List of Denver Broncos seasons
This is a list of seasons completed by the Denver Broncos, an American football franchise based in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos are members of the West division of the American Football Conference (AFC) of the National Football League (NFL). The list documents their season-by-season records from 1960 to the present day, including post-season records, and league awards for individual players and head coaches. As of the end of the 2015 season, the team has completed 56 seasons (playing in nearly 900 combined regular season and playoff games), and concluded the 2015 season with a 24–10 victory over the Carolina Panthers at Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara, California.
The Broncos franchise was founded on August 14, 1959, by Bob Howsam and played their first season in 1960, in Denver, Colorado as part of the original American Football League (AFL). The team joined the NFL in 1970 as a result of the AFL–NFL merger.[1]
The franchise has experienced two major periods of success. The first was from 1976 to 1981, when the Broncos did not have a losing season (a season when the team has more losses than wins), and won two AFC West division titles, and one AFC championship. The second began in 1983 and ended in 1998. During this period, the Broncos had just two losing seasons, were AFC champions five times and were Super Bowl champions for two consecutive years. This second period of success is best remembered for John Elway being the team's quarterback.[2] The Broncos have also experienced one notable period of deterioration. From their inaugural season in 1960 until 1975, they did not make either the AFL playoffs or NFL playoffs and had just two winning seasons. The Broncos were the only charter AFL franchise to never have a winning season during the AFL's ten years of existence (although the team finished with at 7-7 in 1962), with their first winning season not occurring until 1973, their fourth year as a member of the NFL's AFC. They also experienced their two seasons with the fewest wins ever, winning just two of 14 games in both 1963 and 1964.[3]
The Broncos have been AFC West champions 15 times, most recently having won the division the last five consecutive seasons (2011 to present), and have also earned wild card berths into the playoffs seven times, for a total of 22 playoff appearances. They have been conference champions eight times (tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots for the most AFC championships) and Super Bowl champions thrice.[3]
Seasons
Note: The Finish, Wins, Losses, and Ties columns list regular season results and exclude any post-season play.
| Super Bowl Champions (1970–present) | Conference Champions | Division Champions | Wild Card berth |
| Season | Team | League | Conference | Division | Regular season | Post-season results | Awards | Head coaches | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finish | Wins | Losses | Ties | ||||||||
| 1960 | 1960 | AFL | West | 4th | 4 | 9 | 1 | Frank Filchock | |||
| 1961 | 1961 | AFL | West | 3rd | 3 | 11 | 0 | Frank Filchock | |||
| 1962 | 1962 | AFL | West | 2nd | 7 | 7 | 0 | Jack Faulkner (COY) | Jack Faulkner | ||
| 1963 | 1963 | AFL | West | 4th | 2 | 11 | 1 | Jack Faulkner | |||
| 1964 | 1964 | AFL | West | 4th | 2 | 11 | 1 | Jack Faulkner (0–4) Mac Speedie (2–7–1) | |||
| 1965 | 1965 | AFL | West | 4th | 4 | 10 | 0 | Mac Speedie | |||
| 1966 | 1966 | AFL | West | 4th | 4 | 10 | 0 | Mac Speedie (0–2) Ray Malavasi (4–8) | |||
| 1967 | 1967 | AFL | West | 4th | 3 | 11 | 0 | Lou Saban | |||
| 1968 | 1968 | AFL | West | 4th | 5 | 9 | 0 | Lou Saban | |||
| 1969 | 1969 | AFL | West | 4th | 5 | 8 | 1 | Lou Saban | |||
| 1970[a] | 1970 | NFL | AFC | West | 4th | 5 | 8 | 1 | Lou Saban | ||
