Broncos take on Jets for chance to defend crown

Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colo.,
Sunday, Jan. 17

AT A GLANCE: Two quarterbacks who were drafted No. 1 overall face off when John Elway and the Broncos host Vinny Testaverde and the Jets in the AFC championship game.

The Jets seek to complete their masterful turnaround with a trip to the Super Bowl as they travel to Denver to take on the defending-champion Broncos. Two years ago, the Jets were floundering at 1-15. Then, owner Leon Hess hired Bill Parcells to pilot the franchise, and Parcells has taken his team further in the playoffs than any Jet team since January 1983.

Denver, under head coach Mike Shanahan, has won 39 regular-season games over the last three years, and last week’s thrashing of the Dolphins put the Broncos within one victory of a second consecutive Super Bowl trip.

The game may look more like a chess match than a football game. Denver’s Shanahan is one of the game’s premier offensive tacticians, while Parcells and defensive coordinator Bill Belichick show great ingenuity in their defensive game plans.

As for the chess pieces, there are some similarities there, as well. Both Bronco QB John Elway (1983) and Jet QB Vinny Testaverde (’86) were No. 1 overall draft picks. Elway will hand off to Terrell Davis, a 1995 draft classmate of Jet RB Curtis Martin.

Denver won the last meeting between these teams in 1996, the Jets’ 1-15 season. The Broncos will be seeing a transformed team in green this time around.

WHEN THE JETS HAVE THE BALL:

Jet WR Keyshawn Johnson, like Elway and Testaverde a former No. 1 overall pick, is coming off one of the finest games of his career. He scored touchdowns both rushing and receiving and had both an interception and a fumble recovery vs. Jacksonville.

Johnson and Wayne Chrebet may be New York’s best weapons vs. the Broncos, whose secondary has been susceptible to the deep pass at times this season. Bronco CB’s Ray Crockett and Darrien Gordon tend to play off the line of scrimmage, so Johnson and Chrebet may have a chance to record several catches. Dedric Ward is a dangerous third receiver, but Denver nickel DB Darrius Johnson is coming off a fine game vs. Miami.

As a Jet, Testaverde has done a good job of avoiding mistakes. Denver’s defense likes to play aggressively both in coverage and on the blitz, especially with a lead. If the Jets can avoid falling behind early, they will limit Denver’s aggressiveness.

Martin had a very good game against the Jaguars last week. The Jets like to run him outside, although he had success between the tackles vs. Jacksonville.

The Bronco run defense has played much better this season than last, but it is somewhat dependent on the run blitz. If the Jets get good yardage on first down and stay close on the scoreboard, the offensive line, led by outstanding C Kevin Mawae, should be able to provide a push.

Jet ORT Jason Fabini has had a fine rookie season, but he will have to be on top of his game vs. veteran DLE’s Neil Smith and Marvin Washington, both of whom can still pressure the quarterback.