The Denver Broncos and the Pittsburgh Steelers have met in the playoffs for an AFC record seven times, and Sunday’s clash will tie them for the most frequent matchup in NFL history.

As Stephen Colbert puts it, “There’s an old saying about those who forget history. I don’t remember it, but it’s good.”

So let’s stay fresh in our history and dive into a trip down memory lane.

1977: AFC Divisional Game (Mile High Stadium)

On Christmas Eve of 1977, Terry Bradshaw brought the Steelers into Mile High Stadium for the first ever playoff game in Broncos franchise history. Bradshaw and his offense came out hot as they matched every one of Denver’s first half scores. Although the Steelers had out-gained the Broncos 183-44 in total yards, the score remained knotted at halftime and threatened to spoil the holiday season in the Mile High city.

After the Broncos scored a touchdown on a 30-yard connection between Craig Morton and Riley Odoms, the Steelers came back yet again and put together an early fourth quarter drive that finished with a one-yard touchdown catch by Larry Brown.

This is when the Orange Crush decided to stop playing like Grape Soda. ESPN’s own, Tom Jackson, picked off Bradshaw twice in the fourth quarter, and the defense catapulted the Broncos to their first ever playoff win, 34-21.

The Broncos eventually represented the AFC in Super Bowl XII where they were defeated by the Dallas Cowboys 27-10.

The first of many.

1978: AFC Divisional Game (Three Rivers Stadium)

As seven point underdogs, the Broncos (10-6) came into Pittsburgh looking to knock-off the Steelers (14-2) on a Saturday afternoon.

After drawing first blood on a Jim Turner 39-yard field goal in the first quarter, the Broncos folded quicker than a first-time poker player. The defense looked out-matched against the arm of league MVP, Terry Bradshaw who completed 16-of-29 attempts for 272 yards and two touchdowns. The offense was equally as horrendous on their way to being out-gained 425 – 218 in total yards.

This was hardly a speed bump for the Pittsburgh Steelers as they extinguished the Denver Broncos 33-10.

The Steelers season ended in Miami, FL where they skimmed past the Dallas Cowboys 35-31 in Super Bowl XIII to become the first NFL franchise ever to win three Super Bowl Championships.

1984: AFC Divisional Game (Mile High Stadium)

In typical Colorado fashion, the Broncos and Steelers were blessed with a perfect day for playoff football. Unfortunately for Denver fans, it turned out to be terribly gloomy by day’s end.

The Broncos were favored to move on to Miami for the AFC Championship game, but they most certainly didn’t play like it. While leading 7-3, the Broncos blocked a Craig Colquitt (Britton Colquitt’s father) punt to set them up with fantastic field position just outside the Pittsburgh end zone. Elway in his inexperience, aggressively lofted up a ball that was picked off by nose tackle Gary Dunn, and the Steelers turned that momentum into a big scoring drive that gave them a 10-7 lead at halftime.

Late in the fourth quarter of a tied game, after Gary Anderson’s unfathomable second missed field goal of the afternoon, Elway began to organize a game winning drive of his own. As the Broncos began to march down the field, Elway made his second big mistake as Steelers’ safety Eric Williams swooped in for an interception and returned it inside the Denver red zone. Frank Pollard finished it off with a two-yard touchdown run and the Steelers took a seven point lead

Elway would fail to get the Broncos in the end zone and the Steelers surprised the nation with a 24-17 win on the road.

The anxiously awaited Elway vs. Marino AFC Championship showdown was sadly cancelled and replaced with a borderline comical one.

Marino vs. Malone? No thanks.

The Steelers would go on to get smoked by the Dolphins in a 45-28 loss.

1990: AFC Divisional Round (Mile High Stadium)

After being double-digit favorites, the Broncos were outplayed for a majority of the game. Future Broncos’ quarterback, Walter “Bubby” Brister, went toe-to-toe with John Elway, and Tebow Hater, Merril Hoge, put together a Christian McCaffrey-like performance with over 180 total yards from scrimmage.

This was one of those “grind it out” afternoons. With under three minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Elway orchestrated a drive that ended with Mel Bratton barreling his way into the end zone to give the Broncos a 24-23 lead.

