Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

A few days ago I was trying to think of the most inept Broncos offense in my years of following the team (1971 to present) following Denver's 10-9 loss to the Ravens. Flashbacks of a season opening 10-10 tie versus Miami and a 6-3 win over Chicago in Week 12 had me leaning toward the 1971 squad. With Don Horn and Steve Ramsey calling signals that season (8 TD passes and 27 interceptions between them) I figured they'd be a likely candidate.

Well, Joe Mahoney from the Mile High Report has written an article addressing this subject. Through Week 12 the 2022 Broncos have actually scored 7 fewer points than the 1971 "Dead Ball Era" Broncos after their first 12 games:

1971 Broncos (4-7-1) - 173 points scored
2022 Broncos (3-9) - 166 points scored

Only the 1966 Denver Broncos have scored fewer points through their first dozen games, barely edging out the 2022 edition by one point, 165-166. No Broncos team has ever finished last in the league in scoring but that could change by season's end.

Let's Ride

https://www.milehighreport.com/2022/12/ ... eason-1971

Let Russ Microwave!!

The 1971 Broncos were interesting because that was Floyd Little's big year, 1,133 yards. But they couldn't score any points. Horn and Ramsey have been mentioned. Horn and Ramsey weren't on the 1970 Broncos. Pete Liske was the regular and was backed up by Steve Tensi and Al Pastrana. Liske was traded to the Eagles for a draft choice, Tensi retired, and Pastrana was released. Broncos should have just kept Liske.

Wide receivers for the Broncos in 1970 were Al Denson and Mike Haffner. The Broncos traded Denson to the Vikings and Haffner to the Bengals. Neither did very much, but the 1971 starters, Jerry Simmons and Jack Gehrke, didn't even play in the NFL in 1970! Gehrke had been with the Chiefs and Bengals but never caught a pass. Simmons had played with four different NFL teams, did the most with Atlanta. In 1971 he'd gone to camp with the 49ers, got released then signed by the Broncos on August 31st. Simmons wound up being their most productive receiver. 2nd round draft pick Dwight Harrison also played some; he'd get switched to cornerback after getting traded to the Bills.

The wide receivers were not very effective to say the least. This was Lou Saban's last year in Denver. John Ralston came in for 1972 and traded for Charley Johnson, picked up Rod Sherman from the Raiders late in camp, and traded Harrison for Haven Moses during the season. Simmons stayed around as a sometimes starter. The 1972 Broncos scored over 300 points.

Jay Z wrote:The 1971 Broncos were interesting because that was Floyd Little's big year, 1,133 yards. But they couldn't score any points. Horn and Ramsey have been mentioned. Horn and Ramsey weren't on the 1970 Broncos. Pete Liske was the regular and was backed up by Steve Tensi and Al Pastrana. Liske was traded to the Eagles for a draft choice, Tensi retired, and Pastrana was released. Broncos should have just kept Liske.

Wide receivers for the Broncos in 1970 were Al Denson and Mike Haffner. The Broncos traded Denson to the Vikings and Haffner to the Bengals. Neither did very much, but the 1971 starters, Jerry Simmons and Jack Gehrke, didn't even play in the NFL in 1970! Gehrke had been with the Chiefs and Bengals but never caught a pass. Simmons had played with four different NFL teams, did the most with Atlanta. In 1971 he'd gone to camp with the 49ers, got released then signed by the Broncos on August 31st. Simmons wound up being their most productive receiver. 2nd round draft pick Dwight Harrison also played some; he'd get switched to cornerback after getting traded to the Bills.

The wide receivers were not very effective to say the least. This was Lou Saban's last year in Denver. John Ralston came in for 1972 and traded for Charley Johnson, picked up Rod Sherman from the Raiders late in camp, and traded Harrison for Haven Moses during the season. Simmons stayed around as a sometimes starter. The 1972 Broncos scored over 300 points.

It's weird that the Broncos has so much turnover on offense, and they were basically just replacing mediocre players with other mediocre players. They also swapped kickers with the Jets, sending away Bobby Howfield and receiving Jim Turner. That move at least worked out for Denver. Don Horn was terrible in 1970 with the Packers, and equally terrible with the Broncos in 1971. Bobby Anderson was actually healthy in 1971, and his blocking really helped Floyd Little. It seemed like whenever Anderson was in the lineup, Little would have a 100-yard day.

2nd round draft pick Dwight Harrison also played some; he'd get switched to cornerback after getting traded to the Bills.

There is a a crazy story behind that, according to Floyd Little (from his book Tales From the Broncos Sideline):

https://books.google.com/books?id=xJXRB ... le&f=false

7DnBrnc53 wrote:

2nd round draft pick Dwight Harrison also played some; he'd get switched to cornerback after getting traded to the Bills.

There is a a crazy story behind that, according to Floyd Little (from his book Tales From the Broncos Sideline):

https://books.google.com/books?id=xJXRB ... le&f=false

gunplay of some sort, right? I remember that story

gunplay of some sort, right? I remember that story

Yes. Dwight Harrison was the one who brought a gun to the facility to try to kill Lyle Alzado after he beat him up. Luckily, HC John Ralston (using his Dale Carnegie methods) was able to get him under control before trading him to Buffalo for Haven Moses.

7DnBrnc53 wrote:

2nd round draft pick Dwight Harrison also played some; he'd get switched to cornerback after getting traded to the Bills.

There is a a crazy story behind that, according to Floyd Little (from his book Tales From the Broncos Sideline):

https://books.google.com/books?id=xJXRB ... le&f=false

This was a great read...thanks for sharing.

Bryan wrote:

7DnBrnc53 wrote:

2nd round draft pick Dwight Harrison also played some; he'd get switched to cornerback after getting traded to the Bills.

There is a a crazy story behind that, according to Floyd Little (from his book Tales From the Broncos Sideline):

https://books.google.com/books?id=xJXRB ... le&f=false

This was a great read...thanks for sharing.

Great read and I concur....
It is no fun having a gun pointed at you (it was an M-16 in my case) and...
It does have a "laxative effect"!

Wow, that is a great story! And getting Haven Moses was a huge deal for Denver.