it was 10-6 at half. ravens gave them a gift 7 points on their first play of the game.....den intercepted and ran it down to the 2 yard line. next play--TD and 7-0
den offence produced double of what they got in last years playoff game. they scored 2 fg's. that's it.
Last season, the Broncos went into the playoffs with an offense that ranked among the NFL's best. But all they could muster against the Ravens was a field goal in a 21-3 loss in an AFC wild-card game in Baltimore.
This time, the Broncos vowed, the result would be different. This time, the Broncos had a healthy Griese running the show and the game would be played on their new home turf, Invesco Field at Mile High.
This time, the Broncos' offense produced two field goals.
Officially, the Broncos' offense scored one touchdown -- on a 3-yard touchdown pass from Griese to tight end Dwayne Carswell -- but it was set up by defensive tackle Chester McGlockton's interception on Baltimore's first play from scrimmage.
"We didn't put it in the end zone; our defense put it in the end zone," Griese said. "That touchdown had nothing to do with us. We scored six points."
And with the Broncos' offense struggling against Baltimore's vaunted defense, Ravens quarterback Elvis Grbac brought his team back from a 13-6 third-quarter deficit with a pair of touchdown passes.
The Broncos entered the much-anticipated AFC showdown averaging 427 yards -- 282 passing, 145 rushing -- and 34.5 points per game. The Ravens held them to 228 total yards, only 61 on the ground. And Baltimore forced three turnovers, including Griese's first two interceptions of the season.
"We had some opportunities early, but we didn't take advantage of it," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "Against a good football team like that, you can't turn the football over and you've got to score when you get the ball inside the 50-yard line.
"You can't beat a good football team and have three turnovers."
Griese completed only 17 of 33 passes for 191 yards and one touchdown. He was sacked five times and spent much of the afternoon scrambling away from the Ravens' pass rush, which had effectively shut down Denver's running game.
Mike Anderson was the Broncos' leading rusher, carrying 12 times for 34 yards.
"It's not just the guys up front, it's everybody on that defense," Broncos tackle Matt Lepsis said. "They all know where they're supposed to be and they all play 100 mph. That's a dangerous combination."
Said tight end Desmond Clark: "Brian didn't have time to read the defense. He was running for his life."
