ABC MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: MIAMI DOLPHINS VS. DENVER BRONCOS (TV)
Summary
One in this 30th season of a seasonal series of weekly football games. This match, broadcast live from Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado, pits the Miami Dolphins against the back-to-back reigning Super Bowl champions, the Denver Broncos. The game marks the season opener and features the broadcast crew of Al Michaels, Boomer Esiason, and sideline reporter Lesley Visser. Following the program's traditional music-video montage opening number, the program begins with Michaels and Esiason wondering if the Broncos can "three-peat," despite the retirement of quarterback legend John Elway, who is being replaced by the youthful Brian Griese. The two also wonder if the former Super Bowl-winning coach Jimmy Johnson can lead the Dolphins to glory this year. Then, Visser speaks with Mike Shanahan, Broncos head coach, who touches on his confidence in the inexperienced Griese. On the game's opening drive, Johnson challenges the ruling on a potential Broncos' fumble, but the call on the field stands and it is simply ruled an incomplete pass. Later on the drive, Griese completes a long bomb to receiver Ed McCaffrey for a 61-yard touchdown. After Jason Elam's extra point, the Broncos lead 7-0. On the ensuing Dolphins drive, legendary quarterback Dan Marino is unable to get anything going and the series ends in a punt. After one failed drive from both teams, the first quarter ends with the Broncos ball at their own 46-yard line. In the second quarter, Griese marches the Broncos into Dolphin territory. However, Elam's field goal attempt is blocked and returned to the Broncos' 36-yard line. That eventually results in Karim Abdul-Jabbar poking in a 2-yard touchdown to help even the score 7-7 after an Olindo Mare extra point.
Visser speaks on the sidelines with Bob Griese, Brian's father and a Hall of Fame former quarterback. Late in the quarter, Dan Marino throws his 8,000th career pass, and, on the next play, he hits Syracuse rookie Rob Konrad for a 13-yard touchdown. Olindo Mare's extra point gives the Dolphins a 14-7 lead. During a brief stoppage in play, Brian Griese, in a taped segment talks about his dealings with John Elway during his rookie season. After the two-minute warning, Tom Rouen's punt is blocked by the Dolphins, giving them terrific field position. However, an intentional grounding call on Marino ruins the short field position and the Dolphins are forced to settle for a 38-yard Mare field goal. The half ends with the Dolphins leading 17-7. At halftime, during the "Lexus Halftime Show," Michaels presents a visit down "memory lane," showing highlights of Elway's career. Then, Elway and his family walk onto the field to overwhelming applause from the Mile High faithful. There, Broncos owner Pat Bowlen pays tribute to Elway by inducting him into the prestigious Mile High "Ring of Fame" and retiring his jersey number: seven. Then, Elway takes the microphone to thank the fans for their support. Afterward, Michaels further discusses the tribute. Then, the second half gets under way with the Dolphins ball and Konrad continuing to show his multi-dimensional skills as a fullback. Visser discusses Jimmy Johnson and Mike Shanahan's thoughts on their teams' first-half efforts. On the opening drive, the Dolphins get the ball into the red zone.
Dolphins rookie J.J. Johnson punches in a touchdown on third and goal. Olindo Mare's extra point gives the Dolphins a 24-7 lead. Afterward, Visser speaks with Tom Jackson, another Broncos' "Ring of Fame" member, discussing what stands out about John Elway. She then gets his analysis on what's happening on the field with the Broncos. On the ensuing drive, the Broncos gamble and succeed when they go for it on a vital fourth down. The drive ends with Brian Griese completing another touchdown pass to Ed McCaffrey to help cut the lead to 14-24. The third quarter ends with the Broncos' ball around midfield after a Derek Loville run. However, that drive ends with Griese getting sacked by Zach Thomas on fourth down. Meanwhile, Michaels tells an anecdote about how Jimmy Johnson recently got married. On the next Dolphins' drive, Dan Marino marches his team downfield, resulting in a touchdown pass to O.J. McDuffie. Mare tacks on the extra point to give the Dolphins a 31-14 lead. During the ensuing Broncos drive, Michaels and Esiason recap some of the previous day's NFL slate. That drive ends with Jason Elam missing a 41-yard field goal. Afterward, Visser speaks with legendary Syracuse and Broncos running back Floyd Little, on hand to honor fellow "Ring of Fame" inductee Elway. After discussing Elway's accomplishments, they talk about how Terrell Davis is breaking Little's records. The Broncos fair-catch a punt on their half of the field, with a little more than four minutes left in the game.