| 1971 | 1971 | NFL | AFC | West | 4th | 4 | 9 | 1 | Lou Saban (2–6–1) Jerry Smith (2–3) | ||
| 1972 | 1972 | NFL | AFC | West | 3rd | 5 | 9 | 0 | John Ralston | ||
| 1973 | 1973 | NFL | AFC | West | 3rd | 7 | 5 | 2 | John Ralston | ||
| 1974 | 1974 | NFL | AFC | West | 2nd | 7 | 6 | 1 | John Ralston | ||
| 1975 | 1975 | NFL | AFC | West | 2nd | 6 | 8 | 0 | John Ralston | ||
| 1976 | 1976 | NFL | AFC | West | 2nd | 9 | 5 | 0 | John Ralston | ||
| 1977 | 1977 | NFL | AFC | West | 1st | 12 | 2 | 0 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Steelers) 34–21 Won Conference Championship (Raiders) 20–17 Lost Super Bowl XII (Cowboys) 10–27 |
Craig Morton (CBPOY) | Red Miller |
| 1978 | 1978 | NFL | AFC | West | 1st | 10 | 6 | 0 | Lost Divisional Playoffs (Steelers) 10–33 | Randy Gradishar (DPOY) | Red Miller |
| 1979 | 1979 | NFL | AFC | West | 2nd | 10 | 6 | 0 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Oilers) 7–13 | Red Miller | |
| 1980 | 1980 | NFL | AFC | West | 4th | 8 | 8 | 0 | Red Miller | ||
| 1981 | 1981 | NFL | AFC | West | 2nd | 10 | 6 | 0 | Dan Reeves | ||
| 1982[b] | 1982 | NFL | AFC | 12th | 2 | 7 | 0 | Dan Reeves | |||
| 1983 | 1983 | NFL | AFC | West | 3rd | 9 | 7 | 0 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Seahawks) 7–31 | Dan Reeves | |
| 1984 | 1984 | NFL | AFC | West | 1st | 13 | 3 | 0 | Lost Divisional Playoffs (Steelers) 17–24 | Dan Reeves | |
| 1985 | 1985 | NFL | AFC | West | 2nd | 11 | 5 | 0 | Dan Reeves | ||
| 1986 | 1986 | NFL | AFC | West | 1st | 11 | 5 | 0 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Patriots) 22–17 Won Conference Championship (Browns) 23–20 (OT)[c] Lost Super Bowl XXI (Giants) 20–39 |
Dan Reeves | |
| 1987[d] | 1987 | NFL | AFC | West | 1st | 10 | 4 | 1 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Oilers) 34–10 Won Conference Championship (Browns) 38–33[e] Lost Super Bowl XXII (Redskins) 10–42 |
John Elway (MVP) | Dan Reeves |
| 1988 | 1988 | NFL | AFC | West | 2nd | 8 | 8 | 0 | Dan Reeves | ||
| 1989 | 1989 | NFL | AFC | West | 1st | 11 | 5 | 0 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Steelers) 24–23 Won Conference Championship (Browns) 37–21 Lost Super Bowl XXIV (49ers) 10–55 |
Dan Reeves | |
| 1990 | 1990 | NFL | AFC | West | 5th | 5 | 11 | 0 | Dan Reeves | ||
| 1991 | 1991 | NFL | AFC | West | 1st | 12 | 4 | 0 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Oilers) 26–24 Lost Conference Championship (Bills) 7–10 |
Mike Croel (DROY) | Dan Reeves |
| 1992 | 1992 | NFL | AFC | West | 3rd | 8 | 8 | 0 | Dan Reeves | ||
| 1993 | 1993 | NFL | AFC | West | 3rd | 9 | 7 | 0 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Raiders) 24–42 | Wade Phillips | |
| 1994 | 1994 | NFL | AFC | West | 4th | 7 | 9 | 0 | Wade Phillips | ||
| 1995 | 1995 | NFL | AFC | West | 3rd | 8 | 8 | 0 | Mike Shanahan | ||
| 1996 | 1996 | NFL | AFC | West | 1st | 13 | 3 | 0 | Lost Divisional Playoffs (Jaguars) 27–30 | Terrell Davis (OPOY) | Mike Shanahan |
| 1997 | 1997 | NFL | AFC | West | 2nd | 12 | 4 | 0 | Won Wild Card Playoffs (Jaguars) 42–17 Won Divisional Playoffs (Chiefs) 14–10 Won Conference Championship (Steelers) 24–21 Won Super Bowl XXXII (1) (Packers) 31–24 |
Terrell Davis (SB MVP) | Mike Shanahan |
| 1998 | 1998 | NFL | AFC | West | 1st | 14 | 2 | 0 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Dolphins) 38–3 Won Conference Championship (Jets) 23–10 Won Super Bowl XXXIII (2) (Falcons) 34–19 |
Terrell Davis (MVP, OPOY) John Elway (SB MVP) |
Mike Shanahan |
| 1999 | 1999 | NFL | AFC | West | 5th | 6 | 10 | 0 | Mike Shanahan | ||
| 2000 | 2000 | NFL | AFC | West | 2nd | 11 | 5 | 0 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Ravens) 3–21 | Mike Anderson (OROY) | Mike Shanahan |
| 2001 | 2001 | NFL | AFC | West | 3rd | 8 | 8 | 0 | Mike Shanahan | ||
| 2002 | 2002 | NFL | AFC | West | 2nd | 9 | 7 | 0 | Clinton Portis (OROY) | Mike Shanahan | |
