1977 Denver Broncos season

The 1977 Denver Broncos season was the team's 18th year in professional football and its eighth with the National Football League (NFL).

1977 Denver Broncos season
Head coach	Red Miller
General manager	Fred Gehrke
Home field	Mile High Stadium
Results
Record	12–2
Division place	1st AFC West
Playoff finish	Won AFC Divisional Playoff (Steelers) 34–21 Won AFC Championship Game (Raiders) 20–17 Lost Super Bowl XII (vs. Cowboys) 27–10

The team had by far its best season to date at 12–2, first in the AFC West, and made the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. The Broncos earned home field advantage, and won its first two playoff games (over perennial AFC powerhouses Pittsburgh[1] and Oakland). With the AFC Championship win over the Raiders on New Year's Day,[2] Denver earned a berth in Super Bowl XII, but fell 27–10 to the NFC champion Dallas Cowboys.[3]

Still, 1977 was a major leap for the Broncos, who had never won more than nine games in a season. Coach Red Miller — in his first season as the Broncos' head coach — was named NFL Coach of the Year, and quarterback Craig Morton, age 34, was named NFL Comeback Player of the Year. The Denver defense was known as the Orange Crush, which delighted the makers of the soft drink, based in Illinois.[4]

Denver's 1977 season is chronicled in Terry Frei's 2008 book, '77: Denver, the Broncos and a Coming of Age.

Offseason

NFL Draft

Main article: 1977 NFL Draft

1977 Denver Broncos draft
Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Notes
1	18	Steve Schindler	G	Boston College
2	45	Rob Lytle	RB	Michigan
4	101	Billy Bryan	C	Duke
7	185	Larry Swider	P	Pittsburgh
8	212	Calvin Culliver	RB	Alabama
9	241	Charles Jackson	DT	Washington
10	268	Oren Middlebrook	WR	Arkansas State
11	297	Phil Heck	LB	California
12	324	Scott Levenhagen	TE	Western Illinois
Made roster    †   Pro Football Hall of Fame    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Personnel

Staff

1977 Denver Broncos staff

	Front office Chairman of the Board – Gerald Phipps President – Allan Phipps Vice President/General Manager – Fred Gehrke Director of Player Personnel – Carroll Hardy Director of Pro Scouting – Doc Urich Head coaches Head Coach – Red Miller Offensive coaches Quarterbacks – Babe Parilli Offensive Backs – Paul Roach Wide Receivers – Fran Polsfoot Offensive Line – Ken Gray			Defensive coaches Defensive Coordinator – Joe Collier Defensive Line – Stan Jones Linebackers – Myrel Moore Defensive Backs/Secondary – Bob Gambold Special teams coaches Special Teams – Marv Braden

Roster

1977 Denver Broncos roster

	Quarterbacks 7 Craig Morton 12 Craig Penrose 14 Norris Weese Running backs 24 Otis Armstrong 30 Jim Jensen 32 Jon Keyworth FB 41 Rob Lytle Wide receivers 82 Jack Dolbin 25 Haven Moses 80 Rick Upchurch 86 John Schultz Tight ends 85 Ron Egloff 88 Riley Odoms		Offensive linemen 62 Tom Glassic G 60 Paul Howard G 50 Bobby Maples C 74 Andy Maurer T 71 Claudie Minor T 53 Mike Montler C 67 Steve Schindler G Defensive linemen 77 Lyle Alzado DE 79 Barney Chavous DE 68 Rubin Carter DT 63 John Grant DT 66 Brison Manor DE 70 Paul Smith DT		Linebackers 56 Larry Evans 53 Randy Gradishar 57 Tom Jackson 58 Rob Nairne 59 Joe Rizzo 51 Bob Swenson Defensive backs 29 Bernard Jackson FS 43 Steve Foley CB 23 Chris Pane 21 Randy Poltl 36 Bill Thompson FS 20 Louis Wright CB Special teams 10 Bucky Dilts P 15 Jim Turner K		Reserve lists Practice squad Rookies in italics

