drew at sports authority field where the broncos defeated the pittsburgh steelers. rod mackey is in the locker room with the coach. >> that was a close game. team. defensively they played well, weeks. they gave us some fits. we had some plays we should have made. we hung in there and made the

that was the difference. that's what we have been about all year. >> many uncharacteristic drops but you were able to overcome it. >> seems like we come out a couple weeks and we practice sharp but didn't play sharp. the wind played a big factor. >> such a telling story. this game was a nail-biting game. the defense comes up huge. >> we are playing a position game. it looks like they are in good shape. we knocked the ball out. demarcus made a big play. no bigger play than ben made on 3rd and 18. that's what you have to do. you are in a close football game and somebody has to step up and make the plays we did

>> you hadn't found the end zone until the end. >> if he misses the field goal you are in trouble. you have a lot of confidence in your defense and kickers. >> he hit the ball well all week. i watched him. it was a 45-yard field goal. i believe in the kid. >> congrats. see you next week. >> reporter: aaron is standing by with virgil grant. >> congratulations on the big win. how does it feel to be moving on to the afc championship game? >> it feels great. we can enjoy this tonight. tomorrow we have to get to work and be ready for next week. >> the game was about perseverance for you guys. you finally got the fourth quarter touchdown that ended up being the difference. >> we definitely faced a lot of adversity tonight. steelers have a great defense. it took everybody to win this

we are glad to get out of here with a victory. >> what is going through your head when you see the defense come over the turnover in the fourth quarter. >> our defense does such a great job staying in and stopping those guys and stopping the run. we just had to capitalize on offense. we did that on the last drive. >> i know you say you want to enjoy this. here come the patriots for the afc championship. thoughts on taking them on again? >> they have to come to our house again. as you can see from tonight we are not a team that will give up. we'll fight until there are all zeros on the clock. i'm glad we have guys on the team willing to do that. >> thank you very much. >> reporter: here with the key to lead. that's about as close as it gets. yet it is so much like the season, when the defense needed

then the offense scored the game-winner. >> huge. he got the hand in there and knocked the ball out. beware of johnnie on the spot. then he made a big catch. we were able to capitallize on it. >> this game was so much like this season. you guys get down. you battle back and when it matters at the end the defense makes a play that triggers the win. >> we'll play football until the clock say zero zero zero. >> reporter: we knew they were coming in banged up. did you expect this performance from the steelers? >> he is an excellent receiver. he can easily be their number one receiver. he came out and played a great game for them. they just came up short. >> reporter: now it is on to the afc championship against your own team. you get to see the patriots here.

only way to go to the super bowl is to go through them. >> reporter: congratulations. >> thank you. >> reporter: back to you. >> reporter: thank you, the broncos outtoughed. the team historical known for being the toughest in the nfl are now just one victory away to earning a earning a trip to theirleth super bowl. broncos beat the pittsburgh steelers on sports authority field at mile high. peyton manning played okay. he got away with a self-sacked completion. took until late in the fourth quarter for denver to find the end zone. broncos win 23-16 and advance to the afc championship game next sunday against the new england land patriots.

weeks ago i used the word resilient. they are resilient offensively and defensively. they stay focused until the end. >> earlier this week we heard a few broncos players admit they looked past the colts last year thinking they would be in the afc championship game against new england. i didn't see them looking past anybody tonight. >> the media reminded them of what happened last year. i didn't think there was a chance of them looking past this game. all the question marks about ben, they were ready for ben. another great performance by a great team. >> i don't think you can say enough about the kicker. >> difficult conditions on the

>> let's go back in the locker room with live post game coverage. >> it seems like all the close games in the regular season just help in situations like that. we just do our job and make them happy. >> was there ever a doubt of number 18 or 22 making plays? >> there was no doubt. they were struggling a little bit. we got the momentum back and didn't look back from there. >> no brown or deanglo and ben rothlesberger was out there. how much of a challenge was he even on a bum shoulder? >> he is a hall of famer.

