If there was ever a real coming-out party for Kordell Stewart as a quarterback, it occurred at Three Rivers Stadium on Dec. 7, 1997 against the eventual Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos.
In that AFC powerhouse matchup in early December, Stewart outperformed future Hall of Famer John Elway, throwing for 303 yards and two touchdowns, adding 49 rushing yards and two scores, leading the Steelers to a thrilling 35-24 win over the Broncos late in the season on the way to an 11-5 finish and an AFC Central Division championship.
Against the Broncos that day in ’97, Stewart and the Steelers started slowly as Pittsburgh fell behind Elway and the Broncos, 21-7, thanks to two hookups from Elway to Rod Smith and a 3-yard Terrell Davis touchdown.