Regular season

Main article: 1977 NFL season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Game site	Attendance
1	September 18	St. Louis Cardinals	W 7–0	1–0	Mile High Stadium	75,002
2	September 25	Buffalo Bills	W 26–6	2–0	Mile High Stadium	74,897
3	October 2	at Seattle Seahawks	W 24–13	3–0	Kingdome	53,108
4	October 9	Kansas City Chiefs	W 23–7	4–0	Mile High Stadium	74,878
5	October 16	at Oakland Raiders	W 30–7	5–0	Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum	53,616
6	October 23	at Cincinnati Bengals	W 24–13	6–0	Riverfront Stadium	54,395
7	October 30	Oakland Raiders	L 14–24	6–1	Mile High Stadium	75,007
8	November 6	Pittsburgh Steelers	W 21–7	7–1	Mile High Stadium	74,967
9	November 13	at San Diego Chargers	W 17–14	8–1	San Diego Stadium	45,211
10	November 20	at Kansas City Chiefs	W 14–7	9–1	Arrowhead Stadium	54,050
11	November 27	Baltimore Colts	W 27–13	10–1	Mile High Stadium	74,939
12	December 4	at Houston Oilers	W 24–14	11–1	Astrodome	46,875
13	December 11	San Diego Chargers	W 17–9	12–1	Mile High Stadium	74,905
14	December 18	at Dallas Cowboys	L 6–14	12–2	Texas Stadium	63,752

This was the last NFL regular season with 14 games: it was expanded to 16 games in 1978.

Season summary

Week 1

1 2 3 4 Total Cardinals 0 0 0 0 0 • Broncos 0 0 7 0 7 Date: September 18 Location: Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado Game start: 2:00 p.m. Game weather: 60 °F (16 °C), wind 10 mph (16 km/h) Referee: Dick Jorgensen TV announcers (CBS): Don Criqui and Emerson Boozer

Scoring summary 3 DEN Otis Armstrong 10 yard run (Jim Turner kick) Broncos 7–0

[5]

Week 2

1 2 3 4 Total Bills 0 6 0 0 6 • Broncos 3 7 13 3 26 Date: September 25 Location: Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado Game start: 4:00 p.m. EST Game weather: 66 °F (19 °C); wind 11 mph (18 km/h)

Scoring summary Q1 DEN Turner 48 yard field goal DEN 3–0 Q2 BUF Cornell 22 yard fumble return (kick failed) BUF 6–3 Q2 DEN Morton 5 yard run (Turner kick) DEN 10–6 Q3 DEN Armstrong 1 yard run (kick failed) DEN 16–6 Q3 DEN Odoms 1 yard pass from Morton (Turner kick) DEN 23–6 Q4 DEN Turner 26 yard field goal DEN 26–6

[6]

Week 3

1 2 3 4 Total • Broncos 10 0 14 0 24 Seahawks 7 0 6 0 13 Date: October 2 Location: Kingdome Game weather: Indoors (dome)

Week 4

1 2 3 4 Total Chiefs 0 0 0 7 7 • Broncos 10 6 7 0 23 Date: October 9 Location: Mile High Stadium

Week 5

1 2 3 4 Total • Broncos 7 14 6 3 30 Raiders 7 0 0 0 7 Date: October 16 Location: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Week 6

1 2 3 4 Total • Broncos 7 10 0 7 24 Bengals 7 3 0 3 13 Date: October 23 Location: Riverfront Stadium

Week 7

1 2 3 4 Total • Raiders 7 10 7 0 24 Broncos 0 0 0 14 14 Date: October 30 Location: Mile High Stadium

Week 8

1 2 3 4 Total Steelers 0 0 0 7 7 • Broncos 14 7 0 0 21 Date: November 6 Location: Mile High Stadium

Week 9

1 2 3 4 Total • Broncos 3 0 7 7 17 Chargers 7 7 0 0 14 Date: November 13 Location: San Diego Stadium

Week 10

1 2 3 4 Total • Broncos 0 7 0 7 14 Chiefs 0 7 0 0 7 Date: November 20 Location: Arrowhead Stadium

Week 11

1 2 3 4 Total Colts 0 3 10 0 13 • Broncos 7 7 0 13 27 Date: November 27 Location: Mile High Stadium

Week 12

1 2 3 4 Total • Broncos 0 14 3 7 24 Oilers 0 7 7 0 14 Date: December 4 Location: Houston Astrodome Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 46,875 Game weather: Indoors (dome)

Scoring summary Q2 HOU Coleman 2 yard run (Fritsch kick) HOU 7–0 Q2 DEN Odoms 13 yard pass from Morton (Turner kick) Tie 7–7 Q2 DEN Upchurch 13 yard pass from Morton (Turner kick) DEN 14–7 Q3 DEN Turner 42 yard field goal DEN 17–7 Q3 HOU Burrough 29 yard pass from Pastorini (Fritsch kick) DEN 17–14 Q4 DEN Weese 5 yard run (Turner kick) DEN 24–14

[7]

Week 13

1 2 3 4 Total Chargers 3 3 3 0 9 • Broncos 7 0 0 10 17 Date: December 11 Location: Mile High Stadium