A botched snap on the next Steelers’ possession would end the game and avoid heartbreak for the city of Denver.

After defeating the Browns the following week, their season would end with an revolting loss to the San Francisco 49ers 55-10 in Super Bowl XXIV.

1998: AFC Conference Championship (Three Rivers Stadium)

The Broncos first Super Bowl win consisted of several difficult road tasks to get there. After sneaking by the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Round, Terrell Davis looked to continue his remarkable rushing statistics in Pittsburgh, PA.

The Broncos got off to a poor start as Elway threw a pick to Levon Kirkland on the second play of the game to give the Steelers great starting field position. After sputtering out on the Denver side of the field, Norm Johnson hooked a 38-yard chip shot after only missing three field goals all season. This would prove to be crucial.

After an 8-yard Davis touchdown, the Steelers returned the blow with a 33-yard scamper by “Slash.” The offensive floodgates opened up in the second quarter and a total of 24 points were put on the scoreboard. Fortunately, the good guys had 17 of those.

In a late fourth quarter push, the Steelers could only manage one touchdown and the Broncos held on to a 24-21 win to send them to their fifth Super Bowl in franchise history.

This one, however, ended much differently. Elway and Co. hoisted the Lombardi Trophy in a 31-24 victory over Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers.

2006: AFC Conference Championship (Invesco Field at Mile High)

Okay, short and sweet.

The Broncos were never in this one.

Although Jake the Snake was having statistically one of the best seasons in his career, he managed to throw two crucial picks and lost two fumbles before it was all said and done. The Broncos defense couldn’t stop a nosebleed, and the Steelers racked up 21 second quarter points to become the first team since 1985 to win three postseason road games on their way to the Super Bowl.

The Steelers finished the season with a rather boring 21-10 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL. This was their fifth Super Bowl win in franchise history.

2012: AFC Wild Card Round (Sports Authority Field at Mile High)

You are no Broncos fan if you cannot recall where you were and what you were doing on the night of January 8, 2012 (Prescott Hall Room 223: A dorm room the size of a cardboard box, 15 Broncos fans, and an unsupportive futon made for the greatest night of all time).

The Tebow lead Broncos were clearly not held in high regards as they were more than a touchdown underdog at home. Considering they had lost 7-3 the week before to the Kyle Orton lead Chiefs, they were lucky Vegas listed a line at all.

In an incomprehensible scenario, Matt Prater knocked in a pair of field goals to push the Broncos to a 20-6 lead at halftime. Tebow wasn’t like his miserable self and Von Miller and Co. had pressured the injured Ben Roethlisburger all night.

The Broncos offense was held in check during the second half and only managed to put up three points on another Prater field goal. Big Ben and the Steelers mustered up 17 second half points, highlighted by a 31-yard touchdown catch by Jericho Cotchery, and sent the game into overtime at 23 a piece.

That’s when it happened…

via GIPHY

I know it is tough to watch without uncontrollably sobbing like Anne Hathaway in Les Miserables, but let those tears stroll down your face. This is a judge-free zone.

Ah…refreshing, no?

The first play of overtime consisted of a walk-off, 80-yard touchdown strike to Demaryius Thomas. The play was accentuated with a Heisman-like stiff arm on Steeler’s cornerback Ike Taylor, and the Broncos celebrated a 29-23 victory to shock the country.

The Broncos went into Foxboro the following week and got dismantled by Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

Related Peyton Manning reportedly looks great at Broncos practice

It may not have ended in a Lombardi Trophy, but the 2011 season was one that will never be forgotten in Denver, Co.

The Steelers and Broncos both come from a long string of historical success. Combined they have uplifted eight Lombardi Trophies, and have represented the AFC in the Super Bowl on 15 different occasions. Of their seven previous playoff games, the winner has gone on to the Super Bowl five times.

German philosopher, Walter Benjamin, stated, “History is written by the victors.”

By the end of the weekend, expect the Broncos to continue writing history with a 5-3 all-time playoff series lead versus the Steelers.

Stats used in this story courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.