Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Yes, another ’70s Broncos-based thread. Not too much to pick from but can’t help but to feel that their 9-5 finish in ’76 (year before Red) is too obvious an answer and, perhaps, isn’t the answer after all. No quality-wins other than schlacking Browns (also finishing 9-5 that year) early on. Broncos’ 7-6-1 campaign two years earlier they tied Steelers in Week #2, late in year beat Raiders at Oakland for the series split, and also beat a suddenly-respectable-again (Gillman’s one year there) Oilers squad. The year before that (’73; 7-5-2 finish) they beat Cincy in opener, tie Oakland, win at then 8-1 Steelers, and at least split with their 7-5-2 counterpart, KC. I’d say the ‘prize’ goes to that very season. Thoughts?

Worth noting, they did start 6-1 in ’62 only to go polar-opposite 2nd-half of campaign (Faulkner still named AFL Coach of Year anyway). And upon further review, I wasn’t aware that Lou Saban’s time in Denver produced no winning season! Always assumed he achieved at least one or two of those as he did in Buffalo. What went wrong during that time?

Lou screwed up when he didn't stick with Marlin Briscoe at QB in 1969. He didn't even let him try out for the position after signing Pete Liske out of Calgary. The Broncos also still had the eminently mediocre Steve Tensi to compete with Liske.

The 1976 team had more talent than the 1973 squad, especially on defense. Its somewhat of an achievement to go 9-5 when your starting QBs are Steve Ramsey and Craig Penrose. That 1976 team was so good that they dominated a 7-6 Bears team by the score of 28-14 despite the Denver QBs putting up a statline of 8-25-107-1-5 INTs. They won by pounding the Bears with 59 rushing attempts for 356 yards (Norris Weese had 120), and holding Bob Avellini to 2 completions in 17 pass attempts.

I guess the wild-card is that the 1973 Broncos had Charley Johnson at QB, who at that point was miles better than any other QB in franchise history and IMO was better than Craig Morton.

Frank Tripucka wasn't bad. I was a big Charley Johnson fan. I rate him about even with Morton.

JohnH19 wrote:Frank Tripucka wasn't bad.

True. I guess I should have said Johnson was much better than any QB the Broncos had after Tripucka.

In 1962, they started out 7-2 and were a 1/2 game ahead of the Texans--then proceeded to lose their last five games. Counting those last five contests, the Broncos simply collapsed from that point through the first three games of 1968--they compiled a sorry record of 15-61-2 over that stretch.

Bryan wrote:The 1976 team had more talent than the 1973 squad, especially on defense. Its somewhat of an achievement to go 9-5 when your starting QBs are Steve Ramsey and Craig Penrose. That 1976 team was so good that they dominated a 7-6 Bears team by the score of 28-14 despite the Denver QBs putting up a statline of 8-25-107-1-5 INTs. They won by pounding the Bears with 59 rushing attempts for 356 yards (Norris Weese had 120), and holding Bob Avellini to 2 completions in 17 pass attempts.

I guess the wild-card is that the 1973 Broncos had Charley Johnson at QB, who at that point was miles better than any other QB in franchise history and IMO was better than Craig Morton.

The 1976 Broncos were more talented than the 1973 squad... but the 1973 Broncos were a better team.

The 1976 Broncos had kind of a soft schedule. Played three games against teams that made the playoffs and lost them all. Raiders twice and the Patriots debacle. Patriots led 31-0 at halftime in that one. 332 yards rushing without Sam Cunningham. Sacked the Broncos nine times. The Broncos were 7-5 after that game. I don't know if they were mathematically eliminated. Seems like they would have been. So the last two games meant nothing. The 1976 Bears were actually the best team the Broncos beat that year. But it's a meaningless last game and the Broncos won by scoring three TDs in the fourth quarter. Who cares at that point. The Broncos did beat one winning team, the Browns, but the Browns weren't really all that good and the Broncos had two punt returns for TDs and a fumble return as well. Rick Upchurch was great, he counts, but it's hard to rely on return TDs against good teams.

1976 Broncos kind of ran up the yardage and score against a couple of terrible teams, the Jets and Buccaneers. Looking through the games, taking Steve Ramsey into consideration, it really seems like the type of season that was not nearly as enjoyable as having a best ever record would normally be.

Now in 1973 the Broncos went into the last game 7-4-2. Win the game, at Oakland, and they're in the playoffs. They had a competitive game, but came up short. But they were in the race longer than the 1976 Broncos. Did better against good competition as well. 2-2-1 against playoff teams, 3-3-1 against winning teams. Beat the Steelers and Bengals, tied the Raiders. What hurt them was their record against NFC teams. 0-3-1. Loss to Dallas is understandable, but they lost to the 49ers and Bears at home, tied the Cardinals on the road. Bears game had to hurt. Not only did they lose 33-14, at one point they trailed 30-0. Seven turnovers couldn't be overcome. Bobby Anderson, a backup running back, had an odd game where he caught 13 passes for 143 yards. Only caught two other passes the whole year!

