No. 5 – Steve Beuerlein
Nov. 24, 2002 vs. Indianapolis Colts
Loss, 20-23 (OT)
Passing: 15-for-24, 185 Yds, 1 TD, 2 INTs
This one probably won’t go down the annals as one of great battles between quarterbacks who at some point played for the Denver Broncos. Neither Steve Beuerlein nor Peyton Manning was at his best in this one. Together, they combined to throw just one touchdown to go with three interceptions.
But despite winning the touchdowns battle, Beuerlein lost the war and the Broncos fell to the Colts in OT.
Manning led a 44-yard, 1:57 drive to give Mike Vanderjagt a shot at a game-tying 54-yard field goal in the closing moments. Denver couldn’t convert on the ensuing kickoff and Manning took the first possession of OT just far enough to get a game-winning field goal.
Would Manning’s career have looked different if today’s overtime rules were in place instead of the old “first one in field-goal range wins” rules? And what would Beuerlein’s career trajectory have been if he had bested the prodigy, Manning, in his first start as a Denver Bronco.
The world, and Steve Beuerlein, are left to wonder.
