By Darin The date was January 11, 1987. The place was the frigid, deafening Cleveland Stadium. What transpired in the final minutes of the 1986 AFC Championship Game between the Denver Broncos and the Cleveland Browns didn’t just decide a trip to the Super Bowl; it forged a legend and became the definitive moment for a young quarterback named John Elway. This is the story of “The Drive.”
Article from Jan 12, 1987 The Log Cabin Democrat (Conway, Arkansas)
The Stage for the Miracle
The Browns, led by quarterback Bernie Kosar, had mounted a furious second-half comeback, taking a 20-13 lead late in the fourth quarter. The noise in the stadium was overwhelming, and the energy was electric. With just 5:32 left on the clock, the Broncos found themselves in the most desperate of situations: the ball was placed on their own 2-yard line. Ninety-eight yards of field separated Elway and the end zone, and the entire momentum of the game belonged to Cleveland.
Article from Jan 12, 1987 The Palm Beach Post (West Palm Beach, Florida)
What followed was a near-perfect execution of clutch football. Elway, only 26 years old at the time, systematically dismantled the Browns’ defense. With a mix of precision passes and daring scrambles—most notably a critical 11-yard run on third down—he moved the chains and silenced the hostile crowd. He hit five different receivers during the sequence, demonstrating exceptional composure under the immense pressure of the moment.
The Defining Moment
The signature play came in the closing seconds when, facing third down from the five-yard line, Elway rolled right and fired a laser to running back Mark Jackson in the end zone. That six-yard touchdown pass tied the game with just 37 seconds remaining. Kicker Rich Karlis added the extra point, forcing overtime. The Broncos then quickly secured possession in overtime and Karlis hit the game-winning 33-yard field goal, sealing the 23-20 victory and sending Denver to Super Bowl XXI.
A Legacy Cemented
“The Drive” wasn’t merely a playoff victory; it was a psychological blow that impacted the rivalry for a generation and cemented Elway’s reputation as the greatest clutch quarterback of his time. For the Browns, it was the start of a decade of heartbreak. For the Broncos, it was the beginning of a dynasty defined by unwavering resilience.
