National Football League
Denver Broncos
AFC/West
(Opens a New Window)
Broncos History:
Originally one of the 8 franchises with the start up American Football League in the Western Division. The debut game for the Broncos was at Bears Stadium, an old Minor League Baseball Stadium in front of 18,732 rabid fans. The Broncos would secure the win but would win only one more game and finished the season at 4-9-1.
The next few seasons the Franchise would have glimpses of greatness like in 1961 when WR Lionel Taylor becomes the 1st player to catch 100 passes in a season (finished 3-11) or in 62 when Coach Jack Faulkner is named Coach of the Year (finished 7-7) or in 1963 when FB Billy Joe wins the AFL Rookie of the Year (finished 2-11-1). Between 1964 and 1966 (the year prior to joining the NFL) the Broncos managed a 10-31-1 record
After the 1966 season, the Franchise fires coach Ray Malavasi is replaced by Lou Saban . but even a coaching change could do nothing for the team as again they finish with a dismal 3-11 record in 1967. Funding is approved to upgrade Bears stadium and prior to the final game of the 68 season, the stadium was officially renamed Mile High Stadium. The Broncos close out the decade with normality, finishing 5-8-1
As the 70’s began, the team continued to try and find itself. 1970 saw the team finish 5-8-1 and last place in the AFC West. 1971 began the same way as the team got off to a 2-6-1 start. Coach Saban resigns and Interim coach Jerry Smith finishes the season with to a 4-9-1 record. The franchise hired John Ralston as the new Head Coach but the losing continues even as fans stay loyal to the team. The team finished 5-9. 1973 saw the team post the first winning season at 6-3-2 and the Broncos matched up against the Oakland Raiders in the AFC West title match up. The Broncos lose 21-17 but gain valuable experience. Between 73 and 76 the Broncos play mediocre ball and Coach Ralston resigns after an impressive 9-5 record that doesn’t get the team into the playoffs.
Red Miller is hired as the new Head Coach in 1977 and the team responds as they post a 12-2 record, winning the AFC West for their first playoff birth. The newfound winning revolves around the defense that became known as “The Orange Crush” and allow only 148 points on the season. In the playoffs, the Broncos face the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Divisional Playoffs which the Broncos won 34-21 earning a trip to the AFC Championship Game against the Oakland Raider. The Broncos get an early 14-3 lead and hold on for a 20-17 win and their first trip to the Super Bowl.
Super Bowl XII matched the AFC Broncos against the NFC Dallas Cowboys in the New Orleans Superdome. The Broncos would go down 13-0 by halftime, turned the ball over 8 times and ended up losing the game 27-10.
The team would continue to compete on a high level but as the 1980 season winds down, the team allows 323 total points and Coach Miller is replaced with new Head Coach Dan Reeves and 1982 saw the acquisition of one John Elway after he refused to sign for the Baltimore Colts. Elway would be handed the team right away and he led them to the playoffs in 1983 and 1984. In 1985, the Broncos posted an impressive 11-5 record but fail to make the playoffs.
The 1986 season saw the team win their first 6-games and the team finished with an 11-5 record. In the playoffs, the Broncos hosed the New England Patriots which the Broncos win 22-17. The AFC Championship game matched the Broncos against the Cleveland Browns in Cleveland. The Browns took control of the game early and led the game 20-13 with 5 minutes to play. QB John Elway puts together a drive that culminates in a 5-yard TD to Vance Johnson with only 37 seconds left, sending the game into Overtime. Denver PK Rich Karlis wins the game for the franchise with a 33-yard FG sending the franchise to it’s 2nd Super Bowl.
Super Bowl XXI matched the AFC Broncos against the NFC New York Giants in Pasadena California. The Broncos out dueled the Giants in the first half but held only a slim 10-9 lead. In the first 20-minutes of the 2nd half, the Giants reel off 24 consecutive points and the Giants take the trophy with a 39-20 victory.
The Strike of 87 forced the franchise to use replacement players and the scabs kept the team afloat winning 2 of 3 games before the regular players returned. The Broncos would go and to win the west with a 10-4-1 record as QB John Elway wins the NFL MVP Award. Beating the Houston Oilers to advance to the AFC Championship game against the Browns, the Broncos jump out to a 21-3 halftime lead. The Browns would not succumb so easily and they battled back to tie the game at 31 in the 4th quarter. The Broncos respond by scoring right away taking a 38-31 lead with 4 minutes to play. The Browns would respond with a drive of their own taking the ball to the Bronco 1-yard line where Jeremiah Castille stripped Ernest Bynar at the goal line for a 38-33 win.
Super Bowl XXII matched the Broncos against the Redskins who were heavy favorites in the game. The Broncos take an early 10-0 lead in the first 5 minutes of the game. In the second quarter, however, the Redskins respond with 35-unanswered points and continued to pound the Broncos into a 42-10 submission.
The Broncos acquire RB Tony Dorsett in 1988 but finish the season at 8-8. The following season Dorsett would go down with a career ending knee injury but the team finishes with an impressive 11-5 record. The team would go through Pittsburgh, and Cleveland to get another shot at a title.
