The AFL holds its first draft

The AFL’s first player selection draft is held, lasting 32 rounds. Denver’s first pick is Roger LeClerc of Trinity College in Connecticut. He does not play for the Broncos until 1967, as he opts to join the NFL’s Chicago Bears, who made him a 15th-round selection in the 1959 draft.

1960 offense

Pos Player Starts
E Lionel Taylor
LT Gordy Holz
LG Ken Adamson
C Mike Nichols
RG Willie Smith
RT Eldon Danenhauer
E Bill Jessup
QB Frank Tripucka
HB/K Gene Mingo
HB Al Carmichael
FB Dave Rolle

Sept. 15, 1962: Frank Tripucka hits Al Frazier for a 96-yard touchdown pass at Buffalo. At the time, the reception marked the longest play from scrimmage in Broncos history.

The AFL and NBC announce a new TV contract that pays the AFL $36 million over five seasons.

Aug. 14, 1964: Broncos obtained QB Jacky Lee form Houston in “lend-lease” trade for Bud McFadin.

Dec. 12, 1965: Broncos conclude home season with total attendance of 219,786, an average of 34,398 per game. Both the total and average attendance were AFL Western Division records.

1967 Schedule

Date Opponent Score
9/3 Boston Patriots 26-21
9/10 at Oakland Raiders 0-51
9/17 at Miami Dolphins 21-35
9/24 New York Jets 24-38
10/1 at Houston Oilers 6-10
10/8 Buffalo Bills 16-17
10/22 San Diego Chargers 21-38
10/29 at Kansas City Chiefs 9-52
11/5 Oakland Raiders 17-21
11/12 Houston Oilers 18-20
11/19 at Buffalo Bills 21-20
11/23 at San Diego Chargers 20-24
12/3 at New York Jets 33-24
12/17 Kansas City Chiefs 24-38

1967 Offense

Pos Player Starts
SE Eric Crabtree 14
LT Sam Brunelli 12
LG George Goeddeke 10
C Larry Kaminski 14
RG Pat Mattson 14
RT Tom Cichowski 11
TE Tom Beer 14
FL Al Denson 14
QB Steve Tensi 14
HB Floyd Little 13
HB Charlie Mitchell 14
FB Bo Hickey 12
FB Wendell Hayes 14
P Bob Scarpitto 14
PK Bob Humphreys 8

1968 schedule

Date Opponent Score
9/15 at Cincinnati Bengals 10-24
9/22 at Kansas City Chiefs 2-34
9/29 Boston Patriots 17-20
10/6 Cincinnati Bengals 10-7
10/13 at New York Jets 21-13
10/20 at San Diego Chargers 24-55
10/27 Miami Dolphins 21-14
11/3 at Boston Patriots 35-14
11/10 Oakland Raiders 7-43
11/17 at Houston Oilers 17-38
11/24 Buffalo Bills 34-32
12/1 San Diego Chargers 23-47
12/8 at Oakland Raiders 27-33
12/14 Kansas City Chiefs 7-30

1969 schedule

Date Opponent Score
9/14 Boston Patriots 35-7
9/21 New York Jets 21-19
9/28 at Buffalo Bills 28-41
10/5 Kansas City Chiefs 13-26
10/12 Oakland Raiders 14-24
10/19 at Cincinnati Bengals 30-23
10/26 at Houston Oilers 21-24
11/2 San Diego Chargers 13-0
11/9 at Oakland Raiders 10-41
11/16 Houston Oilers 20-20
11/23 at San Diego Chargers 24-45
11/27 at Kansas City Chiefs 17-31
12/7 at Miami Dolphins 24-27
12/14 Cincinnati Bengals 27-16

Jan. 19, 1969: Dave Costa, Rich Jackson and Floyd Little participate in AFL All-Star Game in Jacksonville, Fla.

1969 offense

Pos Player Starts
WR Al Denson 13
LT Sam Brunelli 14
LG George Goeddeke 14
C Larry Kaminski 14
RG Bob Young 14
RT Mike Current 14
TE Tom Beer 8
TE Dave Pivec 5
TE Tom Buckman 1
WR Mike Haffner 9
WR John Embree 5
QB Steve Tensi 12
QB Peter Liske 2
RB Floyd Little 9
RB Frank Quayle 1
RB Tom Smiley 10
RB Fran Lynch 7
RB/WR/KR Wandy Williams 2
K Bobby Howfield 0

In their first regular-season game against a team that was a part of the NFL before the merger, the Broncos defeat Pittsburgh 16-13 in front of 50,705 at Mile High Stadium.

