencer had an impressive kickoff return for the Broncos. Joe Flacco, the Broncos’ quarterback, struggled to find open receivers. Phillip Lindsay ran well for the Broncos, scoring a touchdown.
The momentum of the game shifted back and forth. Noah Fant’s crucial fumble proved costly for the Broncos. Aaron Jones scored multiple touchdowns for the Packers, while Jaire Alexander made a key defensive play. The Broncos had difficulty pressuring Rodgers and keeping up with the Packers’ offense.
In the end, the Packers won 27-16, improving their record to 3-0.
Shared History
Packer’s Offensive Coordinator Nathaniel Hackett left the Packers in 2022 to join Denver as their Head Coach. Hackett was fired after only 1 season.
Most Recent Matchup
The Packers last played the Broncos on October 22, 2023, losing that matchup at Mile High Stadium (Empower Field at Mile High) with a score of 17-19.
I was at that game – and it was thoroughly miserable seeing the Pack losing to the Broncos who were in disarray at the time.
