The word “sacrifice” in sports can be clichéd and misused, but if ever a play demanded the use of that term, it was in the third quarter of a tie game in Super Bowl XXXII, in January 1998 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. The context: the Broncos, who had never won a Super Bowl, were 11-point underdogs against the Packers, who were aiming for their second straight title. Quarterback John Elway, 37 years old and in his second-to-last season, was a sure-fire Hall of Famer but – having never won the big one – had an incomplete legacy. It was 17-17, and Elway had led a long Denver drive but faced a third down and 6 from the Packers’ 12. Elway dropped back and, unable to find receivers and feeling pressure, began to run with it, needing to reach the 6 for a first down. He gained a few yards but lurking and in position were a trio of Packers, ready to punish Elway should he be courageous – or silly – enough to test them. Rather than be content with a field goal, at the 7 yard line Elway jumped headfirst into the air, where a Green Bay defender took out Elway’s knee and Elway was spun around 360 degrees for the first down. Denver scored a touchdown two plays later to take a 24-17 lead; that seven points would represent the deciding margin, as the Broncos won the Super Bowl 31-24.