Broncos wallop San Diego 38-13 in a game played in 9-degree conditions, the coldest regular-season home game in Broncos history.

Dec. 9, 1973: Broncos defeat San Diego 42-28 and assures the club of a winning record for the first time.

Jan. 26, 1976: TE Riley Odoms makes his third consecutive Pro Bowl appearance, and ILB Randy Gradishar makes his Pro Bowl debut.

1976 Schedule

Date Opponent Score
9/12 at Cincinnati Bengals 7-17
9/19 New York Jets 46-3
9/26 Cleveland Browns 44-13
10/3 San Diego Chargers 26-0
10/10 at Houston Oilers 3-17
10/17 Oakland Raiders 10-17
10/24 at Kansas City Chiefs 35-26
10/31 at Oakland Raiders 6-19
11/7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 48-13
11/14 at San Diego Chargers 17-0
11/21 New York Giants 14-13
11/28 at New England Patriots 14-38
12/5 Kansas City Chiefs 17-16
12/12 at Chicago Bears 28-14

Oct. 24, 1976: Rick Upchurch ties an NFL record with his fourth punt return touchdown of the season in a 35-26 win over Kansas City.

1976 Offense

Pos Player Starts
WR Rick Upchurch 9
WR Jack Dolbin 5
LT Bill Bain 13
LG Tom Glassic 14
C Bobby Maples 10
RG Tom Lyons 14
RT Claudie Minor 14
TE Riley Odoms 14
WR Haven Moses 14
QB Steve Ramsey 12
HB Otis Armstrong 14
HB Lonnie Perrin
FB Jon Keyworth 13
FB Jim Klick
P Bill Van Heusen
P Norris Weese
PK Jim Turner

Jan. 31, 1977: John Ralston resigns as head coach of the Broncos after five seasons that included the club’s first three winning records.

1977 Schedule

Date Opponent Score
9/18 St. Louis Cardinals 7-0
9/25 Buffalo Bills 26-6
10/2 at Seattle Seahawks 24-13
10/9 Kansas City Chiefs 23-7
10/16 at Oakland Raiders 30-7
10/23 at Cincinnati Bengals 24-13
10/30 Oakland Raiders 14-24
11/6 Pittsburgh Steelers 21-7
11/13 at San Diego Chargers 17-14
11/20 at Kansas City Chiefs 14-7
11/27 Baltimore Colts 27-13
12/4 at Houston Oilers 24-14
12/11 San Diego Chargers 17-9
12/18 at Dallas Cowboys 6-14
12/24 Pittsburgh Steelers (Divisional Playoff) 34-21
1/1 Oakland Raiders (AFC Championship) 20-17
1/15 Dallas Cowboys (Super Bowl XII) 10-27

1977 Offense

Pos Player Starts
QB Craig Morton 14
RB Otis Armstrong 10
RB Jon Keyworth 9
WR Jack Dolbin 13
WR Haven Moses 14
TE Riley Odoms 14
C Mike Montler 14
OT Andy Maurer 13
OT Claudie Minor 13
G Tom Glassic 14
G Paul Howard 14
K Jim Turner

1977 Defense

Pos Player Starts
DE Lyle Alzado 14
DE Barney Chavous 11
NT Rubin Carter 14
LB Randy Gradishar 14
LB Tom Jackson 13
LB Joe Rizzo 12
LB Bob Swenson 14
CB Steve Foley 13
CB Louis Wright 14
S Bernard Jackson 13
S Billy Thompson 14
P Bucky Dilts

1978 schedule

Date Opponent Score
9/3 Oakland Raiders 14-6
9/11 at Minnesota Vikings (OT) 9-12
9/17 San Diego Chargers 27-14
9/24 at Kansas City Chiefs (OT) 23-17
10/1 Seattle Seahawks 28-7
10/8 at San Diego Chargers 0-23
10/16 Chicago Bears 16-7
10/22 at Baltimore Colts 6-7
10/29 at Seattle Seahawks (OT) 20-17
11/5 New York Jets 28-31
11/12 at Cleveland Browns 19-7
11/19 Green Bay Packers 16-3
11/23 at Detroit Lions 14-17
12/3 at Oakland Raiders 21-6
12/10 Kansas City Chiefs 24-3
12/16 Pittsburgh Steelers 17-21
12/30 at Pittsburgh Steelers (Divisional Playoff) 10-33

1978 offense

Pos Player Starts
QB Craig Morton 13
RB Otis Armstrong 9
RB Jon Keyworth 16
WR Jack Dolbin 14
WR Haven Moses 16
TE Riley Odoms 16
C Billy Bryan 12
OT Claudie Minor 16
OT Tom Neville 15
G Tom Glassic 10
G Paul Howard 13
K Jim Turner
KR Lonnie Perrin
PR Rick Upchurch

