What Do You Know About the Denver Broncos?
The Denver Broncos have won big games and lost big ones, but what do you really know about the franchise? We wanted to know where the team stood in the community and fans' minds. Here are a few of our thoughts on the Broncos:
Elway's legacy
After playing college football at Stanford, John Elway spent his entire 16-year professional career with the Denver Broncos. He retired in early 1999. Elway, who won four division championships and two AFC championships, was also the second most prolific passer in NFL history. His versatility made him a valuable team member, combining his passing ability with his rushing skills. He is the only quarterback to score a rushing touchdown in four Super Bowls, a feat shared by only two other players: Thurman Thomas. And, like Peyton Manning, Elway retired after a Super Bowl win.
When Elway stepped down as the head coach of the Denver Broncos in 1997, his legacy was already well-established. He was regarded as a legend in the Mile High City, where he was born. But outside the Mile High City, Elway wasn't yet considered an all-time great. The Denver Broncos, who were a part of the Super Bowl XXXII in 1997, are now looking at Elway as their next head coach.
The Denver Broncos won Super Bowl XXI in 1986, a repeat of the previous year's championship game. The team was crowned Super Bowl XXXII, courtesy of John Elway, who led his team to victory over the Green Bay Packers. In the following year, the Broncos won the Super Bowl XXXIII against the Washington Redskins, and Elway was voted the game's MVP.
While Elway may be leaving the Broncos after his five-year contract is up, he can still be involved in the franchise as a consultant. In addition to his role as general manager, Elway can continue to have a hand in the future of the team by serving as its owner's GM. A small stake in the new ownership group gives Elway a chance to leave the team as a winner once more.
With only three minutes left to play in the game, John Elway's team took over the ball at their own 25. The Denver Broncos had just three minutes to win the game, and Elway delivered another stellar performance. His touchdown pass to Jesse Myles capped off the drive. The Denver Broncos had just three minutes left when Elway made history for the franchise.
Defense
The Denver Broncos have a lot to improve upon to be a top-five defense. It's crucial to keep the offense from scoring too many points. The defense needs to make more turnovers to stay competitive. The Broncos ranked 22nd in the NFL in turnovers last season, and they need at least a 50% improvement to make the playoffs. The defensive line needs to get better and rely less on its speedy pass rush. The secondary also needs to get better at ball-hawking and pass rushers.
On the other side, the Denver Broncos have some promising rookies at safety. Jonathon Cooper is a seventh-round pick who will be looking to get a job from Malik Reed. Backup safety Aaron Patrick and cornerback Christopher Allen will be key pieces of the Broncos defense in 2019. Regardless of who plays the safety positions, the Broncos have some good talent in their secondary. There are many question marks after the top five though.
The Denver Broncos are a team of talented safeties, led by P.J. Locke. The Broncos have also added a handful of talented reserves. J.R. Reed and Delarrin Turner-Yell are both capable of playing the safety position, but the Broncos will likely need a backup safety. The defensive line is a major strength of the Denver Broncos, and the safety position will be a critical area to look for in the draft.
In the 1970s, the Denver Broncos were among the best in the NFL. Their defense included legendary players like Tom Jackson and Randy Gradishar, who could have been Pro Football Hall of Fame candidates. In addition, the Broncos' defense featured other notable names in the NFL, including Joe Rizzo and Bob Swenson. They also had great players like Louis Wright, Steve Foley, and Bernard Jackson.
There are a few key injuries on the defensive line this year. Inside linebacker Bryce Callahan left the team last week and was placed on injured reserve. Meanwhile, at nose tackle, Denver needs a starter to replace Mike Purcell. The Broncos should look to upgrade Mike Paton, who has struggled to live up to expectations. A new nose tackle is also needed. The Broncos should sign former Packers' head coach Billy Turner, who is expected to join the team this season.
Attendance
Though the Broncos have had many struggles over the years, they have not struggled to turn out large crowds, even during a rough patch. While there are many potential reasons for the decline in attendance, some of them have to do with bandwagon fandom or pandemic-related concerns. Perhaps the biggest reason is that many fans have grown frustrated with the team's current state. After all, the Broncos haven't made the playoffs since 2011, and their fan base is growing restless.
As of Sunday, Denver's game against the Washington Football Team drew only 64,000 fans, according to the Denver Post. The game was sold out to 75,968 fans, and a few thousand more were no-shows. Season ticket holders were likely among those who skipped the game, but fans could buy tickets for as low as $25 on resale secondary market websites. In fact, some fans were offering free tickets on Reddit, an open forum for sports enthusiasts.
A third reason for the high number of fans is that the Denver Broncos were able to attract so many people. In 2014, Denver's largest crowd for a pre-season game was 7,000. In addition to that, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock was at the game. Despite the crowds' large numbers, the Broncos are only 8th in the NFL in attendance. They rank 8th in home attendance.
The absence of Manning has affected the attendance numbers of many games. In the second half of the season, the Broncos beat the NFC East-leading Cowboys in a game and lost their home game to the 4-6 Eagles. After Manning's death, Denver fans are still in the playoff picture, but they have a tough task ahead. They need to prove they can execute consistently to stay in the playoff picture.
The Broncos' infamous "Fan Face" campaign is a great example of a unique way to attract fans. The Broncos once played on a plot of land that was part of the original AFL. That plot is now the new INVESCO Field at Mile High. Attendance for Broncos games has topped 74,000 since the merger. In fact, a waiting list of tens of thousands of fans await their chance to see their favorite team in person.
Rivalries
There have been several recurring rivalries between the Denver Broncos and other NFL teams throughout the years, but none have been as contentious as those between the Chargers and Broncos. The Broncos and Chargers have played each other an average of 11 times over the last 30 years, with Denver having a 5-2 record against the Chargers during that span. The rivalry between the Broncos and Chargers started when John Elway played for the Chargers. In his long NFL career, he scored 22 wins and lost 10 times, but he also provided Denver with a contentious rivalry. However, this rivalry lasted until Philip Rivers became the starting quarterback in 2006, which sparked a new wave of Denver fan dislike.
Another Denver Broncos rivalry is with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Broncos and Chiefs have met seven times in the last 30 years. They have both won Super Bowls on their respective seasons. The Raiders and Broncos have also had a long and fruitful rivalry. While the Broncos lost in the AFC Championship Game in 1995, they have won more division titles and playoff appearances overall. The Raiders also won the most games against the Broncos during Peyton Manning's four seasons in Denver.
While the Broncos and Raiders are technically on the same conference, the Broncos and Seahawks are very different. While both teams are in the same division, their rivalry differs significantly. The Broncos lost to the Raiders in Super Bowl XLVIII, but their rivalry has continued to grow in the past few years. This rivalry has become a major point of contention for Denver's season.
In addition to rivalry with the Raiders, the Broncos have a longstanding rivalry with the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders have been Denver's archenemy for decades and once dominated the AFC West. Since Al Davis' death in 2002, the Broncos have struggled to compete, but their recent success has revived the rivalry.