Week 14

See also: 1977 Dallas Cowboys season

1 2 3 4 Total Broncos 0 0 3 3 6 • Cowboys 7 0 7 0 14 Date: December 18 Location: Texas Stadium Game start: 1:00 pm Game weather: 52 °F (11 °C); wind 10 mph (16 km/h) Referee: Jerry Markbreit TV announcers (NBC): Jack Buck and Len Dawson

Scoring summary Q1 DAL P. Pearson 22 yard pass from Staubach (Herrera kick) DAL 7–0 Q3 DAL Newhouse 7 yard pass from Staubach (Herrera kick) DAL 14–0 Q3 DEN Turner 22 yard field goal DAL 14–3 Q4 DEN Turner 37 yard field goal DAL 14–6

[8]

Standings

AFC West
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Denver Broncos^(1)	12	2	0	.857	6–1	11–1	274	148	L1
Oakland Raiders^(4)	11	3	0	.786	5–2	10–2	351	230	W2
San Diego Chargers	7	7	0	.500	3–4	6–6	222	205	L2
Seattle Seahawks	5	9	0	.357	1–3	4–9	282	373	W2
Kansas City Chiefs	2	12	0	.143	1–6	1–11	225	349	L6

Playoffs

Main article: 1977–78 NFL playoffs

Round	Date	Opponent	Result	Game site	Attendance
Divisional Playoffs	December 24	Pittsburgh Steelers	W 34–21	Mile High Stadium	75,011
AFC Championship	January 1	Oakland Raiders	W 20–17	Mile High Stadium	74,982
Super Bowl XII	January 15	Dallas Cowboys	L 10–27	Louisiana Superdome	76,400

Divisional

1 2 3 4 Total Steelers 0 14 0 7 21 • Broncos 7 7 7 13 34 Date: December 24 Location: Mile High Stadium • Denver, Colorado

Source:[1][9][10]

Conference Championship

1 2 3 4 Total Raiders 3 0 0 14 17 • Broncos 7 0 7 6 20 Date: January 1 Location: Mile High Stadium • Denver, Colorado Game start: 12:00 p.m. MST Game attendance: 74,982 Game weather: 13 °F (−11 °C) • Wind 6 mph (10 km/h) TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Len Dawson

Scoring summary 1 OAK Errol Mann 20 yard field goal Raiders 3–0 1 DEN Haven Moses 74 yard pass from Craig Morton (Jim Turner kick) Broncos 7–3 3 DEN Jon Keyworth 1 yard run (Jim Turner kick) Broncos 14–3 4 OAK Dave Casper 7 yard pass from Ken Stabler (Errol Mann kick) Broncos 14–10 4 DEN Haven Moses 12 yard pass from Craig Morton (kick failed) Broncos 20–10 4 OAK Dave Casper 17 yard pass from Ken Stabler (Errol Mann kick) Broncos 20–17

Source:[2][11][12][13]

The Broncos defeated the Raiders in the AFC Championship Game to earn their first trip to the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl

Main article: Super Bowl XII

1 2 3 4 Total • Cowboys 10 3 7 7 27 Broncos 0 0 10 0 10 Date: January 15 Location: Louisiana Superdome Game attendance: 76,400 Game weather: Indoors (dome) Referee: Jim Tunney TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and Tom Brookshier

Source:[3][14][15]

The Broncos playing against the Cowboys in Super Bowl XII.

References

1. Marshall, Joe (January 2, 1978). "That Crushmas spirit". Sports Illustrated. p. 14.
2. Jenkins, Dan (January 9, 1978). "Wholly Moses for Denver". Sports Illustrated. p. 14.
3. Jenkins, Dan (January 23, 1978). "Doomsday in the Dome". Sports Illustrated. p. 16.
4. "Broncos 'pay off' Crush". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). January 15, 1978. p. D1.
5. Pro-Football-Reference.com
6. Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Dec-25.
7. Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-Dec-10.
8. Box Score
9. "Denver becomes the stealers and triumphs". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). wire service reports. December 25, 1977. p. 3C.
10. Brady, Dave (December 25, 1977). "Morton leads Broncos". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). (Washington Post). p. 1B.
11. "Broncos turn a dream into Super reality". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). wire service reports. January 2, 1978. p. 1B.
12. Pro-Football-Reference.com
13. Howitt, Bruce (January 2, 1978). "Denver and Dallas in Super shoot-out". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. p. 1B.
14. "It's Doomsday for the Broncos". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). wire service reports. January 16, 1978. p. 1B.
15. "'Doomsday II' tames Broncos, XXVII to X". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. January 16, 1978. p. 1B.

External links

• Denver Broncos – 1977 media guide
• 1977 Denver Broncos at Pro-Football-Reference.com