1978 defense

Pos Player Starts
DE Lyle Alzado 16
DE Barney Chavous 16
NT Rubin Carter 16
LB Randy Gradishar 16
LB Tom Jackson 16
LB Joe Rizzo 15
LB Bob Swenson 15
CB Steve Foley 16
CB Louis Wright 16
S Bernard Jackson 16
S Billy Thompson 16
P Bucky Dilts

Dec. 17, 1979: Denver clinches a playoff berth for the third consecutive year, but fails to win its third consecutive division title, falling 17-7 at San Diego.

Oct. 5, 1980: Randy Gradishar returns an interception 93 yards for a TD vs. Cleveland, the longest such return in team history and the NFL’s longest in 1980.

Jan. 17, 1981: Red Miller and the Broncos’ coaching staff coach the South team in the 1981 Senior Bowl. It will turn out to be Miller’s last game as a Broncos head coach.

March 9, 1981: Less than two weeks after Kaiser assumed control of the Broncos, head coach Red Miller and GM Fred Gehrke are fired.

Feb. 6, 1983: The Broncos are represented in the Pro Bowl game by Randy Gradishar, Luke Prestridge and Rick Upchurch.

Jan. 29, 1984: Randy Gradishar makes his seventh Pro Bowl appearance. Louis Wright also is named to the AFC Pro Bowl team but is unable to play because of a fractured finger.

March 23, 1984: Pat Bowlen is introduced as the new owner of the Denver Broncos, assuming the title of President and Chief Executive Officer.

Jan. 27, 1985: Sammy Winder represents the Broncos in the Pro Bowl.

1985 Schedule

Date Opponent Score
9/8 at Los Angeles Rams 16-20
9/15 New Orleans Saints 34-23
9/22 at Atlanta Falcons 44/28
9/29 Miami Dolphins 26-30
10/6 Houston Oilers 31-20
10-13 at Indianapolis Colts 15-10
10/20 Seattle Seahawks 13-10
10/27 at Kansas City Chiefs 30-10
11/3 at San Diego Chargers 10-30
11/11 San Francisco 49ers 17-16
11/17 San Diego Chargers 30-24
11/24 at Los Angeles Raiders 28-31
12/1 at Pittsburgh Steelers 31-23
12/8 Los Angeles Raiders 14-17
12/14 Kansas City Chiefs 14-13
12/20 at Seattle Seahawks 27-24

1985 Offense

Pos Player Starts
QB John Elway 16
RB Gene Lang 2
RB Steve Sewell 2
RB Gerald Willhite 4
RB Sammy Winder 12
WR Butch Johnson 7
WR Vance Johnson 8
WR Steve Watson 15
TE Mike Barber 1
TE Clarence Kay 16
TE James Wright 12
C Billy Bryan 16
T/TE Mark Cooper 2
T Ken Lanier 16
T Dave Studdard 15
G Keith Bishop 14
G Winford Hood 3
G Paul Howard 15

Pat Bowlen announces that former owner Gerald Phipps will become the fifth member of the Ring of Fame. “I can’t overstate the gratitude that I feel for this honor,” Phipps said.

1986 schedule

Date Opponent Score
9/7 Los Angeles Raiders 38-36
9/15 at Pittsburgh Steelers 21-10
9/21 at Philadelphia Eagles 33-7
9/28 New England Patriots 27-20
10/5 Dallas Cowboys 29-14
10/12 at San Diego Chargers 31-14
10/20 at New York Jets 10-22
10/26 Seattle Seahawks 20-13
11/2 at Los Angeles Raiders 21-10
11/9 San Diego Chargers 3-9
11/16 Kansas City Chiefs 38-17
11/23 at New York Giants 16-19
11/30 Cincinnati Bengals 34-28
12/7 at Kansas City Chiefs 10-37
12/13 Washington Redskins 31-30
12/20 at Seattle Seahawks 16-41
1/4 New England Patriots (AFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF) 22-17
1/11 at Cleveland Browns (AFC CHAMPIONSHIP) 23-20
1/25 New York Giants (SUPER BOWL XXI) 20-39

Oct. 12, 1986: The Broncos post a 31-14 win over San Diego to equal the best start in team history with 6-0 record.

