‘Broncomania’ ignites with 20-17 win over Raiders that delivers first Super Bowl | Jan. 1, 1978 | Colorado’s Top 150 Sports Moments
Happy birthday, Colorado — and Colorado sports.
Leading into the state’s 150th birthday on Saturday, The Denver Gazette has partnered with the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame to publicize the definitive list of Colorado’s top 150 sports moments.
For Nos. 50 to 1, Colorado Sports Hall of Fame historian Dave Plati coordinated a 19-member committee to rank in order what they considered the top moments. The No. 1 moment will be revealed Friday. Plati and Broncos icon Jim Saccomano will unveil the list weekly on a Colorado Sports Hall of Fame podcast at coloradosports.org/podcast/.
No. 4 — Jan. 1, 1978
It was the signature moment in the original year of “Broncomania.” With 74,982 in attendance at Mile High Stadium, Broncos fans braved 20-degree weather to see the AFC West champions win their first American Football Conference crown and the Super Bowl berth that went with it with a 20-17 win over the Oakland Raiders. Denver’s “M&M Connection” shined on New Year’s Day as Craig Morton to Haven Moses accounted for two Broncos touchdowns on plays that covered 74 and 12 yards. Moses caught five passes for 168 yards. Jon Keyworth scored Denver’s other touchdown, while the Broncos’ Orange Crush defense stifled Oakland again and again, limiting it to 298 yards on 72 plays.
—Dave Plati, Colorado Sports Hall of Fame historian