Editing Denver Broncos (section)

===Conference===
Aside from the aforementioned [[AFC West]] teams, the Broncos have had intra-conference rivalries over the years with the [[Cleveland Browns]], [[New England Patriots]], and [[Pittsburgh Steelers]].

====Cleveland Browns====
{{see also|The Drive (American football)|The Fumble}}

The Broncos had a brief rivalry with the Browns that arose from three [[American Football Conference|AFC]] championship matches in 1986, 1987 and 1989. In the [[1986–87 NFL playoffs#AFC Championship: Denver Broncos 23, Cleveland Browns 20 (OT)|1986 AFC Championship]], [[List of Denver Broncos starting quarterbacks|quarterback]] [[John Elway]] led ''[[The Drive (American football)|The Drive]]'' to secure a tie in the waning moments at [[Cleveland Municipal Stadium]]; the Broncos went on to win in 23–20 in overtime.<ref>{{cite web |author=Carter, Bob |title=Elway led Broncos on 'The Drive' |url=https://www.espn.com/classic/s/add_elway_john.html |publisher=ESPN |date=July 5, 2005 |access-date=August 28, 2013 |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203043141/http://espn.go.com/classic/s/add_elway_john.html |url-status=live }}</ref> One year later, the two teams met again in the [[1987–88 NFL playoffs#AFC Championship: Denver Broncos 38, Cleveland Browns 33|1987 AFC Championship]] at [[Mile High Stadium]]. Denver took a 21–3 lead, but Browns' quarterback [[Bernie Kosar]] threw four touchdown passes to tie the game at 31–31 halfway through the 4th quarter. After a long drive, John Elway threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to running back [[Sammy Winder]] to give Denver a 38–31 lead. Cleveland advanced to Denver's 8-yard line with 1:12 left, but Broncos' safety [[Jeremiah Castille]] stripped Browns' running back [[Earnest Byner]] of the football at the 2-yard line—a play that has been called ''[[The Fumble]]'' by Browns' fans. The Broncos recovered it, gave Cleveland an intentional safety, and went on to win 38–33.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Reilly, Rick |title=Byner's fumble spoils Browns shot at 1987 AFC Championship glory |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/painful_moments_in_sports/09/09/Earnest.Byner.Browns/index.html |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=September 21, 2011 |access-date=August 28, 2013 |archive-date=January 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116013246/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/painful_moments_in_sports/09/09/Earnest.Byner.Browns/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The two teams met yet again in the [[1989–90 NFL playoffs#AFC Championship: Denver Broncos 37, Cleveland Browns 21|1989 AFC Championship]] at Mile High Stadium, which the Broncos easily won by a score of 37–21.<ref>{{cite news |author=Heisler, Mark |title=This Time, Just Call It Elway : AFC championship: Bronco quarterback is at his best in 37–21 victory over Browns as Denver earns its third trip to the Super Bowl in four seasons. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-01-15-sp-257-story.html |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=January 15, 1990 |access-date=August 28, 2013 |archive-date=December 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204041148/http://articles.latimes.com/1990-01-15/sports/sp-257_1_super-bowl-xxiv |url-status=live }}</ref> The Broncos did not win the Super Bowl after any of the championship games where they defeated the Browns, losing by an aggregate of 136–40. As of the {{nfly|2024}} season, the Broncos lead the all-time series 26–7.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, Denver Broncos vs. Cleveland Browns |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi?tm1=den&tm2=cle&yr=all |access-date=December 9, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

====New England Patriots====
{{see also|Broncos–Patriots rivalry|Tom Brady–Peyton Manning rivalry}}

