1989 · Divisional Round · Game 3

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Divisional Round

Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos

Sun January 7, 1990 · Mile High Stadium, kickoff 4:00pm

Pregame

Pregame: Divisional Round
AI summary based on verified facts

AFC Divisional Round at Mile High Stadium on Sun January 7, 1990. The Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) travel to face the Denver Broncos (11-5) in the AFC second-round matchup.

Dan Reeves year nine as head coach. John Elway at quarterback. Bobby Humphrey at running back. Vance Johnson and Mark Jackson at receiver. The Steelers come off the overtime wild-card win at Houston. Bubby Brister at quarterback. Merril Hoge at running back. Chuck Noll in year 21 as head coach.[1][2]

Columnist
AI summary based on verified facts

Dan Reeves' Denver Broncos are the AFC's No. 1 seed and the conference's two-time defending champion. John Elway has thrown for 3,051 yards. Bobby Humphrey has 1,151 rushing yards across 16 games. Vance Johnson has 76 catches for 1,095. The Steelers come in off the 26-23 overtime road win at Houston.

The Sunday matchup at Mile High is the year's first divisional matchup featuring the Broncos. Chuck Noll's Steelers, the franchise's third consecutive playoff appearance, are the AFC's #5 seed wild-card winner.

Around the league
AI summary based on verified facts

Divisional Round Sunday continues the playoffs' second weekend. The Broncos (AFC #1) host the Steelers (AFC #5 wild-card winner). The Bills (AFC #2) host the Browns (AFC #4). The Giants (NFC #2) host the Rams (NFC #6). The 49ers (NFC #1) host the Vikings (NFC #4). The Sunday-afternoon AFC matchup is the year's marquee divisional game in Denver.

Trend analyst
AI summary based on verified facts

Through the regular season the Broncos finished 11-5 and the Steelers finished 9-7. John Elway 3,051 yards reg season, 18 TDs, 18 INTs. Bobby Humphrey 1,151 rushing across 16 games. Vance Johnson 76 catches for 1,095. Mark Jackson 22 for 446. Bubby Brister 2,365 yards reg season, 9 TDs, 10 INTs. Merril Hoge 244 carries for 621.

League standings entering Week 17

Standings as of kickoff, Week 17 (no future-game spoilers)

Around the league

  • Best record league-wide: San Francisco 49ers (14-2).

AFC

AFC Central

TeamRecStrk
Cleveland Browns9-6-1W2
Pittsburgh Steelers9-7W3
Houston Oilers9-7L2
Cincinnati Bengals8-8L1

AFC East

TeamRecStrk
Buffalo Bills9-7W1
Indianapolis Colts8-8L1
Miami Dolphins8-8L2
New England Patriots5-11L3
New York Jets4-12L3

AFC West

TeamRecStrk
Denver Broncos11-5L1
Kansas City Chiefs8-7-1W1
Los Angeles Raiders8-8L2
Seattle Seahawks7-9L1
San Diego Chargers6-10W2

NFC

NFC West

TeamRecStrk
San Francisco 49ers14-2W5
Los Angeles Rams11-5W2
New Orleans Saints9-7W3
Atlanta Falcons3-13L7

NFC Central

TeamRecStrk
Green Bay Packers10-6W2
Minnesota Vikings10-6W1
Detroit Lions7-9W5
Chicago Bears6-10L6
Tampa Bay Buccaneers5-11L4

NFC East

TeamRecStrk
New York Giants12-4W3
Philadelphia Eagles11-5W1
Washington Redskins10-6W5
Phoenix Cardinals5-11L6
Dallas Cowboys1-15L7

Game video

▶ Open in YouTube 1989 AFC Divisional Playoff Pittsburgh v Denver · channel: Chad's Retro Sports

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🔎 Search YouTube for this game🏈 Around the league this week
More of this game (4):
Pittsburgh Steelers vs Denver Broncos 1989 AFC PlayoffsPittsburgh Steelers vs Denver Broncos 1989 AFC PlayoffsPittsburgh Steelers vs Denver Broncos (January 7, 1990) (AFC Playoffs) "Broncos Bounce Out Steelers"Pittsburgh Steelers vs Denver Broncos (January 7, 1990) (AFC Playoffs) "Broncos Bounce Out Steelers"Re-visiting: 1989 AFC Divisional Round - Pittsburgh Steelers @ Denver Broncos: GAME STREAM! 🏈🔴Re-visiting: 1989 AFC Divisional Round - Pittsburgh Steelers @ Denver Broncos: GAME STREAM! 🏈🔴1989 AFC Divisional Playoff highlights - Pittsburgh at Denver1989 AFC Divisional Playoff highlights - Pittsburgh at Denver
Around the league this week (1):
1989 NFL PLAYOFFS AFC DIVISIONAL GAME1989 NFL PLAYOFFS AFC DIVISIONAL GAME

Score

Reveal through:

Pittsburgh Steelers 23, Denver Broncos 24[2][1]

1234T
Pittsburgh Steelers31433317202323
Denver Broncos01077010172424

Scoring plays

Q1

TeamPlayScore
SteelersGary Anderson 32 yard field goal3-0

Q2

TeamPlayScore
SteelersMerril Hoge 7 yard rush (Gary Anderson kick)10-0
BroncosMel Bratton 1 yard rush (David Treadwell kick)10-7
SteelersLouis Lipps 9 yard pass from Bubby Brister (Gary Anderson kick)17-7
BroncosDavid Treadwell 43 yard field goal17-10

