1981 Broncos vs. 1985 Broncos

[CSKreager]

A pair of 10+ win Denver teams that barely missed the playoffs in a tough AFC when there were only 5 playoff spots.

1981- Only team since the AFL merger to go undefeated at home in the regular season and not make the playoffs.

1985- One of only 2 11-5 teams to miss the playoffs due to tiebreakers and at the expense of a mediocre 8-8 team that won a lousy division.

Who was the better what-might-have-been Mile High teams?

[JohnTurney]

Is a tough question, saw a lot of both, maybe 10-12 or more games both seasons. Elway would be edge.

[BD Sullivan]

FWIW, all five of the 1981 losses were on the road, while the '85 team dropped two at home and also benefited from a convenient snowball in their MNF win against the Niners.

[JohnH19]

Is a tough question, saw a lot of both, maybe 10-12 or more games both seasons. Elway would be edge.

I don't care even a little which team might have been better because it's impossible and pointless to compare two teams from different seasons but in defense of Craig Morton, he did have a terrific season in 1981, statistically the best of his career. Morton's 1981 passer rating was 20 points higher than Elway's 1985 rating.

[7DnBrnc53]

I would take the 1981 team. On defense, they had most of the Orange Crush crew plus Rulon Jones and a young Dennis Smith. On offense, Morton had a career year back in the Dallas system.

On offense, Morton had a career year back in the Dallas system, throwing to Haven Moses, Rick Upchurch, Riley Odoms, and a young Steve Watson (who had a career year). Also, they may have had a little bit better offensive line in 81 with Claudie Minor at RT instead of Ken Lanier, and they had more depth with a young Lanier and Keith Bishop backing up Minor and Glassic.