The Broncos start a drive after a Dolphins punt, as disappointed fans exit Mile High. In the meantime, Visser tells how Dolphins running backs coach Joel Collier was affected by the recent Columbine shooting tragedy when he learned that his niece, Stephanie Hommel, was trapped in the school. Visser reports that he learned of her safe exit while watching the drama unfold on television. Back on the first play, Brian Griese fumbles and defensive lineman Jason Taylor scoops the ball up, running it in for a score. Olindo Mare adds the extra point to make the score 38-14 in the Dolphins favor. Despite the game already being in hand, Griese attempts to lead the Broncos on another scoring drive as the two-minute warning approaches. That drive ends with Griese's third touchdown pass of the evening to Ed McCaffrey, helping cut the score to 38-21. After the Dolphins recover the ensuing onsides kick, they are able to run out the clock for the victory. Michaels then shows footage of the construction of the new Broncos stadium adjacent to Mile High, which is due for completion in 2001. Afterward, Michaels presents the Play of the Game: Zach Thomas's sack of Griese. Then, Visser speaks with Thomas, who discusses the big play, as well as how he was able to score eight tackles during the game. Michaels offers some closing thoughts. Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: September 13, 1999 Monday 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 3:14:26
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:58287
- GENRE: Sports
- SUBJECT HEADING: Football; She Made It Collection (Lesley Visser); Sports
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1970-
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV - Commercials - "Blue Streak" motion picture
- TV - Commercials - "For Love of the Game" motion picture
- TV - Commercials - "Madden NFL 2000" video game
- TV - Commercials - "NFL2K" video game
- TV - Commercials - "NFL Blitz 2000" video game
- TV - Commercials - "NFL Quarterback Club 2000" video game
- TV - Commercials - "The Mummy" home video
- TV - Commercials - "The Waterboy" home video
- TV - Commercials - "Three Kings" motion picture
- TV - Commercials - 10-10-220 long-distance calling
- TV - Commercials - Alka-Seltzer Plus cold medicine
- TV - Commercials - Ameritrade stock trading
- TV - Commercials - Anco wiper blades
- TV - Commercials - Bud Light beer
- TV - Commercials - Budweiser beer
- TV - Commercials - Burger King restaurants
- TV - Commercials - CNET.com technology source
- TV - Commercials - Campbell's soup
- TV - Commercials - Charles Schwab investments
- TV - Commercials - Dell servers
- TV - Commercials - Dell servers
- TV - Commercials - DirecTV satellite television
- TV - Commercials - Dodge automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Domino's pizza
- TV - Commercials - E-Trade stock trading
- TV - Commercials - EDS internet services
- TV - Commercials - ESPN.com
- TV - Commercials - Ford automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Gateway computers
- TV - Commercials - Go.com internet network
- TV - Commercials - Hertz rental cars
- TV - Commercials - Intel computer processors
- TV - Commercials - Janus mutual funds
- TV - Commercials - Kinko's copy stores
- TV - Commercials - Lexus automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Merck hair loss solutions
- TV - Commercials - Microsoft e-commerce
- TV - Commercials - Miller beer
- TV - Commercials - Monster.com job search website
- TV - Commercials - Moog chassis parts
- TV - Commercials - Mysap.com e-business
- TV - Commercials - NFL.com apparel
- TV - Commercials - National car rental
- TV - Commercials - Nissan automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Norelco shavers
- TV - Commercials - PSINet internet technology
- TV - Commercials - Propecia baldness medication
- TV - Commercials - Purina dog food
- TV - Commercials - Saturn automobiles
- TV - Commercials - Southwest airlines
- TV - Commercials - State Farm insurance
- TV - Commercials - The National Football League
- TV - Commercials - United Way charities
- TV - Commercials - Visa credit cards
- TV - Commercials - Wagner brakes
- TV - Promos - "20/20"
- TV - Promos - "Behind Closed Doors VIII"
- TV - Promos - "Dharma & Greg"
- TV - Promos - "Good Morning America"
- TV - Promos - "It's Like, You Know ..."
- TV - Promos - "Monday Night Football"
- TV - Promos - "NYPD Blue"
- TV - Promos - "Norm"
- TV - Promos - "Oh Grow Up"
- TV - Promos - "Oh Grow Up"
- TV - Promos - "Snoops"
- TV - Promos - "Spin City"
- TV - Promos - "Sports Night"
- TV - Promos - "Sunday Night Football"
- TV - Promos - "The Drew Carey Show"
- TV - Promos - "The Practice"
- TV - Promos - "Two Guys and a Girl"
- TV - Promos - "Whose Line is It Anyway?"
- TV - Promos - College Football
CREDITS
- Al Michaels … Commentator
- Boomer Esiason … Commentator
- Lesley Visser … Commentator
- Karim Abdul-Jabbar
- Pat Bowlen
- Joel Collier
- Terrell Davis
- Jason Elam
- John Elway
- Bob Griese
- Brian Griese
- Stephanie Hommel
- Tom Jackson
- Jimmy Johnson
- J.J. Johnson
- Rob Konrad
- Floyd Little
- Derek Loville
- Olindo Mare
- Dan Marino
- Ed McCaffrey
- O.J. McDuffie
- Tom Rouen
- Mike Shanahan
- Jason Taylor
- Zach Thomas