SUPER BOWL XXIV : SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 55 DENVER BRONCOS 10 : Disbelief, Depression Grip Denver

Parties and celebrations quickly turned somber Sunday as Denver fans watched their Broncos lose, 55-10, to the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XXIV.

Dressed in orange and blue, fans turned out at local bars and restaurants to watch the game. But their enthusiasm for the Broncos and predictions of a Super Bowl victory turned to depression and disbelief by halftime, when the Broncos trailed, 27-3.

Although there was the usual outbreak of “Broncomania” in Denver after the Broncos won the AFC championship and a Super Bowl berth Jan. 14, the level of excitement was lower and local support for the team was noticeably less visible than for Denver’s previous three Super Bowl appearances.

About 300 people gathered at Fat ‘n Mike’s, a bar owned by the Denver Nuggets’ Fat Lever and former Bronco and current Raider Mike Harden.

One waiter said before the mood turned dismal that things were a bit on the wild side at the restaurant.

“It’s crazy here. It’s a nuthouse. But it’s kind of fun, though,” said the waiter, who identified himself only as L. A.

Even at halftime, die-hard fans remained true to the orange and blue.

“We’re just going to let them get complacent,” said Pat Brown, who wore miniature Bronco helmets for earrings. “We want them to get comfortable.”

“They’re saving it up for the second half,” said Ann Meadows, who came to the bar with 20 friends.

Fans at the Boiler Room in downtown Denver started leaving halfway through the third quarter, when the Broncos trailed, 41-3. Although a Bronco comeback at that point seemed impossible, the crowd cheered as quarterback John Elway ran in for Denver’s lone touchdown of the game.

The cheers were short-lived, however, as San Francisco retaliated quickly, scoring 14 more points. When Gary Kubiak replaced Elway as quarterback in the fourth quarter, the crowd cheered again.

Fans had grown sarcastic by the end of the third quarter with San Francisco holding a 41-10 lead.

“I think Elway should be sent to another team,” said Jim Hallack. “He chokes under pressure and he’s not as good as he thinks he is.”