The John Elway Super Bowl losses cast a long shadow over the Denver Broncos franchise in the 1980s. Despite acquiring he strong-armed quarterback out of Stanford with the 1st overall pick in 1983, the Broncos endured multiple heartbreaking Super Bowl defeats with Elway under center.
Denver had an inauspicious start as an original AFL franchise in 1960, owned by minor league baseball executive Bob Howsam. The Broncos played their home games at the modest Bears Stadium and failed to have a winning season throughout the decade in the upstart league. It looked like the team would fold until an ownership change in 1965 kept them in Denver.
A light appeard when the Broncos moved into the impressive new Mile High Stadium in 1968. Two years later, they merged into the NFL along with the rest of the AFL teams. Denver finally broke through with their first winning campaign in 1973 under coach John Ralston. The Broncos reached their first Super Bowl in the 1977 season, losing 27-10 to the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XII.
John Elway Super Bowl losses
But Denver’s fortunes changed when the paired Elway with coach Dan Reeves. The quarterback’s powerful arm led the Broncos’ high powered ofense to new heights, making three Super Bowl appearances in the 1980s. Unfortunately, these runs were marred by the John Elway Super Bowl losses.
In Super Bowl XXI against the Giants, Denver took a 10-9 lead into the fourth quarter before New York scored 30 unanswered points for a 39-20 victory. The following year brought more heartbreak – a 42-10 route by the Redskins in Super Bowl XXII despite the Broncos being favored.
Elway’s most infamous Super Bowl loss came in Super Bowl XXIV. The Broncos lost 55-10 to the 49ers. It is the most lopsided Super Bowl score ever. These three John Elway Super Bowl losses in four years cemented Denver’s label as postseason underachievers heading into the 1990s. .
The disappointments finally ended when Denver hired Mike Shanahan as head coach in 1995. Shanahan’s offensive scheme blended perfectly with the veteran Elway and stellar weaspons like running back Terrell Davis and tight end Shannon Sharpe. This led to the Broncos capturing bacvk-to-back Super Bowl titles in the 1997 and 1998 seasons. In 1998 Davis rushed for 2,008 yards, at the time only the third player to rush for over 2,000 yards.
Super Bowl Victories
Denver beat the Green Bay Packers 31-24 in Super Bowl XXXII, then took down the Atlanta Falcons, 34-19 in Super Bowl XXXIII. This allowed Elway to rid himself of the “couldn’t win the big one” stigma and ride off into the sunset as a champion.
In the 2010s, it was Peyton Manning, who brought more Super Bowl highs and lows. The team was embarrassed 43-8 by the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII. But two years later Manning redeemed himself by leading Denver to a 24-10 victory over the Carolina Panters in Super Bowl 50 before retiring. Other key players on that team included linebackers Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware.
Empower Field at Mile High (previously known as Broncos Stadium at Mile High, Invesco Field at Mile High, and Sports Authority Field at Mile High) opened in 2001 and replaced the Bronc’s original home, the old Mile High Stadium.
While the John Elway Super Bowl losses tarnished part of their legacy, the championship vindication achieved by two all-time great quarterbacks has cemented the Broncos as one of the NFL’s elite franchises over the past four decades.
The Denver Broncos currently play in the American Football Conference (AFC) West Division along with the Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, and Los Angeles Chargers.
Barry Schustermann
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