The Broncos and Patriots met twice annually during the [[American Football League]] (AFL) years from 1960 to 1969, and played in the first-ever AFL game on September 9, 1960.<ref>{{cite web|title=Denver Broncos Team History|url=https://www.profootballhof.com/teams/denver-broncos/team-history/|website=ProFootballHOF.com|publisher=NFL Enterprises, LLC|access-date=February 24, 2020|archive-date=July 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730015404/https://www.profootballhof.com/teams/denver-broncos/team-history/|url-status=live}}</ref> Since {{nfly|1995}}, the two teams have met frequently during the regular season, including nine consecutive seasons from 1995 to 2003.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mason|first=Andrew|title=Broncology: So We Meet Again|url=http://www.denverbroncos.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Broncology-So-We-Meet-Again/067e474c-7893-11df-ba56-acc8e62813e9|website=DenverBroncos.com|publisher=NFL Enterprises, LLC|date=November 2, 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002150818/http://www.denverbroncos.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Broncology-So-We-Meet-Again/067e474c-7893-11df-ba56-acc8e62813e9|archive-date=October 2, 2013|access-date=May 23, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> The teams' first playoff match on January 4, 1987, was John Elway's first career playoff win,<ref>{{cite web |author=Lynch, Tim |title=Denver Broncos @ New England Patriots; Through The Years |url=http://www.milehighreport.com/2008/10/16/634005/denver-broncos-new-england |work=Mile High Report |date=October 16, 2008 |access-date=August 28, 2013 |archive-date=July 31, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731090146/http://www.milehighreport.com/2008/10/16/634005/denver-broncos-new-england |url-status=live }}</ref> while the teams' second playoff match on January 14, 2006, game was the Broncos' first playoff win since Elway's retirement after the [[1998 Denver Broncos season|1998 season]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 14, 2006 |title=Broncos take advantage of turnovers, eliminate Patriots |url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=260114007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211164106/http://espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=260114007 |archive-date=December 11, 2013 |access-date=August 28, 2013 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> The game was also notable for [[Champ Bailey]]'s 100-yard interception that resulted in a touchdown-saving tackle by [[Benjamin Watson]] at the 1-yard line.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 16, 2011 |title=Benjamin Watson tackle saving touchdown |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsZCTzYNBQE |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171103212333/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsZCTzYNBQE&app=desktop |archive-date=November 3, 2017 |access-date=June 5, 2016 |website=YouTube |publisher=sevenand7kc}}</ref> On October 11, 2009, the two teams met with former Patriots' offensive coordinator, [[Josh McDaniels]] as the Broncos' [[List of Denver Broncos head coaches|head coach]]. Both teams wore their AFL 50th anniversary jerseys.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gasper |first=Christopher L. |date=October 12, 2009 |title=Denver doldrums continue for the Patriots&nbsp;– The Boston Globe |url=http://archive.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2009/10/12/denver_doldrums_continue_for_the_patriots/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806151937/http://archive.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2009/10/12/denver_doldrums_continue_for_the_patriots/ |archive-date=August 6, 2016 |access-date=June 5, 2016 |work=The Boston Globe}}</ref> The game featured a 98-yard drive in the fourth quarter, with a game-tying touchdown pass from [[Kyle Orton]] to [[Brandon Marshall]], followed by an overtime drive led by Orton that resulted in a 41-yard game-winning field goal by [[Matt Prater]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=291011007|title=Patriots vs. Broncos&nbsp;– Game Recap&nbsp;– October 11, 2009|publisher=ESPN|access-date=June 5, 2016|archive-date=April 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409130225/http://espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=291011007|url-status=dead}}</ref> The two teams met in the Divisional round of the [[2011–12 NFL playoffs|2011 playoffs]], with the Patriots blowing out [[Tim Tebow]] and the Broncos by a score of 45–10.<ref name="BroncosPatriots2011"/> The Broncos' rivalry with the Patriots later intensified when longtime [[Indianapolis Colts]]' quarterback [[Peyton Manning]] became the Broncos' starting quarterback from 2012 to 2015. Manning and Patriots' quarterback [[Tom Brady]] maintained a legendary [[Tom Brady–Peyton Manning rivalry|rivalry]] from {{nfly|2001}}<ref>{{cite web |author=Gasper, Christopher |title=Lucky to see Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning again |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2012/10/06/tom-brady-and-peyton-manning-renew-their-rivalry-for-time/c4fU2F8OSIOCuo9ghNSQKO/story.html |newspaper=The Boston Globe |date=October 7, 2012 |access-date=August 28, 2013 |archive-date=October 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012054840/http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2012/10/06/tom-brady-and-peyton-manning-renew-their-rivalry-for-time/c4fU2F8OSIOCuo9ghNSQKO/story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> until Manning's retirement after the {{nfly|2015}} season.<ref>{{cite news|author=Renck, Troy |title=Peyton Manning retires from football: "I love the game...I will miss it." |url=http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_29606293/peyton-manning-retires-from-football-i-fought-good-fight |newspaper=The Denver Post |date=March 7, 2016 |access-date=March 7, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309045655/http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_29606293/peyton-manning-retires-from-football-i-fought-good-fight |archive-date=March 9, 2016 }}</ref> Though Brady dominated Manning in regular season play, winning nine of twelve meetings, Manning won three of five playoff meetings, including the Broncos' 26–16 win in the [[2013 AFC Championship Game|2013 AFC Championship]] and the Broncos' 20–18 win in the [[2015–16 NFL playoffs#Conference Championships|2015 AFC Championship]].<ref name="AFCChampionship">{{cite news |author=Renck, Troy |title=Broncos hold off Tom Brady and Patriots, head to Super Bowl |url=http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_29426828/broncos-hold-off-tom-brady-patriots-head-super-bowl |newspaper=The Denver Post |date=January 24, 2016 |access-date=January 24, 2016 |archive-date=January 26, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126012031/http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_29426828/broncos-hold-off-tom-brady-patriots-head-super-bowl |url-status=live }}</ref> As of the 2024 season, the Broncos lead the all-time series 31–24.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, Denver Broncos vs. Boston/New England Patriots |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi?tm1=den&tm2=nwe&yr=all |access-date=February 24, 2025 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