“The Drive”

The Broncos post a thrilling, 23-20 overtime win over the Cleveland Browns. It began auspiciously, with a poorly fielded squib kickoff knocking the Broncos back to their 2-yard line. In the Broncos’ huddle, tension grew along with the noise from 79,915 fans yelling, barking and brandishing Milk-Bones in honor of their beloved “Dawg Pound” defense. […]

1987 schedule

Date Opponent Score
9/13 Seattle Seahawks 40-17
9/20 at Green Bay Packers (OT) 17-17
9/28 at Cleveland Browns (canceled -- strike)
10/4 Houston Oilers 10-40
10/12 Los Angeles Raiders 30-14
10/18 at Kansas City Chiefs 26-17
10/26 at Minnesota Vikings 27-34
11/1 Detroit Lions 34-0
11/8 at Buffalo Bills 14-21
11/16 Chicago Bears 31-29
11/22 at Los Angeles Raiders 23-17
11/29 at San Diego Chargers 31-17
12/6 New England Patriots 31-20
12/13 at Seattle Seahawks 21-28
12/20 at Kansas City Chiefs 20-17
12/27 San Diego Chargers 24-0
1/10 Houston Oilers (Divisional Playoff) 34-10
1/17 Cleveland Browns (AFC Championship) 38-33
1/31 Washington Redskins (Super Bowl XXII) 10-42

Steve Foley retires

Safety Steve Foley announces his retirement. “I first thought about retirement after the Super Bowl,” Foley said. “I decided not to make any decisions hastily. I decided to let it go and see if the desire to come back was really there. It wasn’t.”

Elway earns MVP

The Broncos win their third AFC West title in four years after shutting out San Diego 24-0 in a blizzard. Denver finishes the season with a 10-4-1 record, becoming the only team in the NFL to post eight 10-win seasons since 1977. Quarterback John Elway is named NFL Most Valuable Player by the Associated Press.

Oct. 16, 1988: QB Craig Morton, WR Haven Moses and K Jim Turner are inducted into the Ring of Fame at halftime of a 30-14 win over Atlanta.

Oct. 15, 1989: LB Randy Gradishar is officially inducted into the Ring of Fame at halftime of a game against the Indianapolis Colts.

Nov. 26, 1989: The Broncos clinch their third AFC West title in four seasons after a 41-14 victory at home against Seattle.

Jan. 28, 1990: Denver loses 55-10 to San Francisco in Super Bowl XXIV in the Louisiana Superdome.

Sept. 1, 1991: Denver records its biggest opening day win ever with a 45-14 pounding of Cincinnati.

Dec. 1, 1991: A 17-7 win at Cleveland clinches a playoff berth for the Broncos.

Dec. 22, 1991: Denver closes out the regular season at 12-4 and wins the AFC West title for the fifth time in eight years.

The Drive II

On January 4, 1992, John Elway and the Broncos faced first-and-10 at their own 2-yard-line. Sounds familiar, right? But even though the Broncos trailed the Houston Oilers by a solitary point, they had over three minutes less time than they did five years earlier at Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium. The Broncos did not have to march […]

Feb. 2, 1992: Gaston Green, Karl Mecklenburg, Steve Atwater and Dennis Smith represent the Broncos in the Pro Bowl. S

Dec. 28, 1992: Pat Bowlen announces that the franchise will not renew the contract of Dan Reeves, thus creating a coaching vacancy in Denver for the first time since 1981.

Oct. 3, 1993: CB Louis Wright is inducted into the Ring of Fame at halftime of a game against Indianapolis.

Feb. 6, 1994: The Broncos are represented in Pro Bowl game by John Elway, Shannon Sharpe, Karl Mecklenburg, Steve Atwater and Dennis Smith.

1994 Schedule

Date Opponent Score
9/4 San Diego Chargers 34-37
9/11 at New York Jets 22-25
9/18 Los Angeles Raiders 16-48
9/26 at Buffalo Bills 20-27
10/9 at Seattle Seahawks 16-9
10/17 Kansas City Chiefs 28-31
10/23 at San Diego Chargers 20-15
10/30 Cleveland Browns 26-14
11/6 at Los Angeles Rams 21-27
11/13 Seattle Seahawks 17-10
11/20 Atlanta Falcons 32-28
11/27 Cincinnati Bengals 15-13
12/4 at Kansas City Chiefs (OT) 20-17
12/11 at Los Angeles Raiders 13-23
12/17 at San Francisco 49ers 19-42
12/24 New Orleans Saints 28-30

1994 Offense

Pos Player Starts
QB John Elway 14
QB Hugh Millen 2
RB Rod Bernstein 3
RB Derrick Clark 4
RB Glyn Milburn 6
RB Reggie Rivers 1
RB Leonard Russell 14
WR Jeff Campbell 1
WR Anthony Miller 14
WR Derek Russell 12
WR Cedric Tillman 3
TE Jerry Evans 9
TE Shannon Sharpe 13
C Dave Widell 16
T Russell Freeman 7
T Don Maggs 1
T Kirk Scrafford 8
T Gary Zimmerman 16
G Brian Habib 16
G Jon Melander 15
G Tom Nalen

Dec. 29, 1994: Wade Phillips and his staff are dismissed after two seasons.