>> were you guys talking about making a difference in a game like that? >> we were all like we got to get a turnover. >> how did you get the ball loose? >> i punched and it connected. it was perfect timing. >> does it click you are one win away from the super bowl and you have the patriots up next? >> we got the win today. now we'll move on to the patriots next week. >> what do you think about that? >> it will be a great game. >> we had some communication errors early on. we fixed it. it is something that can't happen in the playoffs. we want to go back and learn from it and keep it moving. >> how did ben rothlesberger look out there? was there evidence he was playing from a separated shoulder? >> no.

separated his shoulder. >> okay. >> reporter: here with malik jackson. as i just said to gary kubiak it was close but you got it done when it mattered most. >> it was a defensive game. defense went out there to keep them from scoring touchdowns. offense went out there and did their thing. special teams played great. we all came together and played a fourth quarter game. it was a good day. >> on december 20th that was the only time you gave up 30 or more all season long. >> we knew what to expect this time. coaches did a great job to prepare us. we messed up on a few plays. we got the w so we live another week and we get to work on fix those mistakes and keep working. >> there was a lot of big plays given up.

defense and that's when the broncos work the best. >> the closer we get to the goal line we have to stop them. that's something we strive on is living under stress. we do it well. >> how much time do you spend celebrating? how much time before you say get ready for the patriots? >> we got one more game until the big show. i think everybody will have a good time. i think tonight at 12:01 you get working on the patriots. >> appreciate it. we'll send it out to you. >> i have had to fight through this. it is football. i got to do the best i can to try to do the best i can to be me. it is very hard. very hard. >> how tense was it on the sideline or in the huddle in the fourth quarter? >> it was something we are used

we are used to that type of situation where the game is on the line. we have been battle testing and it is something we have been through as a defense. >> who shoulder is worse? ben's or yours? >> mine is way worse than bens. >> were you surprised at all how good he looked or did you expect that? >> you expect him to come out and give it his all. he was ben. he was out there and looked normal. i'm still not myself. i'm getting there. i have to take it week to week. hopefully i can get back to 100% and be able to play how i want to play. >> have peyton manning in the offense and getting it done when you need it. >> we have a ton of confidence in peyton. he did the job we needed him to do. there is a lot of things we can

we have to not not get the field goals. there is a lot of things we did in coverages out there that a lot of times they got the yardage. it was good to learn from this. we'll be on point next week. >> it is good we have a veteran secondary. we played against brady tons of times and the offense billions of times. they'll put us in motions and check our tools and our coverages. we have to have great communication next week.

>> we started off sluggish. we were able to pick it up in the fourth quarter and win the game. at the end of the day we got this win. even though it wasn't the prettiest win in the world. we got another shot and another

broncos country gather around the television. our leader is speaking. >> one thing i believe in is you have missed throws and dropped passes and you keep firing. there was no doubt i was going to keep throwing to him if the read took me there. i tell you what, i don't know

windy down there. you could feel it in the throwing. i got to believe that factored into the receivers, as well. it was windier than anybody thought it was going to be. it stayed very windy until late in the fourth quarter. the catch first tight coverage late in the fourth quarter was probably the biggest play of the offensive game. >> you have been around a lot of teams. this one is now 10-3 in games decided by a touchdown or less. >> i think it helps playing a lot of close games during the course of the season starting with the first one. against baltimore that was a dogfight grinder that went down to the last drive. if you can be in those games and win those games its gives you confidence. hey, it is playoff football. even the game this morning

ended up being a one score game. very rarely are there huge blowouts in a playoff game. you know it will be a close game and a grind down to the wire. that's certainly what it was tonight. i don't really want to analyze the play too much. i would like it to go away. i was stepping up and when you fake that way and you kind of get your head around, i felt that guy closing. i stepped up and leaned forward. my momentum took me down, i guess. i didn't think he touched me. and i told emanuel to be alert if i fall down to get back up

i knew what he had on the original pass play. it guess it turns into a scramble. it was a big play and changed field position. ended up not scoring but we punted. i didn't know you could fumble a punt and get a touch back. that was a new one on me. i didn't feel good about it at this point. then defense got the turnover on the next drive. it was a play all four guys, all four receivers or options and they were in a blitz. benny did a good job crossing the defensive back faced. got in front and made a great catch for tight coverage. coach kubiac called it. i don't think we were lined up quite right. it might have been my fall. i don't think i had us lined up quite right.

the right formation. it was a critical two-point conversion. >> afc championship game against the patriots. can't shake them. night as well beat them. >> we are excited to be in the game. we knew we would have to beat a good football team tonight in order to get there. we'll try to enjoy this tonight and get a jump-start on preparing for that game on monday. we'll talk about who we are playing on wednesday. >> when that turnover came in the fourth quarter, was there a huddle? >> i think everybody understands that when you are in the fourth quarter there is a sense of urgency, especially when you are behind. when you are losing the game and you realize your opportunities are getting fewer and fewer. we want to take advantage of