====Pittsburgh Steelers====
{{Further|Broncos–Steelers rivalry}}
As of the end of the 2024 season, the Broncos and Steelers have met in postseason play eight times, tied with five other pairings for the second–[[List of NFL playoff games#Most frequent matchups|most frequent playoff matchups]] in [[National Football League|NFL]] playoff history.<ref name="d494">{{cite web | last=DeArdo | first=Bryan | title=Steelers vs. Broncos rivalry: Here's a look at their unique playoff history | website=CBSSports.com | date=October 8, 2021 | url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/steelers-vs-broncos-nfl-throwback-heres-a-look-at-their-unique-playoff-history/ | access-date=August 24, 2024}}</ref> The Broncos currently own a 5–3 playoff record vs. the Steelers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Denver Broncos Playoff History |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/den/playoffs.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003010656/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/den/playoffs.htm |archive-date=October 3, 2018 |access-date=March 31, 2018 |website=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]]}}</ref> Perhaps the most memorable postseason matchup occurred in the [[1997–98 NFL playoffs#AFC Championship: Denver Broncos 24, Pittsburgh Steelers 21|1997 AFC Championship]], in which the Broncos defeated the Steelers 24–21 at [[Three Rivers Stadium]], en route to their first [[Super Bowl XXXII|Super Bowl]] victory. Eight years later, the Steelers returned the favor at [[Empower Field at Mile High|INVESCO Field at Mile High]], defeating the Broncos 34–17 in the [[2005–06 NFL playoffs#AFC Championship: Pittsburgh Steelers 34, Denver Broncos 17|2005 AFC Championship]], and subsequently won [[Super Bowl XL]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Mason|first=Andrew|title=Recalling the 2005 AFC Title Game|url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/recalling-the-2005-afc-title-game-12462736|website=DenverBroncos.com|publisher=NFL Enterprises, LLC|date=January 17, 2014|access-date=May 23, 2019|archive-date=May 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190523220236/https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/recalling-the-2005-afc-title-game-12462736|url-status=live}}</ref> In the Wild Card round of the [[2011–12 NFL playoffs|2011 playoffs]], in a game dubbed ''The 3:16 game'', the Broncos stunned the Steelers 29–23 on the first play of overtime, when quarterback Tim Tebow connected with [[wide receiver]] [[Demaryius Thomas]] on an 80-yard game-winning touchdown pass.<ref>{{cite news|last=Caldwell|first=Gray|title=Broncos Advance with Postseason Thriller|url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-advance-with-postseason-thriller-6775656|website=DenverBroncos.com|publisher=NFL Enterprises, LLC|date=January 8, 2012|access-date=May 23, 2019|archive-date=May 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190523220238/https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-advance-with-postseason-thriller-6775656|url-status=live}}</ref> The teams met again in the Divisional round of the [[2015–16 NFL playoffs|2015 playoffs]] at Denver, where the Broncos defeated the Steelers 23–16 on their way to a victory in [[Super Bowl 50]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Renck, Troy |title=Peyton Manning, Broncos beat Steelers, punch ticket to AFC championship game |url=http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_29397431/peyton-manning-broncos-beat-steelers-punch-ticket-afc-championship |newspaper=The Denver Post |date=January 17, 2016 |access-date=January 17, 2016 |archive-date=January 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160118201011/http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_29397431/peyton-manning-broncos-beat-steelers-punch-ticket-afc-championship |url-status=live }}</ref> The Broncos lead the all-time series 20–14–1.<ref>{{Cite web |title=All Matchups, Denver Broncos vs. Pittsburgh Steelers |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/game_query.cgi?tm1=den&tm2=pit&yr=all |access-date=February 24, 2025 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>