1995 schedule

Date Opponent Score
9/3 Buffalo Bills 22-7
9/10 at Dallas Cowboys 21-31
9/17 Washington Redskins 38-31
9/24 at San Diego Chargers 6-17
10/1 at Seattle Seahawks 10-27
10/8 at New England Patriots 37-3
10/16 Oakland Raiders 27-0
10/22 Kansas City Chiefs 7-21
11/5 Arizona Cardinals 38-6
11/12 at Philadelphia Eagles 13-31
11/19 San Diego Chargers 30-27
11/26 at Houston Oilers 33-42
12/3 Jacksonville Jaguars 31-23w
12/10 Seattle Seahawks 27-31
12/17 at Kansas City Chiefs 17-20
12/24 at Oakland Raiders 31-28

Aug. 5, 1995: The Broncos defeat the 49ers 24-10 in the American Bowl in Tokyo, Japan. At this point, the Broncos are one of just three teams to play in five American Bowl games.

Terrell Davis steals the spotlight

Davis leapt up the depth chart after clobbering San Francisco’s Tyronne Drakeford on a second-half kickoff. But it almost didn’t happen. “You know the hit, but you don’t know the story behind it,” Davis would recall two decades later. “So it was the second preseason game in Tokyo. Well, the first preseason game, I didn’t […]

Nov. 5, 1995: John Elway surpasses the 40,000-yard passing plateau, becoming the seventh player in pro football history to accomplish that feat.

Dec. 10, 1995: Simon Fletcher plays his last home game as a Bronco, having announced his intention to retire before the season.

Feb. 4, 1996: Denver is represented in the annual AFC-NFC Pro Bowl by Steve Atwater, Jason Elam, Glyn Milburn, Anthony Miller and Shannon Sharpe. Gary Zimmerman was selected but did not play because of injury.

1996 schedule

Date Opponent Score
9/1 New York Jets 31-6
9/8 at Seattle Seahawks 30-20
9/15 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27-23
9/22 at Kansas City Chiefs 14-17
9/29 at Cincinnati Bengals 14-10
10/6 San Diego Chargers 28-17
10/20 Baltimore Ravens 45-34
10/27 Kansas City Chiefs 34-7
11/4 at Oakland Raiders 22-21
11/10 Chicago Bears 17-12
11/17 at New England Patriots 34-8
11/24 at Minnesota Vikings 21-17
12/1 Seattle Seahawks 34-7
12/8 at Green Bay Packers 6-41
12/15 Oakland Raiders 24-19
12/22 at San Diego Chargers 10-16
1/4 Jacksonville Jaguars (Divisional Playoff) 27-30

1996 offense

Pos Player Starts
QB John Elway 15
QB Bill Musgrave 1
RB Terrell Davis 16
FB Aaron Craver 15
WR Ed McCaffrey 15
WR Anthony Miller 16
WR/PR Rod Smith 1
TE Dwayne Carswell 2
TE Shannon Sharpe 15
C Tom Nalen 16
OT Jamie Brown 2
RT Broderick Thompson 16
LT Gary Zimmerman 14
G David Diaz-Infante 2
RG Brian Habib 16
LG Mark Schlereth 14
K Jason Elam
PR Todd Kinchen
KR Vaughn Hebron

1997 Schedule

Date Opponent Score
8/31 Kansas City Chiefs 19-3
9/7 at Seattle Seahawks 35-14
9/14 St. Louis Rams 35-14
9/21 Cincinnati Bengals 38-20
9/28 at Atlanta Falcons 29-21
10/6 New England Patriots 34-13
10/19 at Oakland Raiders 25-28
10/26 at Buffalo Bills (OT) 23-20
11/2 Seattle Seahawks 30-27
11/9 Carolina Panthers 34-0
11/16 at Kansas City Chiefs 22-24
11/24 Oakland Raiders 31-3
11/30 at San Diego Chargers 38-28
12/7 at Pittsburgh Steelers 24-35
12/15 at San Francisco 49ers 17-34
12/21 San Diego Chargers 38-3
12/27 Jacksonville Jaguars (Wild Card Playoff) 42-17
1/4 at Kansas City Chiefs (Divisional Playoff) 14-10
1/11 at Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC Championship) 24-21
1/25 Green Bay Packers (Super Bowl XXXII) 31-24