In a playoff scenario I think the 1973 Broncos were a better team. So I'll pick them over the 1976 version.

Agree with OP that the 1973 Broncos squad was Denver's best pre-1977. They took the Raiders right down to the wire in Week 14 of the 1973 season, losing 21-17 on the road. A 36-34 loss to San Francisco and a 16-14 loss at Kansas City were two near misses for Denver. A 17-17 tie at St. Louis was another one that got away from them. The Monday Night game on Oct. 22 against the Raiders (ended in a 23-23 tie) showed the nation that the '73 Broncos were for real:

http://www.denverbroncos.com/news-and-b ... c8e62813e9

John Ralston was recognized as AFC Coach of the Year. Charlie Johnson was named All-AFC QB (UPI & PFW) and fellow New Mexico State alum Paul Smith was named AFC Defensive Player of the Year by PFW. Floyd Little was the NFL's co-leader in rushing td's with 12. The 1974 Broncos were good but they were not consistent. They were badly outplayed at Washington (a 30-3 Monday Night loss) and at home against the 5-9 Chiefs (a 46-34 Monday Night defeat that never seemed that close). By Week 14 Denver had gone flat, losing 17-0 at San Diego.

JohnH19 wrote:Lou screwed up when he didn't stick with Marlin Briscoe at QB in 1969. He didn't even let him try out for the position after signing Pete Liske out of Calgary. The Broncos also still had the eminently mediocre Steve Tensi to compete with Liske.

i enjoy watching highlights of QB Marlin Briscoe (I think his story would be a great subject for 'A Football Life'). His completion percentage was barely above 40% but he could make things happen on the field. Saban never seriously considered him as a future QB but from a fan standpoint his style would have been more exiting to watch than the statuesque Steve Tensi.

Briscoe got himself in some hot water for shoplifting in November 1968 but charges were later dropped:
https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=O ... %2C4456660

I think the Broncos official line about Briscoe in 1969 was that he had decided to go back to college. Along with Pete Liske, Denver tried to lure CFL rushing great George Reed from Saskatchewan but Reed opted to remain in Canada.

Jay Z wrote: Now in 1973 the Broncos went into the last game 7-4-2. Win the game, at Oakland, and they're in the playoffs. They had a competitive game, but came up short. But they were in the race longer than the 1976 Broncos. Did better against good competition as well. 2-2-1 against playoff teams, 3-3-1 against winning teams. Beat the Steelers and Bengals, tied the Raiders. What hurt them was their record against NFC teams. 0-3-1. Loss to Dallas is understandable, but they lost to the 49ers and Bears at home, tied the Cardinals on the road. Bears game had to hurt. Not only did they lose 33-14, at one point they trailed 30-0. Seven turnovers couldn't be overcome. Bobby Anderson, a backup running back, had an odd game where he caught 13 passes for 143 yards. Only caught two other passes the whole year!

NFL Films captured some great footage from the Bears sideline during their '73 win at Mile High. It's in one of their Lost Treasures episodes (Lost Sounds #8 I believe). Steve Sabol described the sideline atmosphere as chaotic with Abe Gibron and his assistants constantly yelling at each other. Abe was wired for sound and provided some great soundbites ... he also had a hard time keeping his pants up!

Retro Rider wrote:

Jay Z wrote: Now in 1973 the Broncos went into the last game 7-4-2. Win the game, at Oakland, and they're in the playoffs. They had a competitive game, but came up short. But they were in the race longer than the 1976 Broncos. Did better against good competition as well. 2-2-1 against playoff teams, 3-3-1 against winning teams. Beat the Steelers and Bengals, tied the Raiders. What hurt them was their record against NFC teams. 0-3-1. Loss to Dallas is understandable, but they lost to the 49ers and Bears at home, tied the Cardinals on the road. Bears game had to hurt. Not only did they lose 33-14, at one point they trailed 30-0. Seven turnovers couldn't be overcome. Bobby Anderson, a backup running back, had an odd game where he caught 13 passes for 143 yards. Only caught two other passes the whole year!

NFL Films captured some great footage from the Bears sideline during their '73 win at Mile High. It's in one of their Lost Treasures episodes (Lost Sounds #8 I believe). Steve Sabol described the sideline atmosphere as chaotic with Abe Gibron and his assistants constantly yelling at each other. Abe was wired for sound and provided some great soundbites ... he also had a hard time keeping his pants up!

Gibron stuff from that game was seen on "Best of the Football Follies".