ABC MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS VS. DENVER BRONCOS (TV)
Summary
One in this seasonal series of weekly football games. This match, broadcast live from Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado, pits the New England Patriots against the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Denver Broncos. The game marks the season opener and features the broadcast crew of Al Michaels, Dan Dierdorf, Boomer Esiason (making his debut), and sideline reporter Lesley Visser (making her debut). Following the program's traditional music-video montage opening number, the program begins with "Monday Night Blast," live from the ESPN Zone in Baltimore, Maryland's Inner Harbor and hosted by Chris Berman. Then, Hall-of-Famer Frank Gifford presents an "Outside the Zone" profile of Bronco quarterback John Elway and the high school coach that changed his destiny. Next, in the "Big Blast," opposing quarterback Drew Bledsoe is profiled. Then, the game's commentators discuss the players they predict will be central to both the game and the season, mainly focusing on the Patriots inexperienced running backs, Sedrick Shaw and Robert Edwards. Next, Berman presents "Monday Night with Mrs. Munger's Class," a segment in which animated schoolkids make their game predictions. Visser talks with Mike Shanahan, Bronco head coach, about the chances for his reshuffled offensive line. On the game's opening drive, Bronco Jason Elam kicks a 53-yard field goal. On the Patriots' ensuing drive, Adam Vinatieri pushes his field goal attempt, keeping the score 3-0 in Denver's favor. Late in the first quarter, Elway finds tight end Shannon Sharpe in the back of the end zone to give the Broncos a 10-0 lead after Elam tacks on the extra point. Notably, Elway's pass marks his 168th touchdown pass at Mile High Stadium, the NFL record for a player at any single stadium. Next, Visser talks with Mac Bledsoe, Drew's father, who recalls Drew's timing offense techniques at Walla Walla High School in Washington. The quarter ends with the 10-0 score.
The second quarter begins with the Broncos up 10-0 as quarterback Drew Bledsoe converts a tricky third down pass to tight end Ben Coates. The drive ends with placekicker Adam Vinatieri's 37-yard field goal attempt getting blocked. On the ensuing Bronco drive, tight end Shannon Sharpe gets his "bell rung" and play is briefly stopped. Later in the drive, a Patriot offsides penalty on a punt leads to the Broncos retaining possession. Eventually, a "tightrope" catch by Rod Smith puts the Broncos deep in Patriot territory. And, on the next play, Terrell Davis punches it in for a touchdown, making it 17-0 after the extra point is tacked on. Later, Sharpe is reported to have suffered a mild concussion. On the next Patriot drive, Robert Edwards runs in a touchdown (his first career TD) and the deficit is cut to 7-17 after the extra point. On the final drive of the first half, the Patriots use their hurry-up offense in an attempt to get in scoring range, but they are unable and the drive ends with 29 seconds to go. After the punt, the Broncos simply run the clock out. At halftime, Chris Berman presents ESPN's Top Ten Plays of the Week, including baseball slugger Mark McGwire's record-breaking home run. Then, in "Music Blast," rocker Joe Walsh returns to Boulder, Colorado, to pay tribute to John Elway in "Rocky Mountain Way."
Visser offers an update, reporting that Patriots coach Pete Carroll is happy with the run defense but is "very disappointed" with Terry Glenn. In addition, she notes that Shannon Sharpe remains "sort of in a fog" from the slight concussion he weathered earlier in the game, but will play the second half. On the Patriots' opening drive, Troy Brown makes a remarkable snag off a Drew Bledsoe pass and scores a touchdown. With Adam Vinatieri's extra point, the score becomes 14-17. On the ensuing Broncos' drive, Jason Elam knocks home a field goal to extend their lead to 20-14. Midway through the third quarter, the Patriots struggle with play-calling and are forced to keep blowing timeouts, leaving them with zero for the rest of the game. Late in the quarter, a Broncos drive stalls at midfield and forces them to punt. The quarter ends with the Patriots' ball at their 31-yard line, as tight end Ben Coates is shown injured on the sidelines, out for the rest of the game. Visser then reports on former Cardinals member Dierdorf being elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In the fourth quarter, a late hit on quarterback John Elway tacks fifteen yards onto a Broncos' pass play, putting them deep into the red zone. Eventually, Terrell Davis runs in yet another touchdown, helping push the led to 27-14.
With the Patriots on their six-yard line with 10:40 to go in the game, they are forced to scramble -- without timeouts -- to try and put points on the board. Just before the two-minute warning, Vincent Brisby makes a diving catch off a pass from Drew Bledsoe to help bring the Patriots within six, 21-27. The Patriots are forced to do an onsides kick on the ensuing kickoff, but the Broncos are able to recover the ball. The Broncos then run the game out with runs by Terrell Davis and quarterback kneels by John Elway. After the victory, Elway speaks with Visser, discussing his team's solid performance to open the season. He notes that it was "awesome to play on Monday night in front of the crowd," then comments on whether -- offensively and defensively -- there was any letdown from the Super Bowl. Visser concludes by asking if this is the start of his "farewell tour." Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: September 7, 1998 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 3:22:07
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:54932
- GENRE: Sports
- SUBJECT HEADING: She Made It Collection (Lesley Visser); Sports; Football
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1970-
- COMMERCIALS:
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- TV - Promos - "20/20"
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CREDITS
- Al Michaels … Sports Commentator
- Dan Dierdorf … Sports Commentator
- Boomer Esiason … Sports Commentator
- Lesley Visser … Sports Commentator
- Chris Berman … Sports Commentator
- Frank Gifford … Sports Commentator
- Drew Bledsoe
- Mac Bledsoe
- Robert Edwards
- Jason Elam
- John Elway
- Mike Shanahan
- Shannon Sharpe
- Sedrick Shaw
- Adam Vinatieri