| 2003 | 2003 | NFL | AFC | West | 2nd | 10 | 6 | 0 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Colts) 10–41 | Mike Shanahan | |
| 2004 | 2004 | NFL | AFC | West | 2nd | 10 | 6 | 0 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Colts) 24–49 | Mike Shanahan | |
| 2005 | 2005 | NFL | AFC | West | 1st | 13 | 3 | 0 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Patriots) 27–13 Lost Conference Championship (Steelers) 17–34 |
Mike Shanahan | |
| 2006 | 2006 | NFL | AFC | West | 3rd | 9 | 7 | 0 | Mike Shanahan | ||
| 2007 | 2007 | NFL | AFC | West | 2nd | 7 | 9 | 0 | Mike Shanahan | ||
| 2008 | 2008 | NFL | AFC | West | 2nd | 8 | 8 | 0 | Mike Shanahan | ||
| 2009 | 2009 | NFL | AFC | West | 2nd | 8 | 8 | 0 | Josh McDaniels | ||
| 2010 | 2010 | NFL | AFC | West | 4th | 4 | 12 | 0 | Josh McDaniels (3–9) Eric Studesville (1–3) | ||
| 2011 | 2011 | NFL | AFC | West | 1st | 8 | 8 | 0 | Won Wild Card Playoffs (Steelers) 29–23 (OT) Lost Divisional Playoffs (Patriots) 10–45 |
Von Miller (DROY) | John Fox |
| 2012 | 2012 | NFL | AFC | West | 1st | 13 | 3 | 0 | Lost Divisional Playoffs (Ravens) 35–38 (2OT) | Peyton Manning (CBPOY) | John Fox |
| 2013 | 2013 | NFL | AFC | West | 1st | 13 | 3 | 0 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Chargers) 24–17 Won Conference Championship (Patriots) 26–16 Lost Super Bowl XLVIII (Seahawks) 8–43 |
Peyton Manning (MVP, OPOY) | John Fox |
| 2014 | 2014 | NFL | AFC | West | 1st | 12 | 4 | 0 | Lost Divisional Playoffs (Colts) 13–24 | John Fox | |
| 2015 | 2015 | NFL | AFC | West | 1st | 12 | 4 | 0 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Steelers) 23–16 Won Conference Championship (Patriots) 20–18 Won Super Bowl 50 (3) (Panthers) 24–10 |
Von Miller (SB MVP) | Gary Kubiak |
| Total | 456 | 386 | 10 | (1960–2015, includes only regular season) | |||||||
| 23 | 19 | -- | (1960–2015, includes only playoffs) | ||||||||
| 479 | 405 | 10 | (1960–2015, regular season and 1960–2015, playoffs; 3 NFL Championships) | ||||||||
Footnotes
- ^ As a result of the AFL-NFL Merger, the league was broken into two conferences, with the AFL teams moving into the American Football Conference.[4]
- ^ Due to the 1982 strike-shortened season, the league was broken up into two conferences instead of its normal divisional alignment.[5]
- ^ This game included The Drive, where quarterback John Elway led the Broncos on a 98-yard drive to tie the game with less than a minute left.[6]
- ^ The strike of 1987 reduced the regular season schedule from sixteen to fifteen games.[5]
- ^ This game included The Fumble, where Cleveland Browns' running back Earnest Byner fumbled at the Broncos' 3-yard line, enabling the Broncos to win the game.[7]
References
- General
- "NFL – History – Yearly Standings (click the drop down box for yearly standings)". NFL. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
- "Denver Broncos – History". CBS. Retrieved August 18, 2008.
- "Denver Broncos Franchise Encyclopedia". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved April 28, 2008.
- "Denver Broncos History". Football @ JT-SW.com. John Troan. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
- Specific
- ^ "Denver Broncos". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved July 9, 2008.
- ^ "John Elway". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved July 17, 2008.
- ^ a b "Denver Broncos Franchise Encyclopedia". Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved April 28, 2008.
- ^ "The AFL: A Football Legacy". Sports Illustrated. 2001-01-22. Retrieved July 10, 2008.
- ^ a b "HISTORY 1981–1990". NFL. Retrieved July 10, 2008.
- ^ "Pro Football Hall of Fame – The Drive". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2008-06-13.
- ^ "1987 AFC Championship Game vs. Cleveland Browns". Denver Broncos. Retrieved 2008-07-10.