When When Denver’s Justin Simmons blocked an extra point that teammate Will Parks returned for two points on Sunday, it was the first time in NFL history that a blocked extra point return was a game’s winning score. But it wasn’t the first time the Broncos had broken a tie and won a game on a blocked kick.
In fact, 31 years ago almost to the day, the Broncos were in another tie game with the opposing team lining up for a game-winning kick, and ended up winning the game by blocking the kick and taking it to the house.
That game took place on November 17, 1985, and the Broncos were playing the Chargers. The game was tied 24-24 in overtime, and the Chargers lined up for a game-winning field goal. Denver’s Dennis Smith blocked the kick and Denver’s Louis Wright picked it up and ran 60 yards for a game-winning touchdown.
Smith actually blocked the Chargers’ game-winning field goal twice, but the first time it was waved off because a timeout had been called just before the snap. Even after that timeout, the Chargers couldn’t figure out how to stop Smith from blocking their field goal.
NFL games aren’t decided by blocked kick returns very often, but older Broncos fans who watched Sunday’s game may have had a sense of déjà vu.
