AFC: Denver Broncos 42.2C Jacksonville Jaguars 17 1997–98 NFL playoffs

at mile high stadium, denver, colorado

game time: 4:00 p.m. est/2:00 p.m. mst
game weather: 42 °f (6 °c), clear
game attendance: 74,481
referee: bernie kukar
tv announcers (abc): al michaels (play-by-play), frank gifford, , dan dierdorf (color commentators)

denver compiled 310 rushing yards , 511 total yards of offense, , held ball 40:59 in 42–17 win, avenging playoff loss jaguars year before. broncos dominated early, converting first 9 third downs , scoring touchdowns on first 3 drives. first, converted 4 third downs drove 72 yards in 7:21, featuring 25-yard reception ed mccaffrey on third , 15, , scored on 2-yard touchdown run terrell davis. jacksonville forced three-and-out on next drive, , bryan barker s punt went 24 yards denver 40-yard line. broncos drove 60 yards , increased lead 14-0 43-yard touchdown pass john elway rod smith on third down , 4 2:37 left in first quarter. reggie barlow returned ensuing kickoff 37 yards midfield, , jacksonville subsequently drove denver 40, stopped there , had punt. barker s kick pinned broncos @ own 8, still drove 92 yards make score 21-0 on davis 5-yard touchdown run. key play of drive 40-yard completion elway smith on third down , 6 own 12-yard line. later in drive, elway completed 16-yard pass smith on third down , 13 jags 26. point, elway had completed 6 of passes 156 yards on third down plays.

jacksonville responded driving 79 yards, aided 16-yard reception jimmy smith , 34-yard pass interference penalty on defensive darrien gordon, score on 2-yard touchdown run natrone means, cutting score 21-7 on 5 minutes left in second quarter. final score of first half next 3 drives end in punts.

barlow returned second half kickoff 58 yards broncos 27, setting jags kicker mike hollis 38-yard field goal cut score 21-10. 4 minutes later, safety travis davis blocked punt denver s tom rouen , returned 29 yards touchdown, bringing jacksonville within 21-17. despite 51-yard kickoff return vaughn hebron, things seemed better jacksonville on ensuing possession when safety chris hudson forced fumble elway recovered defensive end renaldo wynn. jacksonville quarterback mark brunell s subsequent 37-yard completion tight end damon jones gave them first down on broncos 16-yard line. on next play, brunell lost fumble of own recovered linebacker allen aldridge. denver drove jacksonville 15, featuring 59-yard run davis, elway lost fumble recovered cornerback dave thomas , score remained 21-17 going fourth quarter.

in final quarter, denver took on game. jacksonville forced punt after elway s second fumble, , barker s 27-yard kick gave denver first down on jacksonville 48. there took 2 plays score, 23-yard completion elway tight end shannon sharpe , 25-yard touchdown run derek loville, making score 28-17. jaguars made 1 last spirited comeback attempt, gordon put end intercepting pass brunell in end zone. denver drove 80 yards in 10 plays, 8 of them carries loville (including 44-yard run), starting in place of injured davis. on last play, 8-yard touchdown run gave denver 35-17 lead. in desperate situation, brunell attempted convert fourth , 10 on jaguars next drive, gordon sacked him 10-yard loss, while 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on receiver keenan mccardell gave broncos first down on jacksonville 15-yard line. few plays later, hebron finished off scoring on 6-yard touchdown run 1:16 left in game.

davis rushed 184 yards , 2 touchdowns, while catching 4 passes 11 yards. loville, rushed 124 yards during regular season, had 103 yards , 2 touchdowns on 11 carries , 10-yard reception. elway completed 16 of 24 passes 223 yards , touchdown. rod smith top receiver of game 3 receptions 99 yards , touchdown. hebron had 6 carries 23 yards , touchdown, along 3 kickoff returns 87 yards. barlow returned 3 kickoffs 118 yards , punt 5 yards. jags lineman clyde simmons had 2 sacks.