Biography: John Elway, QB

John Elway, a two-time Super Bowl champion, a member of the Hall of Fame Class of 2004 and the most accomplished player in Denver Broncos history, was elected to the franchise’s Ring of Fame in 1999. The only player for whom the customary wait for Ring of Fame induction was waived, Elway finished his magnificent […]

2003 Schedule

Date Opponent Score
9/7 at Cincinnati Bengals 30-10
9/14 at San Diego Chargers 37-13
9/22 Oakland Raiders 31-10
9/28 Detroit Lions 20-16
10/5 at Kansas City Chiefs 23-24
10/12 Pittsburgh Steelers 17-14
10/19 at Minnesota Vikings 20-28
10/26 at Baltimore Ravens 6-26
11/3 New England Patriots 26-30
11/16 San Diego Chargers 37-8
11/23 Chicago Bears 10-19
11/30 at Oakland Raiders 22-8
12/7 Kansas City Chiefs 45-27
12/14 Cleveland Browns (OT) 23-20
12/21 at Indianapolis Colts 31-17
12/28 at Green Bay Packers 3-31
1/4 at Indianapolis Colts (AFC WILD CARD) 10-41

2003 Offense

Pos Player Starts
QB Steve Beuerlein 2
QB Jarious Jackson 1
QB Danny Kanell 2
QB Jake Plummer 11
RB Mike Anderson 5
RB Reuben Droughns 4
RB Quentin griffin 1
Rb Clinton Portis 13
WR Ashley Lelie 10
WR Ed McCaffrey 7
WR Rod Smith 15
TE Dwayne Carswell 10
TE Shannon Sharpe 15
C Tom Nalen 16
T Blake Brocermeyer 2
T Matt Lepsis 16
T Ephraim Salaam 14
G Cooper Carlisle 2
G Ben Hamilton 16
G Dan Neil 14

2004 schedule

Date Opponent Score
9/12 Kansas City Chiefs 34-24
9/19 at Jacksonville Jaguars 6-7
9/26 San Diego Chargers 23-13
10/3 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 16-13
10/10 Carolina Panthers 20-17
10/17 at Oakland Raiders 31-3
10/25 at Cincinnati Bengals 10-23
10/31 Atlanta Falcons 28-41
11/7 Houston Texans 31-13
11/21 at New Orleans Saints 34-13
11/28 Oakland Raiders 24-25
12/5 at San Diego Chargers 17-20
12/12 Miami Dolphins 20-17
12/19 at Kansas City Chiefs 17-45
12/25 at Tennessee Titans 37-16
1/2 Indianapolis Colts 33-14
1/9 at Indianapolis Colts (AFC WILD CARD) 24-49

2005 schedule

Date Opponent Score
9/11 at Miami Dolphins 10-34
9/18 San Diego Chargers 20-17
9/26 Kansas City Chiefs 30-10
10/2 at Jacksonville Jaguars 20-7
10/9 Washington Redskins 21-19
10/16 New England Patriots 28-20
10/23 at New York Giants 23-24
10/30 Philadelphia Eagles 49-21
11/13 at Oakland Raiders 31-17
11/20 New York Jets 27-0
11/24 at Dallas Cowboys (OT) 24-21
12/4 at Kansas City Chiefs 27-31
12/11 Baltimore Ravens 12-10
12/17 at Buffalo Bills 28-17
12/24 Oakland Raiders 22-3
12/31 at San Diego Chargers 23-7
1/14 New England Patriots (Divisional Playoff) 27-13
1/22 Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC Championship) 17-34

2005 offense

Pos Player Starts
QB Jake Plummer 16
RB Mike Anderson 15
RB Tatum Bell 1
FB Kyle Johnson 14
WR/PR Charlie Adams 2
WR Ashley Lelie 13
WR Rod Smith 16
TE Stephen Alexander 15
TE Jeb Putzier 4
C Tom Nalen 16
RT George Foster 16
LT Matt Lepsis 16
RG Cooper Carlisle 16
LG Ben Hamilton 16
K Jason Elam
KR/PR Darrent Williams
KR Roc Alexander

