The Denver Broncos kept their nerve, coped with the infernal din in Arrowhead Stadium and overcame the Kansas City Chiefs, a team considered the best in the American Conference.
The Chiefs had won all their homes games in the regular season, but stumbled yet again in the post-season. Mike Shanahan, the Broncos coach, said that he had never heard so much noise in his life.
But Denver's fine performance sent the Chiefs' fans home in despondent silence after what seemed like an umpteenth play-off disappointment. Last year, the Chiefs were knocked out by the Indianapolis Colts and Marty Schottenheimer, the emotional Chiefs coach, has only won five of 16 play-off games.
Denver's 14-10 win, the weekend's most thrilling game, was in doubt until the last moments. Elvis Grbac, returning after breaking a collarbone in early November, lofted the ball into the end zone for Lake Dawson with 12 seconds left.
Denver's solid defence was up to the job. Darrien Gordon leapt in front of Dawson to tip the ball away. Denver, whose loss to the Chiefs in the regular season precipitated , will now play the Steelers in Pittsburgh next week for the American Conference title and a shot for the Super Bowl.
"That was one of the best football games that I've been around," declared Shanahan. "Two teams with a lot of pride and character going against each other."
The Broncos have the most complete team in years as they showed in their triumph in enemy territory. Not much more needs to be said about John Elway, one of the great quarterbacks.
Terrell Davis, the league's second best running-back, makes the Broncos offence even more lethal and their defence is jelling at the right time. Elway was held largely in check by Kansas City's solid defence, but managed to uncork crucial passes in the two scoring drives.
In the first score, Elway threw a 17-yard pass under pressure to Rod Smith that put the Broncos at Kansas City's 4. Moments later, Davis slammed into the end zone for a one-yard touchdown, the only score of the first half. The Chiefs made it 7-3, after Pete Stoyanovich kicked a 20-yard field goal in the third quarter.
The Broncos blew a chance to extend their lead when Derek Loville lost the ball at the Chiefs 11 under a pile of red Kansas City jerseys, negating a 41-yard dash by Davis.
It looked even ominous for the Broncos when Grbac threw a 12yard strike to Tony Gonzalez, unattended in the back of the end zone to give the Chiefs a 10-7 lead. But Elway again showed his prowess early in the fourth quarter. As Kansas City blitzed, Elway found Ed McCaffrey, who streaked away for a 43-yard gain. That set up Davis's second TD, as he slammed in from one yard out and the Broncos were on their way to Pittsburgh.
The Green Bay Packers had a relatively easier time against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, winning 21-7. The Buccaneers' play-off jitters contributed to the Packers' relatively easy win. Tampa had three early field goal opportunities but failed to get any points.
The first attempt was blocked, the second was a fake that led to nothing and third was snapped too high. Trent Dilfer also threw two interceptions.
The Packers, playing in 29 degree conditions, did not demolish their opponents the way the San Francisco 49ers manhandled the Minnesota Vikings, but produced enough points to have a third crack at the National Conference championship.
