1967 Denver Broncos season

The 1967 Denver Broncos season was the eighth season for the team in the American Football League (AFL). Led by first-year head coach and general manager Lou Saban, the Broncos posted a record of three wins and eleven losses, last in the AFL's Western division. Running back Floyd Little, a first round draft choice (sixth overall), was team captain in his rookie season.[1] After an opening win at home, the Broncos lost nine straight games, then split the last four.

1967 Denver Broncos season
OwnerGerald Phipps
Head coachLou Saban
General managerLou Saban
Home fieldBears Stadium
Results
Record3–11
Division place4th AFL Western
Playoff finishDid not qualify

Inter-league play between the AFL and NFL in the exhibition season began this year. In the first matchup on August 5, the Broncos defeated the Detroit Lions 13–7 and became the first AFL team to beat an NFL team.[2][3][4]

Before the season, the Broncos changed from orange helmets to blue helmets.[5]

Hired in December 1966, Saban left the University of Maryland after just one season; he had previously been an AFL head coach at Boston and Buffalo, where he won consecutive AFL titles.[6][7][8]

Personnel

Staff
1967 Denver Broncos staff
Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

 Defensive coaches

Roster
1967 Denver Broncos roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs


Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers


Defensive backs


Special teams

 Reserve lists


Practice squad



Rookies in italics

Regular season
Main article: 1967 American Football League season

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap
1 September 3 Boston Patriots W 26–21 1–0 Bears Stadium 35,488 Recap
2 September 10 at Oakland Raiders L 0–51 1–1 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 25,423 Recap
3 September 17 at Miami Dolphins L 21–35 1–2 Orange Bowl 29,381 Recap
4 September 24 New York Jets L 24–38 1–3 Bears Stadium 35,365 Recap
5 October 1 at Houston Oilers L 6–10 1–4 Rice Stadium 21,798 Recap
6 October 8 Buffalo Bills L 16–17 1–5 Bears Stadium 35,188 Recap
7 Bye
8 October 22 San Diego Chargers L 21–38 1–6 Bears Stadium 34,464 Recap
9 October 29 at Kansas City Chiefs L 9–52 1–7 Municipal Stadium 44,002 Recap
10 November 5 Oakland Raiders L 17–21 1–8 Bears Stadium 29,043 Recap
11 November 12 Houston Oilers L 18–20 1–9 Bears Stadium 30,392 Recap
12 November 19 at Buffalo Bills W 21–20 2–9 War Memorial Stadium 30,891 Recap
13 November 23 at San Diego Chargers L 20–24 2–10 San Diego Stadium 34,586 Recap
14 December 3 at New York Jets W 33–24 3–10 Shea Stadium 61,615 Recap
15 Bye
16 December 17 Kansas City Chiefs L 24–38 3–11 Bears Stadium 31,660 Recap
17 Bye

Note:

  • Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
  • Thursday (November 23: Thanksgiving)[9]
  • With the expansion Miami Dolphins joining the AFL in 1966, there were an odd-number (9)
    of teams for two seasons, resulting in multiple bye weeks for each team.

Week 14
1 234Total
• Chiefs 14 1473 38
Broncos 0 7107 24

Standings
AFL Western Division
W L T PCT DIV PF PA STK
Oakland Raiders 1310.9296–0468233W10
Kansas City Chiefs 950.6432–4408254W3
San Diego Chargers 851.6154–2360352L4
Denver Broncos 3110.2140–6256409L1

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

References
  1. Sports Illustrated, July 26, 2010, The Unexpected Hero by Gary Smith, p.60, Published by Time Inc.
  2. "Broncs stun NFL's Lions in exhibition". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). August 6, 1967. p. 2, sports.
  3. "AFL's Broncos shock Lions, 13-7". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. August 6, 1967. p. 2B.
  4. NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York,NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p.283
  5. Gridiron Uniform Database: Denver Broncos
  6. "Denver Broncos offer Lou Saban 10-year contract to coach AFL club". Youngstown Vindicator. (Ohio). Associated Press. December 16, 1966. p. 23.
  7. "Saban leaves Md. for Denver". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. December 17, 1966. p. 11.
  8. Chass, Murray (December 17, 1966). "Lou Saban returning to bottom". Free Lance-Star. (Fredericksburg, Virginia). Associated Press. p. 6.
  9. "Oakland holds lead; Cowboys, Rams win". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. November 24, 1967. p. 35.
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