I remember 1996 as a Broncos fan. They just had a great season, were 13-3, favored to go to the Super Bowl and hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars . Was at the game. They got up early, but mistakes, and taking the upstart Jags lightly, led to a deficit that Elway & Company couldn't overcome. The feeling after the loss was incredible SHOCK. We sat there and just stared at the field till the ushers finally said time to go. As we drove home, we were left to ponder, what now. This was supposed to be our year. Elway's getting older. The Broncos were devastated. In the interviews after the game, Sharpe said it would take years for the franchise to recover from the loss. In the following months, some in local media wrote articles about Elway, saying maybe it was time to retire or leave. I said B.S. The next year the Shanahan & the Broncos staff made some tweaks, and Free Agent signings. Good moves potentially, but nothing earth shaking. Neil Smith, an aging DL from the Chiefs, was probably the biggest move. The Broncos went on to win the Super Bowl in ,not only,'97, but '98 as well. What's the relevance here you ask. The Blazers had high hopes after their finish, and with their matchup with a depleted Nuggets squad, and no other team in the West looking invincible, thought maybe a run could happen. They took the series loss super hard, especially Dame, who gave everything he had to keep his team alive. Now here we are in the offseason, and instead of looking to overcome, and get better, and come back stronger, the air is filled with dire thoughts, and gloom and doom. I still think with some tweaks, and quality player additions, the Blazers can also compete for the prize. Now is not the time to rebuild, it's time to reload, and kick some ass just like that Denver Broncos team did.