>> of all the teams you played in your career is this team more capable of more guys making plays in the big spot? >> well, our defense has been outstanding all season. they have lead us to this point. let's make that clear. different guys step up at different times all season. david and stewart combined on the interception during the baltimore game. marshal creating a fumble for a touchdown in the chiefs game. i can go on and on. each game there were key defensive players stepping up. you have to be a good team to win the playoff games. defense did a great job holding. offensively we did much to win. >> in the middle of november when it hurt to walk how much doubt did you have that you would get to this day? >> i tried to stay in the moment and tried to stay one week at a time. tried to be patient and not

we talked about it last week, it has been a unique season. a lot of new things have happened this season. i think, kind of like tonight, we stayed patient tonight. we never got frustrated and i think that's sort what we've done all season. >> anymore satisfaction that you have gotten to this point after the season you went through? win. playoff game. battle tested. games. you have ben gutsy effort by injuries. a great effort by them. i have a lot of respect for the way they prepare their team. that was really the kind of tonight. it is always satisfying to get a win.

>> fine through the whole night. >> what are your thoughts about your 17th show down with tom brady? >> we'll deal with that on wednesday. we have a couple hours to enjoy this one tonight. thank y'all. >> peyton manning himself calling it a grind. we heard this described many, many, times. he said it was a grind. >> we didn't see the broncos best football out there today. but they have an opportunity to play their best ball of the year next week against the patriots. from the looks of it that's what they would need to beat the new england team. even with all its missing parts played a good game. >> broncos wide receiver demaryius thomas' mother was in

>> she has been in prison since he was 11 years old. she was arrested for crack grandmother. this was a highlight for her. it is the first time she has ever been able to see her son play nfl football in person. >> i didn't know that her first trip was delayed because she is not allowed to be in a drug environment and because colorado has legalized marijuana. there was an issue with that. but her patrol officer said make the trip. >> next week we'll see vaughn miller dancing after a big play today. he is standing by in the locker room. >> we'll start there. vaughn making a stop and you got to ben and gave us one of your best dances in the end zone. how big a play was that? where do those moves come from? >> it comes from wolf. when derek signed his new contract i said let me bring it

it was a great game. great day. happy for all my guys as usual. >> tell us about the defensive effort. offense struggling to get in the end zone. you kept yourselves within striking distance the entire game. >> we came out to do what we do. it is not new now. we are playing broncos defense. >> are you more defensive minded this year? >> i don't know about last year. but this year we handled adversity like i have never handled it before. i have never been on a team that handles adversity so well. chris came out with a banged up shoulder and still made plays. >> they were banged up. big ben didn't look all that injured. >> no he didn't. i read through the bluff.

>> we know who is coming to town next weekend. thoughts early on with new england. seems like they got their a- game back yesterday. >> it was good. it was another plus for those guys. tonight we played a great game. i'm happy for my guys. we'll celebrate tonight and get on the patriots tomorrow. >> what does it say about this team to find so many different ways to win no matter what you are up against? >> my head coach has dealt with all types of adversity in his coaching career. the way he handles adversity it falls here. they are one of the best teams in the afc. we are one of the best teams. let's play well and see who goes to the super bowl. >> did you have a feeling when demarcus scooped up the fumble

>> i didn't really know what was going to happen.

>> this was a year when things haven't come easy. you have had to work for every game. what does that say about this team? >> i think it shows how much we care about each other. we are playing for each other. we are not playing for anything else but each other. >> next week we have the patriots coming to town. could you write a better script? >> absolutely not. it is the stuff movies are made with. >> you beat them here once. >> it is harder to beat a team twice in the same season. if anything we are at a disadvantage. we'll have to be on top of our game. >> what was the mood on the

>> put your head down and go. keep grinding. that's all we were saying. let's keep going. let's keep going. it will work out in our favor. >> reporter: back live in the south end zone. drew and chad. i was laughing, i heard derek say it is hard to beat a team two times in a row. i never understand why someone says that. it would be more difficult if you lost the first game to figure out the way to beat them. >> if you lost the game you have revenge motivation. now they have the revenge motivation. it gives extra to them. >> reporter: peyton manning started for the first time in two months. no touchdown passes, no interceptions, no wow except for the final result. >> this defense is the best part of this team.

