The Denver Broncos

THE DENVER BRONCOS had never fared well in the Super Bowl until 1998. Until that point, they stood at 0–4 in football’s biggest game. Quarterback John Elway, Denver’s signal caller in three of the defeats, bore much of the burden. But in Super Bowl XXXII, the 37-year-old field general showed the Green Bay Packers his last-minute comeback skills.

Oddsmakers favored the Pack by almost two touchdowns, primarily on the strength of three-time NFL Most Valuable Player Brett Favre. And Favre looked impressive in the game’s first possession, connecting with Antonio Freeman for a 22-yard touchdown pass. However, Denver battled back to tie the game in the first quarter.

Both teams had difficulty gaining the upper hand. With the score knotted 24–24, Denver took over on the Packers 49-yard line with 3:27 left to play in the game, setting up some last-minute Elway heroics.

A pass to Terrell Davis picked up 2 yards with an additional 15 tacked on for a face mask penalty. Elway then completed another pass to Howard Griffith for 23 yards, and Davis swept left for 17, setting up Denver at the Green Bay 1-yard line. Davis put the Broncos in front, 31–24, with his third touchdown, plunging into the end zone with 1:45 remaining.

Green Bay drove to the Denver 31 with 32 seconds still on the clock. But linebacker John Mobley batted away Favre’s fourth-down pass to clinch the Broncos victory and end Denver’s Super Bowl frustrations.

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POINT John Elway faced years of trials on the football field and in life, but he persevered. No signal caller was hit more often than Elway during his playing years. And when asked how he felt after winning the Super Bowl, the great quarterback said it was better than he could have imagined.

When life brings tests and trials, God helps us persevere. He gives us the strength to persist and keep going in spite of difficulties. And when we do, the heavenly Father gives us that special feeling of his joy.

GOAL! Imagine always coming in second. Would you keep trying to be the best, or would you give up? Praise God for the joy he gives when you persevere.