1990 Broncos- What Happened?

[CSKreager]

1990 marked the only time in the John Elway era the Broncos lost double-digit games (their next worst season was 7-9 in 1994). This was virtually the same team that made a SB the prior year and almost got their the following year.

I know they had three bad losses that hurt them- opening week when the Raiders beat them on 2 defensive touchdowns, then the double-whammy of these back-to-back gutpunches (Buffalo's 3 TD's in 77 seconds, a last-second FG against Cleveland at home on MNF) and they went from 2-1 to 5-11 just like that. I know people who were tired of seeing Denverget to and lose badly in the SB were thrilled to see them out of the picture (Of course, at the time, everyone loved the Bills as they were new and fresh before down the line, but that's another story)

But how did it get this bad considering they weren't exactly getting blown out week after week (Their point differential was a not-that-horrifying minus 43), yet couldn't win the games they usually did under Elway?

[7DnBrnc53]

1990 marked the only time in the John Elway era the Broncos lost double-digit games (their next worst season was 7-9 in 1994). This was virtually the same team that made a SB the prior year and almost got their the following year.

I know they had three bad losses that hurt them- opening week when the Raiders beat them on 2 defensive touchdowns, then the double-whammy of these back-to-back gutpunches (Buffalo's 3 TD's in 77 seconds, a last-second FG against Cleveland at home on MNF) and they went from 2-1 to 5-11 just like that. I know people who were tired of seeing Denverget to and lose badly in the SB were thrilled to see them out of the picture (Of course, at the time, everyone loved the Bills as they were new and fresh before down the line, but that's another story)

But how did it get this bad considering they weren't exactly getting blown out week after week (Their point differential was a not-that-horrifying minus 43), yet couldn't win the games they usually did under Elway?

I think they went into that season with a lot of negative vibes after getting rolled by the 49ers the way they did, and losing their third SB in four years on top of that (all by more than 15 points).

However, after the Raider loss in Week 1, they did pull out two clutch wins at home the next two weeks (against the Chiefs in Week 2 on an Elway comeback, and in OT against Seattle in Week 3).

I think that the Buffalo loss may have been the pivotal game of the season for them. After two big wins, they were out-playing the Bills, and then a blocked FG TD sparked a miracle comeback (I have also argued that the comeback that Buffalo had that day may have sent them down the path to four straight Super Bowls). After that, the Broncos didn't really have it, and lost close games to Cleveland, Minnesota (they were up 16-0 and lost), Chicago (in OT), the Raiders, and the Seahawks.

[conace21]

The Bills game was marked by bad breaks. Two plays after the blocked FG, Elway's pass was tipped by Jeff Wright and intercepted by Leonard Smith, who weaved 39 yards for a score to give Buffalo the lead.
But Elway didn't exactly step up. The Buffalo fans had exploded after the back to back touchdowns, and Elway had to plead with the ref for help. I believe it was Bob McElwain who announced to the crowd that Buffalo would lose a timeout if the noise didn't subside. And as Vic Carucci wrote, "Elway was so shook he dropped the snap" and Cornelius Bennett fell on it at the 2. Buffalo scored again for breathing room.

[Reaser]

The Bills game was marked by bad breaks. Two plays after the blocked FG, Elway's pass was tipped by Jeff Wright and intercepted by Leonard Smith, who weaved 39 yards for a score to give Buffalo the lead.
But Elway didn't exactly step up. The Buffalo fans had exploded after the back to back touchdowns, and Elway had to plead with the ref for help. I believe it was Bob McElwain who announced to the crowd that Buffalo would lose a timeout if the noise didn't subside. And as Vic Carucci wrote, "Elway was so shook he dropped the snap" and Cornelius Bennett fell on it at the 2. Buffalo scored again for breathing room.

Elway complaining to the refs about noise was a year after year occurrence at the Kingdome, and everytime they announced that Seattle would be penalized the crowd just got louder. Always annoyed me that he did that, for me it kind of goes in the same category of QB's today who have that whiny look on their face when they're looking back at the ref begging for a flag after they were merely grazed. For how great he was - and made a lot of great plays in the Kingdome - I've always docked him a point in my respect for him for the multiple times he looked like he was almost to tears while whining about the crowd.