points. do what you did today. manage the game. move the ball as the defense gives it to you. most importantly don't throw interceptions. that. >> it is really clear now. stepping back and seeing on the perspective. on what he needs to do for the team to move forward. >> reporter: back in the locker room aaron has a guest, t.j. ward. >> great win today. offense was struggling a little bit kicking field goals. >> we just keep grinding. pedal to the medal. we keep grinding on the other side of the ball. special teams played great to help us out. offense came through at the end. >> ben rothlesberger says his shoulder has hurt all week. on the first play he throws deep. was that his way of saying you are bluffing a little bit.

we knew he was trying to overdo his injury. we knew he would come in and be ready to play. >> so you were not surprised to see him sling it the way he did? >> we knew he'd get it out there some time. >> you guys come up with the turnover again like you have through the season. how big a play was that? did you have a feeling that might spark the offense to get the touchdown. >> it was huge. it lead to the game-winning touchdown. we got a ten point lead with a field goal. that was probably the biggest play of the game. >> now the afc championship game one broncos versus two patriots. is it perfect for you guys? is that what you expected? >> i can't even tell you anything i feel. you don't know what to expect. we have them and it will be a battle. >> do you feel great it is here

>> it is better to play in front of our home team and home fans. >> thank you very much. back to you. >> reporter: chad, you played several times in your career with the same injury ben rothlesberger entered this game with. were you surprised how he played today? how does he come out in the first play of the game and chuck one 50-yards? >> i was more surprised people were making a big deal of it considering it is an injury many guys played with. ben played fantastic tonight throwing over 300 yards. >> one before the game and one at half-time. is that how it works. >> an extra dose at half-time will make you comfortable in the second half. >> denver broncos and new england patriots for the afc championship. peyton manning knows bill

>> bill comes up with a new game plan every time he plays peyton. we'll see what he has in store for him next week. >> reporter: their record was very good and they earned the number one seed in the playoffs. are you surprised they are ready to compete for a trip to the super bowl? >> i'm not. when you play defense as well as they play it. they are lean on the defense to be efficient and not turn the ball over this is where you end up. successful. it wins games and gets you to this point in the season. >> reporter: broncos are in no rush to leave the locker room. let's head back in the locker anderson is talking to aaron. >> we are not planning to do that next week. we got next week and we'll come out and play. a problem? >> i would not say that.

i just dropped the ball. i can't say the wind did this or that. it didn't affect peyton getting the ball to us in the right spot. that is just on us. >> when you had a couple big runs did you feel on the verge of having that happen? >> all night. i was telling ronnie be patient. i was telling myself be patient. and i got that opportunity. i got the opportunity to break in and i did. he did the same thing. >> what is the feeling in the huddle knowing you have a chance to win this football game? >> every time we were in huddle we said find way to get points. week. feels like that's how it should be, broncos and patriots. how about to the players? >> i don't care. our goal was to get here and we are here. it didn't matter who we played. whoever had the rights to play

it happened to be new england. >> it is hard to believe through all the adversity and struggles on the offense. >> we just play ball. we are one big team. one big happy family. we have a job to do next week. we'll go and got it done. >> it is amazing. you guys, so many times battled this season, this game seems to be what you guys do. >> we are battle tested. that's what we do. we'll keep grinding and fighting. we learned through the season that's one thing we can all take. we have been up on teams come back. we have been down and let teams come back. it is fourth quarters. as long as the clock is running we have a chance. >> we are done. back to you. >> end of interview. >> reporter: man after man in

and excited to advance to the afc championship game. every one says they don't care who they are playing next. they know it is the patriots. >> you buy that? >> reporter: no. >> if you want to beat the champ beat the champ. patriots have been the best in beat the champ now. >> reporter: so you are hoping you get the patriots or you wish someone else knocks them off. >> well you wish for the easiest road possible. >> reporter: pittsburgh steelers were the broncos first playoff opponent in 1977. broncos won that game. they beat them again today 39 years later with quarterback instead of terry bradshaw. let's listen to big ben who ago. >> very proud. injuries this year. a lot of next man up and people going down.

didn't. we stepped up to get to this point. we are disappointed we didn't go further. we made it with young guys stepping up today. the wide receiver core played phenomenal today. every one of them. i'm proud of the effort and the next man up mentality. it is emotional for everybody. everybody appreciates everybody else's efforts. only one team can end the season the way they want to. i'm proud of everybody's efforts. we overcame so many things this year to get to this point. it makes you proud. you want to keep going.