2013 schedule

Date Opponent Score
9/5 Baltimore Ravens 49-27
9/15 at N.Y. Giants 41-23
9/23 Oakland Raiders 37-21
9/29 Philadelphia Eagles 52-20
10/6 at Dallas Cowboys 51-48
10/13 Jacksonville Jaguars 35-19
10/20 at Indianapolis Colts 33-39
10/27 Washington Redskins 45-21
11/10 at San Diego Chargers 28-20
11/17 Kansas City Chiefs 27-17
11/24 at New England Patriots 31-34
12/1 at Kansas City Chiefs 35-28
12/8 Tennessee Titans 51-28
12/12 San Diego Chargers 20-27
12/22 at Houston Texans 37-13
12/29 at Oakland Raiders34-14 w
1/12 San Diego Chargers (AFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF) 24-17
1/19 New England Patriots (AFC CHAMPIONSHIP) 26-16
2/2 Seattle Seahawks (SUPER BOWL XLVIII) 8-43

2014 schedule

Date Opponent Score
9/7 Indianapolis Colts 31-24
9/14 Kansas City Chiefs 24-17
9/21 at Seattle Seahawks (OT) 20-26
10/5 Arizona Cardinals 41-20
10/12 at New York Jets 31-17
10/19 San Francisco 49ers 42-17
10/23 San Diego Chargers 35-21
11/2 at New England Patriots 21-43
11/9 at Oakland Raiders 41-17
11/16 at St. Louis Rams 7-22
11/23 Miami Dolphins 39-36
11/30 at Kansas City Chiefs 29-16
12/7 Buffalo Bills 24-17
12/14 at San Diego Chargers 22-10
12/22 at Cincinnati Bengals 28-37
12/28 Oakland Raiders 47-14
1/11 Indianapolis Colts (Divisional Playoff) 13-24

2014 offense

Pos Player Starts
QB Peyton Manning 16
RB C.J. Anderson 8
RB Montee Ball 3
RB Ronnie Hillman 4
WR/KR Andre Caldwell 2
WR Emmanuel Sanders 16
WR Demaryius Thomas 16
WR/PR Wes Welker 8
OT/TE Chris Clark 5
OT/TE Paul Cornick 3
TE Virgil Green 9
TE Julius Thomas 10
C Will Montgomery 8
C/G Manny Ramirez 16
LT Ryan Clady 16
G Orlando Franklin 16
G/RT Louis Vasquez 16
K Brandon McManus
K Connor Barth
PR Isaiah Burse
KR Omar Bolden

1967 Defense

Pos Player Starts
LE Rex Mirich 13
LT Jerry Inman 14
RT Dave Costa 14
RE Richard Jackson 14
LLB Carl Cunningham 13
MLB John Huard 14
MLB Pete Duranko 14
RLB Chip Myrtle 14
RLB Frank Richter 9
LC Goldie Sellers 13
RC Nemiah Wilson 14
FS Jack Lentz 14
SS Pete Jaquess 3
SS Tom Cassese 14

1969 defense

Pos Player Starts
LDE Rich Jackson 14
LDT Rex Mirich 2
LDT Jerry Inman 11
LDT Paul Smith 1
RDT Dave Costa 14
RDE Pete Duranko 14
LLB Carl Cunningham 14
MLB John Huard 14
RLB Frank Richter 6
RLB Chip Myrtle 8
LCB Grady Cavness 14
RCB/PR Bill Thompson 14
SS Charlie Greer 9
FS Tom Oberg 7
FS George Burrell 7
P/SS Gus Hollmon 5

Record: 5-8-1
Fourth place, AFL West

Record: 10-6
First place, AFC West

Record: 10-4-1
First place, AFC West
AFC Champions

Record: 13-3
First place, AFC West

Record: 12-4
Second place, AFC West
AFC Champions
Super Bowl XXXII Champions

Record: 13-3
First Place, AFC West

Record: 12-4
First Place, AFC West

Record: 5-9
Fourth Place, AFL West

Record: 11-5
First Place, AFC West

Record: 8-8
Fourth Place, AFC West

Record: 10-6
Second Place, AFC West

Record: 13-3
First Place, AFC West

1976 Defense

Pos Player Starts
LE Barney Chavous 14
NT John Grant 10
NT Rubin Carter 14
RE Paul Smith 10
LO Bob Swenson 6
LILB Joe Rizzo 12
MILB Randy Gradishar 14
ROLB Tom Jackson 14
LC Louis Wright 14
RC Calvin Jones 8
RC Steve Foley 6
WS John Rowser 14
SS Billy Thompson 14

1985 Defense

Pos Player Starts
DE Barney Chavous 15
DE Rulon Jones 16
DE Andre Townsend 1
NT Rubin Carter 16
NT Greg Kragen 1
LB Steve Busick 16
LB Rick Dennison 7
LB Simon Fletcher 1
LB Ricky Hunley 2
LB Tom Jackson 5
LB Karl Mecklenburg 9
LB Jim Ryan 14
LB Ken Woodard 9
CB/S Mike Harden 16
CB Steve Wilson 4
CB Louis Wright 15
S Steve Foley 11
S Tony Silly 5
S Randy Robbins 1
S Dennis Smith 12

