NFL Playoffs: Top 10 Championship games in NFL history

Wide receiver Dwight Clark of the San Francisco 49ers leaves a Dallas defender in his dust after making 'The Catch' to defeat the Dallas Cowboys 28-27 in the 1981 NFC Championship Game on January 10, 1982 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Arthur Anderson/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

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Quarterback John Elway #7 of the Denver Broncos runs with the football as he is pursued by linebacker Chip Banks #56 of the Cleveland Browns. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

NFL Playoffs: Top 10 Championship games in NFL history

2. Broncos 23, Browns 20 (OT) (AFC: 1986)

Both of these teams were coming off narrow victories in the divisional playoffs. Dan Reeves’ Broncos dethroned the AFC champion Patriots in Denver, 22-17. Marty Schottenheimer’s Browns outlasted the New York Jets, 23-20, in two overtimes.

This would be the game that turned Broncos’ quarterback John Elway into a legend. Browns quarterback Bernie Kosar found wideout Brian Brennan for a 48-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Mark Moseley’s PAT gave Cleveland a 20-13 lead with just 5:43 to play. On the ensuing kickoff, Denver found itself on its own two-yard-line after misplaying the kickoff. Reeves’ club set up shop with 5:32 on the clock.

It would take Elway and company 15 plays to cover 98 yards, and “The Drive” ended in the Browns’ end zone via a five-yard touchdown reception by wide receiver Mark Jackson with only 37 ticks left on the clock. Rich Karlis connected on the extra point and the teams headed to OT.

The Browns got the first crack at winning the game but were a quick three-and-out. The Broncos would orchestrate a 60-yard drive in overtime and Karlis delivered on a 33-yard field goal to break Cleveland’s heart as Denver advanced to Super Bowl XXI in Pasadena.

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