you want to keep going and you feel like things are going your way because we have overcome so much. it is disappointing to lose. the i'm not sure if that was the game plan or what the deal was. they did do a lot of zone. we were able to move the ball. ourselves. part of that is because they the world. they are really good. we can not get penalties when we are moving the ball. now we'll look back and see

right now off the top of my head it is not like there is a glaring issue offensively. i don't like to speak about defense and special team. offensively we had guys step up that made me proud. it was awesome thing for the guys to be part of that. because they went out there was not why we lost this game. we didn't lose because we didn't have ab. yeah, we would love him to be there to help us but we didn't lose because we didn't have those guys. it is not on him. it is on all of us. he is one of the reasons we got here.

george both, i'm proud of those guys. he made a great play. he is trying to make the play and go further. the defender made a great play on it. >> reporter: cincinnati bengals line backer, one of the more dirty players in the nfl took out steelers running back bell earlier this season. took out steelers star wide receiver antonio brown last week and injured seriously steelers quarterback ben rothlesberger last week. should the broncos send him an autographed game ball? should we have a bobble head give away. >> he certainly weakened the steelers coming to this game. broncos weren't at full speed either.

any time at this point in the season will have guys missing. unfortunately for the steelers

>> reporter: welcome back to broncos locker room. it got sketchy at the end.

scary and at the end when it matters most denver gets it done triggered by a defensive turnover. >> this is why the broncos can win it all. broncos are fast breaking show time offensive team built around peyton manning. it didn't work in january. it didn't work for the final game in february. this team is built to win 20- 17. it is built to win ugly. the defense can hold them in until the offense finally that's what happened. this is the exact kind of game the broncos were losing in the post season in the last years and the type of game they won today. >> players admitted it is the type of game they win because

denver can not play like this and beat tom brady. >> here's why they can't. early. patriots scored two touchdowns. ball game was over. chiefs made a run. if the broncos settle for field goals it is not going to work. after what i saw last night with edleman back and gronkowski hurt they look great. broncos will be in trouble. >> defense wins championships. so they have that going for them. >> how a team plays one week is not necessarily how they'll play the next week. the broncos will come up with a different scheme than the kansas city chiefs. tom brady was able to play pitch and catch. broncos aren't going to let them do it. they'll play more pressure on the receivers. they'll bring more pressure on tom brady. the patriots will be favored. rightfully so.

because the game is here. you think the patriots will be favored even though denver beat the patriots earlier this season and the game is back here again? >> i'm sure the early line is out. i would not be surprised if patriots are a two-point favorite. that is saying something because the game is here. that defense, i'll telling you can give tom brady fits. that's why that game november 29th and hats off to brock osweiler, he is the reason the afc championship game is being played in denver. it is because of how brock osweiler played back on the snow november 29th. they have a chance. they probably would have no chance in foxboro. they have a chance next week because the game is here. >> here's what we are seeing with the broncos. they can lose to the raiders and beat the best teams. they beat new england when new england was undefeated. they can step up.

minutes or the last drive, they football game. >> you can say that they kind seed. they didn't play their best game today but they are in a position where they play one bowl. that's what they need know. >> after seeing carolina i prefer two good games. back to you. >> reporter: thanks. i wish we would have heard from brandon mcmanus in that time in the locker room. he probably was the most important player on the broncos today. i can't emphasize enough how crazy the wind was. it has died down considerably. how nuts the wind was. he was drilling them pregame, half-time when he was warming and during the game. >> five for five during the game. that wind was a swirling wind

were going to you had to adjust for that. he did a fantastic job. when you have a great field goal kicker and the defense is able to give you shorter field positions, even if your offense isn't very efficient, then you can rely on the math to get the three points. the defense giving the offense a short field is key. >> we have seen that formula work before with the '85 bears and the 2000 baltimore ravens. great defense. little offense. are the 2015 denver broncos capable of winning the super bowl with that formula? >> i think they are. patriots will come in this week. bill belichick will have a great game plan for peyton manning. >> broncos win 23-16 and

a joyous wave of humanity poured out of mile high tonight. >> reporter: things have died down considerably at sports authority field at mile high immediately after the broncos won. you can imagine broncos fans were as loud and stoked and obnoxious as fans should be when their team clinches the

our broncos did. there was a lot of yelling go broncos and early make talk leading up to the game against the patriots next week when fans are saying bring it on brady, they are ready. after the game that said going in the fourth quarter they were feeling a little nervous but they said they never lost faith in the ability of peyton manning or the broncos defense. they said they are so excited towards the super bowl. fans are stoked out here. >> everybody is looking ahead to next sunday. >> we are going to talk about super bowl sunday weather in santa clara, california. instead we'll talk to nick saban about denver weather.