1994 Defense

Pos Player Starts
DE Shane Dronett 15
DE Simon Fletcher 16
De Harald Hasselbach 1
DE Dan Williams 15
NT Ted Washington 16
LB Allen Aldridge 2
LB Elijah Alexander 16
LB Keith Burns 1
LB Mike Croel 12
LB Randy Fuller 1
LB Richard Harvey 1
LB Karl Mecklenburg 15
CB Ronnie Bradford 1
CB Ray Crockett 14
CB Randy Hilliard 4
CB Ben Smith 14
S Steve Atwater 14
S Darryl Hall 3
S Rondell Jones 2
S Dennis Smith 12

2003 Defense

Pos Player Starts
DE Bertrand Berry 16
DE Reggie Hayward 2
DE Trevor Pryce 16
DT Mario Fatafehi 9
DT Daryl Gardener 2
DT Darius Holland 14
DT Monsanto Pope 5
LB Ian Gold 6
LB John Mobley 7
LB Donnie Spragan 8
LB Jashon Sykes 8
LB Al Wilson 16
CB kelly Herndon 11
CB Deltha O'Neal 6
CB Jimmy Spencer 2
CB Lenny Walls 16
S Sam Brandon 10
S Nick Ferguson 10
S Kenoy kennedy 12

1996 defense

Pos Player Starts
DE Harald Hasselbach 1
RDE Alfred Williams 16
LDE Dan Williams 15
LDT Mike Lodish 16
RDT Michael Dean Perry 15
DT Maa Tanuvasa 1
MLB Allen Aldridge 16
WLB John Mobley 16
SLB Bill Romanowski 16
CB Ray Crockett 15
CB Randy Hilliard 3
CB Tory James 2
CB Lionel Washington 12
FS Steve Atwater 16
SS Tyrone Braxton 16
P Tom Rouen

2005 defense

Pos Player Starts
LDE Courtney Brown 13
DE Ebenezer Ekuban 4
RDE Trevor Pryce 16
LDT Michael Myers 15
RDT Gerard Warren 16
LB Keith Burns 1
WLB Ian Gold 16
SLB D.J. Williams 14
MLB Al Wilson 15
CB Champ Bailey 14
CB Domonique Foxworth 7
CB Lenny Walls 3
CB Darrent Williams 9
S Curome Cox 1
S Nick Ferguson 16
S John Lynch 16
P Todd Sauerbrun

2014 defense

Pos Player Starts
DE/DT Malik Jackson 4
DE DeMarcus Ware 15
DE/DT Derek Wolfe 16
DT Terrance Knighton 16
DT Sylvester Williams 13
SLB Von Miller 16
MLB Nate Irving 8
MLB Steven Johnson 7
MLB Lamin Barrow 1
WLB Brandon Marshall 13
WLB Todd Davis 2
WLB Danny Trevathan 1
CB Chris Harris Jr. 16
CB Aqib Talib 15
CB Bradley Roby 2
S Rahim Moore 16
S T.J. Ward 15
S David Bruton Jr. 1
P Britton Colquitt

Biography: Jason Elam, K

Jason Elam, who played the first 15 seasons (1993-2007) of his 17-year NFL career with the Broncos, is the franchise’s all-time leader in field goals (395) and points (1,786) – both representing the second-highest totals in NFL history for a single team (K Jason Hanson, Det.).

Sept. 22, 1974: The Broncos and Steelers play in the first regular-season overtime game, neither team scored in the sudden death period ending in a 35-35 tie.

Sept. 29, 1975: The Broncos defeat Green Bay, 23-13, for their first-ever win on Monday Night Football.

Record: 9-5
Second place, AFC West

Nov. 7, 1976: With two field goals and six extra points, Jim Turner becomes the fifth player in pro football history to surpass 1,200 points.

Sept. 14, 1980: Denver defeats Dallas, 41-20 for the Broncos’ first-ever win over the Cowboys in regular-season or postseason play.

Feb. 1, 1987: Six Broncos play in the Pro Bowl—Keith Bishop, John Elway, Rulon Jones, Karl Mecklenburg, Dennis Smith and Sammy Winder.

Feb. 2, 1986: The Broncos are represented by four players in the Pro Bowl — Rulon Jones, Karl Mecklenburg, Dennis Smith and Louis Wright.