Super Bowl XXIV matched the Broncos against the San Francisco 49ers who were working on their 4th title. The Broncos manage 10 points but the Niner’s poured it on and thrashed the Broncos 55-10.
The 90’s were not kind to the franchise until 1997 where the Broncos began wearing new modern uniforms. The change must have given the team a boost at they post a 9-1 start on route to an 12-4 record and another trip to the Super Bowl.
Super Bowl XXXII matched the Broncos against the Green Bay Packers. It had been 14-straight years that the AFC had not won in a Super Bowl and the Broncos were determined to change that. The franchise had been in the big game 4 times and had zero victories to show for it.
The Broncos jumped out to a 17-7 lead by the 2nd quarter and looked poised to run the table on the Packers but Brett Favre had other ideas. The Pack stormed back to and by the end of the third quarter the Broncos still held a slim 24-17 lead. The Packers answer again and suddenly late in the 4th quarter, the game was tied at 24. John Elway would again drive his team and finally RB Terrell Davis plunges into the end zone and after and with the extra point take a 31-24 lead.
Packers QB Brett Favre quickly moves his team down the field and looked poised to strike again but Denver LB John Mobley tips the pass, securing the victory for the Broncos who end the NFC’s 14-year dominance.
The 1998 season saw the Broncos still on a high from their Super Bowl win. Rumors began circulating that QB John Elway was to retire at the end of the ’98 season and with that the team responds by winning their first 13 games. With the next game against the New York Giants, it seemed that the team was looking towards the following week against the undefeated Record Holders Miami Dolphins. The Giants upset the Broncos 20-16 at Giants Stadium. When the Broncos faced the Dolphins the following week, they lost again 31-21 but bounced back to beat the Seahawks 28-21 and finished out the season at 14-2.
In the playoffs, the Broncos first met up against the Miami Dolphins which they easily dispose of 38-3. In the AFC Championship game, the Broncos took on the New York Jets at home and defeated them 23-10.
Super Bowl XXXIII matched the Broncos against the Atlanta Falcons who were coached by former Broncos Head Coach Dan Reeves. Because of the bad relations between Reeves and Elway, the media hyped the event even more reporting on Elway’s retirement, his feud with his former coach and even brought Denver Head Coach Mike Shanahan into the feud. The hype would prove unnecessary as the Broncos control the game from the beginning and by halftime the score was 17-6 in favor of the Broncos.
Both team defenses took control in the 3rd quarter of the game as neither offense could score. Finally in the 4th, the Falcons explode for 13 points but Denver matches and surpasses that as they score 17 points in the final quarter to take the game. The final score was Denver 34 and Atlanta 19. Denver wins their 2nd consecutive Super Bowl. Elway would indeed retire after the season.
The following season, with Elway gone, the Broncos finish a dismal 6-10 and 2nd year QB Brian Griese led the team admirably passing for 3,032 yards.
With the new millennium came the calls for a new stadium for the Franchise. 2000 would be the last season in Mile High Stadium but the Broncos get off to a slow start losing 3 of their first 5 games. The Broncos would lose RB Olandis Gary, who was subbing for the oft injured Terrell Davis. Third string RB Mike Anderson would step in to rush for over 1500 yards and 15 TD’s, taking home Offensive Rookie of the Year honors as the Broncos would finish the season at 11-5, the final game being a 38-9romp against the San Francisco 49ers, closing out Mile High Stadium. The team would lose the Wildcard game to the Baltimore Colts ending all hopes for a return to the Super Bowl
2001 saw the opening of INVESCO Field with a beating of the New York Giants 31-20. This would prove the biggest win of the season as the team finishes 8-8.
Between 2002 and 2008, The Broncos would win their division one more time (in 2005) and would suffer through a number of personnel issues in 2006 as DB Darrent Williams is killed in a drive by shooting and later, RB Damien Nash has a fatal heart attack while playing in a charity basketball game.
The Broncos have made the playoffs 17 times in 49 seasons. They have won their Division 10 times (1977, 1978, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1998 and 2005), they have won the Conference Championship 6 times (1977, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1997 and 1998). The team has won the Super Bowl 2 times (1997 and 1998)
The Broncos have 4 Hall of Famer on their Rosters: Willie Brown (1963-1966), Tony Dorsett (1988), John Elway (1983-1998) and Gary Zimmerman (1993-1997).
Team Awards for the Broncos include 2 Coach of the Year Awards (1962-Jack Faulkner and 1977-Red Miller), 1 AFL Rookie of the Year Award (1962 Billy Joe), 1 Defensive Rookie of the Year (1991 Mike Croel), 2 Offensive Rookie of the Year Awards (2000 Mike Anderson and 2002 Clinton Portis), 1 Defensive Player of the Year (1978 Randy Gradishar), 2 Offensive Player of the Year Awards (1996 & 1998Terrell Davis), 2 NFL MVP Awards (1987 John Elway and 1998 Terrell Davis)
The Broncos have retired 3 jerseys: # 7 John Elway, # 18 Frank Tripucka and #44 Floyd Little.
| Stadium Seating Chart |
|---|
Sports Authority Field at Mile High
|
ALL NFL TEAMS
AFC
