where do the broncos play?
Sports Authority Field at Mile High
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 The Broncos made the playoffs , but lost 38 – 35 in double overtime to Baltimore , who went on to win Super Bowl XLVII that season . 

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 Denver is home to a variety of sports teams and is one of the U.S. cities with teams from four major sports ( the Denver metro area is the smallest metropolitan area to have a team in all four major sports ) . The Denver Broncos of the National Football League have drawn crowds of over 70 @,@ 000 since their origins in the early 1960s , and continue to draw fans today to their current home Sports Authority Field at Mile High . The Broncos have sold out every home game ( except for strike @-@ replacement games ) since 1970 . The Broncos have advanced to eight Super Bowls and won back @-@ to @-@ back titles in 1997 and 1998 , and won again in 2015 . 

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 The game featured two teams both ranked lower than the two teams playing in a non @-@ BCS bowl , a first in BCS history . The 2008 Poinsettia Bowl featured the No. 9 Boise State Broncos against the No. 11 TCU Horned Frogs . In Miami , Virginia Tech and Cincinnati each made preparations to switch accommodations to a different hotel on the day before the game to better simulate the feel of a regular @-@ season game . Cincinnati 's move was accelerated a day when rapper Sean " Diddy " Combs moved into the hotel and coaches , seeking to avoid a distraction , moved up the date of the team 's departure . 

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 The Broncos , by virtue of having the AFC 's # 1 seed , earned home field advantage throughout the NFL playoffs . The Broncos defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Divisional round to advance to the AFC Championship game to host the defending Super Bowl champions , the New England Patriots . It was the 17th , and ultimately final , meeting between Manning and his longtime rival Tom Brady . Despite a late comeback from the Patriots , the Broncos won 20 – 18 to advance to Super Bowl 50 . Manning threw two touchdowns and no interceptions in the win . 

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 The Broncos ' defense , meanwhile , was ranked number one in the WAC in total defense , scoring defense , rushing defense , and pass defense . The team 's defense ranked number two in the conference in pass efficiency defense , turnover margin , and sacks . Defensive lineman Nick Schlekeway and defensive back Marty Tadman both received All – WAC first team honors and promised to pose difficulties for the Pirates ' offensive front . 
