1967 Denver Broncos season

Last updated

1967 Denver Broncos season
Owner Gerald Phipps
General managerLou Saban
Head coach Lou Saban
Home field Bears Stadium
Results
Record3–11
Division place4th AFL Western
Playoff finishDid not qualify

The 1967 Denver Broncos season was the eighth season for the team in the American Football League (AFL). Led by first-year head coach and general manager Lou Saban, the Broncos posted a record of three wins and eleven losses, last in the AFL's Western division. Running back Floyd Little, a first round draft choice (sixth overall), was team captain in his rookie season. [1] After an opening win at home, the Broncos lost nine straight games, then split the last four.

Contents

Inter-league play between the AFL and NFL in the exhibition season began this year. In the first matchup on August 5, the Broncos defeated the Detroit Lions 13–7 and became the first AFL team to beat an NFL team. [2] [3] [4]

Before the season, the Broncos changed from orange helmets to blue helmets. [5]

Hired in December 1966, Saban left the University of Maryland after just one season; he had previously been an AFL head coach at Boston and Buffalo, where he won consecutive AFL titles. [6] [7] [8]

Personnel

Staff

1967 Denver Broncos staff
Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches



Roster

1967 Denver Broncos roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends


Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs


Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad



Rookies in italics

Regular season

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendanceRecap
1September 3 Boston Patriots W 26–211–0 Bears Stadium 35,488 Recap
2September 10at Oakland Raiders L 0–511–1 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 25,423 Recap
3September 17at Miami Dolphins L 21–351–2 Orange Bowl 29,381 Recap
4September 24 New York Jets L 24–381–3Bears Stadium35,365 Recap
5October 1at Houston Oilers L 6–101–4 Rice Stadium 21,798 Recap
6October 8 Buffalo Bills L 16–171–5Bears Stadium35,188 Recap
7Bye
8October 22 San Diego Chargers L 21–381–6Bears Stadium34,464 Recap
9October 29at Kansas City Chiefs L 9–521–7 Municipal Stadium 44,002 Recap
10November 5 Oakland Raiders L 17–211–8Bears Stadium29,043 Recap
11November 12 Houston Oilers L 18–201–9Bears Stadium30,392 Recap
12November 19at Buffalo Bills W 21–202–9 War Memorial Stadium 30,891 Recap
13 November 23 at San Diego Chargers L 20–242–10 San Diego Stadium 34,586 Recap
14December 3at New York Jets W 33–243–10 Shea Stadium 61,615 Recap
15Bye
16December 17 Kansas City Chiefs L 24–383–11Bears Stadium31,660 Recap
17Bye
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
  • Thursday (November 23: Thanksgiving) [9]
  • With the expansion Miami Dolphins joining the AFL in 1966, there were an odd-number (9)
    of teams for two seasons, resulting in multiple bye weeks for each team.

Game summaries

Week 14

1234Total
• Chiefs14147338
Broncos0710724

Standings

AFL Western Division
WLTPCTDIVPFPASTK
Oakland Raiders 1310.9296–0468233W10
Kansas City Chiefs 950.6432–4408254W3
San Diego Chargers 851.6154–2360352L4
Denver Broncos 3110.2140–6256409L1

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

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The 1969 Denver Broncos season was the team's tenth season as a franchise, and their final season in the American Football League (AFL) before the league merged with the National Football League (NFL). Led by third-year head coach and general manager Lou Saban, the Broncos were 5–8–1, fourth place in the AFL West for the seventh straight season.

The 1968 Denver Broncos season was the ninth season for the team in the American Football League (AFL). Led by second-year head coach and general manager Lou Saban, the Broncos improved their record from the previous season by posting a record of five wins and nine losses. They finished fourth in the AFL's Western division for the sixth straight season; the expansion Cincinnati Bengals finished fifth, allowing Denver to escape the cellar.

The 1971 Denver Broncos season was the team's 12th season in professional football and second in the National Football League (NFL). Led by fifth-year head coach and general manager Lou Saban, the Broncos finished the season with four wins, nine losses, and one tie, again fourth in the AFC West. Fifth-year running back Floyd Little became the thirteenth in professional football history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season; the future hall of famer ran for 1,133 yards, averaging four yards per carry.

The 1976 Denver Broncos season was the team's 17th year in professional football and its seventh with the National Football League (NFL). The team finished the season with a winning record for the third time in the last four seasons. It was John Ralston's fifth and final season as the Broncos' head coach and general manager.

The 1981 Denver Broncos season was the team's 22nd year in professional football and its 12th with the National Football League (NFL). Led by first-year head coach Dan Reeves, the Broncos were 10–6, tied for first in the AFC West, but failed to make the postseason again due to their loss to the Buffalo Bills, who gained the final berth.

The 1967 Detroit Lions season was the 38th season in franchise history. On August 5, the Lions met the Denver Broncos in the first inter-league exhibition game. The Broncos beat the Lions 13–7 to become the first AFL team to beat an NFL team.

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References

  1. ↑ Sports Illustrated, July 26, 2010, The Unexpected Hero by Gary Smith, p.60, Published by Time Inc.
  2. ↑ "Broncs stun NFL's Lions in exhibition". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). August 6, 1967. p. 2, sports.
  3. ↑ "AFL's Broncos shock Lions, 13-7". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. August 6, 1967. p. 2B.
  4. ↑ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York,NY, ISBN   0-7611-2480-2, p.283
  5. ↑ Gridiron Uniform Database: Denver Broncos [ permanent dead link ]
  6. ↑ "Denver Broncos offer Lou Saban 10-year contract to coach AFL club". Youngstown Vindicator. (Ohio). Associated Press. December 16, 1966. p. 23.
  7. ↑ "Saban leaves Md. for Denver". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. December 17, 1966. p. 11.
  8. ↑ Chass, Murray (December 17, 1966). "Lou Saban returning to bottom". Free Lance-Star. (Fredericksburg, Virginia). Associated Press. p. 6.
  9. ↑ "Oakland holds lead; Cowboys, Rams win". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. November 24, 1967. p. 35.
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