Q3

TeamPlayScore
BroncosVance Johnson 37 yard pass from John Elway (David Treadwell kick)17-17
SteelersGary Anderson 35 yard field goal20-17

Q4

TeamPlayScore
SteelersGary Anderson 32 yard field goal23-17
BroncosMel Bratton 1 yard rush (David Treadwell kick)23-24

Recap

Recap
AI summary based on verified facts

John Elway threw a 37-yard touchdown to Vance Johnson and Mel Bratton ran in two short touchdowns, and the Denver Broncos beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-23 at Mile High Stadium in the AFC Divisional Round. Elway finished 12 of 20 for 239 yards. Bobby Humphrey ran for 85. Mel Bratton ran in two 1-yard touchdowns. Bubby Brister threw for 229 yards with one touchdown. Gary Anderson made three field goals. The Broncos improved to 12-5 and advanced to the AFC Championship.[1][2]

Columnist recap
AI summary based on verified facts

John Elway's 37-yard touchdown to Vance Johnson in the third quarter and Mel Bratton's two short rushing touchdowns produced the Denver Broncos' 24-23 divisional-round home win over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Mile High Stadium. The Broncos advance to the AFC Championship.

Elway finished 12 of 20 for 239 yards with the long touchdown to Johnson. Bobby Humphrey ran 18 for 85. Mark Jackson caught five for 111. Vance Johnson three for 85 with the touchdown. Mel Bratton ran in two 1-yard goal-line touchdowns. The Broncos' offense produced 308 total yards.

Bubby Brister finished 19 of 29 for 229 with one touchdown (Louis Lipps 9) and no interceptions. Merril Hoge ran 16 for 120 with a 7-yard touchdown. Tim Worley ran 13 for 50. The Steelers' offense produced 364 total yards but no second-half lead-changing scores. Gary Anderson made three field goals (32, 35, 32). The Broncos' fourth-quarter Bratton touchdown was the winner.

By the numbers
AI summary based on verified facts

Broncos 24, Steelers 23. Margin: plus 1. AFC Divisional Round.

  • Elway: 12 of 20, 239, 1 TD (Vance Johnson 37), 1 INT; 7 carries for 44.
  • Humphrey: 18 carries for 85.
  • Mel Bratton: 4 carries for 3, 2 rushing TDs (1, 1).
  • Mark Jackson: 5 catches for 111.
  • Vance Johnson: 3 catches for 85, 1 TD.
  • David Treadwell: 1 FG (43).
  • Brister (PIT): 19 of 29, 229, 1 TD (Lipps 9), 0 INTs.
  • Hoge (PIT): 16 carries for 120, 1 rushing TD (7y).
  • Worley (PIT): 13 carries for 50.
  • Mike Mularkey (PIT): 2 catches for 36.
  • Louis Lipps (PIT): 3 catches for 29, 1 TD.
  • Gary Anderson (PIT): 3 FGs (32, 35, 32).
  • Broncos 12-5; Steelers out. Broncos advance to AFC Championship.
Film room
AI summary based on verified facts

A 24-23 AFC Divisional Round home win for the Denver Broncos over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Mile High Stadium. Denver advances to the AFC Championship.

How it unfolded

Gary Anderson kicked a 32-yard field goal first. Merril Hoge's 7-yard rush made it 10-0 in the second quarter. Bratton's 1-yard rush cut it to 10-7. Anderson's 35-yarder made it 13-7. Lipps caught a 9-yarder for 17-7. Treadwell's 43-yarder cut it to 17-10. Vance Johnson caught a 37-yarder for 17-17. Anderson's 32-yarder made it 20-17. Anderson's 32-yarder pushed it to 23-17. Bratton's 1-yard rush made the final 24-23.

The turning point

The Mel Bratton 1-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter. After the Steelers' Gary Anderson field goals had built a 23-17 lead, the Broncos' offense drove 71 yards on 12 plays to set up Bratton's eventual game-winner.

By the numbers

Elway 12 of 20 for 239 with the touchdown. Bobby Humphrey 85 on 18. Mark Jackson five catches for 111. Vance Johnson three for 85 with the touchdown. Brister 19 of 29 for 229 with one touchdown. Hoge 120 on 16 with the touchdown.

What it means

12-5. AFC Championship at home next Sunday against the Cleveland Browns. The Broncos' second straight AFC Championship appearance.

Box score

SteelersBroncos
Team totals
First Downs1919
Total Yards404364
Turnovers21
Passing
Comp/Att19/2912/20
Pass yards229239
Pass TD11
Interceptions01
Sacks taken01
Sack yards lost013
Net pass yards229226
Rushing
Rushes3231
Rush yards175138
Rush TD12
Discipline
Fumbles21
Fumbles lost20
Penalties82
Penalty yards5019

Passing

PlayerC/AYdsTDIntRate
PIT
Bubby Brister19/2922910101.1
DEN
John Elway12/202391197.7

Rushing

PlayerAttYdsTDLong
PIT
Merril Hoge16120145
Tim Worley1350019
Bubby Brister2404
Louis Lipps1101
DEN
Bobby Humphrey1885017
John Elway744032
Steve Sewell1606
Mel Bratton4321
Sammy Winder1000

Receiving

PlayerRecYdsTDLong
PIT
Merril Hoge860019
Mike Mularkey236025
Tim Worley133033
Mark Stock130030
Louis Lipps329111
Weegie Thompson123023
Dwight Stone318011
DEN
Mark Jackson5111051
Vance Johnson385137
Mike Young222012
Ricky Nattiel115015
Bobby Humphrey1606

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