long way into the future. >> there is a storm system moving into california midweek. it will be past that area and moving into colorado here. it will be interesting. there is a series of storm systems lined up in the pacific. none of them are terribly organized but they are there. it will create wind issues like we are seeing tonight. a lot of players and our own crew mentioning the wind and how it impacted the game today. the winds are dying down along the foothills. 40 downtown. 23 dia. 19 greeley. if you think it is chilly now look what is going on for our neighbors to the north and east. we are on a fringe of arctic air that has temperatures well below zero across the northern rockies, midwest and plains states. winds are blustery over berthoud pass and kenosha pass. keys will complicate travel on i-70.

advisories have scaled back. the wind chill advisory has been extended to nine states in the midwest. we are monitoring that area close he tonight. around here great skiing conditions. everybody is enjoying the fun. snow totals have been amazing. seven to 14 inches of snow. there is more on the way midweek. for us in the city we'll see the wind die down west of i- 25. there will be a few clouds around tonight. it will be a nice way to start the day tomorrow. north and west facing slopes will pick up additional light accumulation tomorrow. there are no winter weather travel advisories posted as of yet. in the denver metro area on this wonderful sunday night partly cloudy skies. low of 20. tomorrow we start at 20. mid 40s by lunchtime. with the afternoon cloud cover we'll come close to 50.

here tuesday morning then skies clear midweek. we are back to the low 50s by friday. just a terrific extended period. a series of weak weather systems will move in. there is not one giant storm out there making me go oh no. >> the crystal ball is cloudy 7 days out. the democratic debate is coming up in a few minutes on 9news. we could see hillary clinton and bernie sanders more animated. >> on the republican side of the ledger the fight between donald trump and ted crus is getting more heated. >> reporter: with hours before the democrats duke it out to understand in charleston the candidates quoted voters at a

>> we must stand up for working people and low income people in every state in this country. >> reporter: and they took aim at republicans. secretary clinton talking about the language used when talking about president obama. >> both ted cruz and chris other night. too often we hear republicans talking in coded racial language. >> reporter: meanwhile sanders announced he supports a bill that would amend a 2005 piece of administration that limits liability on gun manufacturing. the move comes after days of attacks by clinton who used the issue to paint sanders as soft sanders tried to assure the crowd he is not. >> we have to keep guns out of not have them. >> reporter: clinton signaled she would go further.

do everything in her power to protect president obama's actions on gun violence. >> reporter: meanwhile the race on the republican side has donald trump and ted cruz running neck-and-neck in iowa. trump continues to slam crus for failing to report loans while returning for senate. >> didn't report his bank loans. say whatever you want. he didn't report bank loans. >> reporter: crus seized the chance. >> who put donald trump in charge of the elevator? >> again you can watch that debate here on 9news at 7:00. >> lester holt and andrew mitchell will be your moderators. fire and ice played a role in a tragedy this week. >> here's kim christianson with nine lessons.

in my backyard. they fell in the ice and can't get out. >> reporter: three teenager boys fell through ice in a pond in parker. one of the boys died thursday evening. many responses to the story. tragic every iced over lake or pond i see i worry. teens are too sure they can beat the odds. playing for all. i was a kid, i fell through the ice playing on a frozen pond. luckily it was very shallow and only went up to my waist. the freezing temperatures are unbearable. >> we did lose a family member here in a tragic way. there is not an individual that could save himself. >> reporter: a devastating fire in littleton this week. a man in his 40s suffering with multiple sclerosis died. his elderly parents are hospitalized with injuries.

>> i never seen this in my life at the airport waiting this long for security. >> reporter: one of the longest lines at dia over the holidays was not related to bad weather. the tsa didn't schedule enough staff to work. >> go broncos! i second that. >> reporter: finally, thank you for all of the great photos of your pets, your kids, your homes all decked out in bronco colors. our magnet give away exceeded expectations and you proved your loyalty. one woman drove more than 100-

we agree. thank you for your comments. remember 9 listens. >> we like to hear from you. you can e-mail us at 9news.com or call us or send a message through facebook. we look forward to hearing from you every week. tomorrow morning denver will honor martin luther king in city park at 9:25 in the morning. following a short ceremony the crowd will head down colfax. things will wrap up at the rally. denver began the tradition of the marade in 1995. the democratic debate is next.

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