| 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 |
Stars emerge as the Sixties depart
As the 1960s ended, Lou Saban’s Broncos were finally inching forward.
In 1969, they defeated Joe Namath and the defending Super Bowl champion Jets at home in Week 2, and stood at 4-4 in early November before losing four of their next five games. Tickets were moving at a brisk pace. The AFL was legitimizing itself with back-to-back Super Bowl wins, and as the Broncos moved to the massive, 26-team NFL, the leagues had achieved parity — and Denver had big-league status.
But after fighting to establish and save the franchise in the first decade, the Broncos and their fans would want much more in the years to come — starting with that first winning season.
It wouldn’t happen in 1969.
After defeating the Chargers 13-0 for the first home shutout in team history, the Broncos went on an 0-4-1 skid before a season-ending win over Cincinnati salvaged a 5-8-1 finish.
Although the Broncos didn’t emerge in 1969, Floyd Little did. He earned first-team All-AFL honors despite missing five games, averaging 5.0 yards per carry and 105.2 yards from scrimmage per game. Wide receiver Al Denson also racked up 10 touchdowns, while Rich “Tombstone” Jackson accumulated 12.5 sacks.
With Jackson, Little, rookie defensive back Bill Thompson and defensive lineman Pete Costa, the Broncos had some talented pieces. But it would still be a while before they came together as a whole.
