No. 4 – December 15, 1997 @ San Francisco 49ers
Broncos 17, 49ers 34
After steamrolling to an 11-3 record on the back Terrell Davis, the Broncos dropped consecutive games in December to raise some red flags in Denver.
In a Week 15 loss to the Steelers, the Broncos were held to under 100 yards rushing for the first time on the season. That same result occurred the following week in front of a national audience as Denver was held to 96 yards on the ground in San Francisco.
Denver trailed at the half, but responded in the third quarter to take a 17-14 lead. The 49ers, though, would go on to score 20 unanswered points. Fourteen of those points came off defensive touchdowns, as John Elway was intercepted for a 55-yard pick-six and later fumbled to give up a 40-yard scoop-and-score.
The loss, however, would be the last one Denver would suffer on the season. John Elway and Co. won the regular season finale at home against San Diego before embarking on the “revenge tour” that would deliver the team’s first world title.
