Will the Broncos Curse over the Browns Strike Again?

 

"I don't ever want to see the Denver Broncos play in my stadium," said then Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell when the NFL was in talks with the rival AFL for merging the two leagues. 

The merger did happen, the Broncos joined the NFL in 1970 along with the other AFL teams, and the team had a surprise for Modell when the Broncos visited Cleveland Municipal Stadium in 1971.

The Broncos totally destroyed the Browns 27-0. To this day one of the most dominant Bronco performances I have ever seen and so unexpected. Cleveland was a contender that year (the Browns ended up 9-5) while the Broncos struggled (with a 4-9-1 record in 1971).  Over the years I have saved newspapers of great Bronco victories, and this was one (see the photo above)

Years later I talked to Broncos great Floyd Little about that game at a Denver Broncos Quarterback Club meeting.  "That win meant a lot to Lou," Little said about Broncos head coach Lou Saban.  Little went on to tell me that Saban had played for the Browns in the late 40's. 

It was to be Saban's last win as Broncos head coach. He resigned midseason as the Broncos failed to have a winning record during his five year tenure.

But Denver's "curse" over the Browns lived on.  Three Broncos AFC Championship victories vs Cleveland, including the famous "Drive" game in that same stadium, made Art Modell regret his words disparaging the Broncos.  Overall the Broncos have 11 wins against 2 losses against the Browns for games played in Cleveland, and an overall record of 24 Broncos wins vs 6 losses in games against the Browns.

Will the Broncos curse over the Browns strike again this Thursday night when the two teams meet in a nationally televised game?  The Browns are heavily favored and the Broncos are in the midst of a three game losing streak.  If the Broncos do win, perhaps the curse has struck again!

More details about the Broncos 1971 victory over the Browns can be found in this Sports Illustrated story about the game.

My 2021 Bronco Predictions

 As is my yearly tradition (though I missed doing it last year in that crazy covid19 football season) I like to predict the Denver Broncos record before any regular season games are played.  This year's predictions:

1 Sun, Sep 12 @New York Giants

WIN - Giants offensive line is shaky, running back Saquan Barkley is still not 100% from last year's season ending injury. The Giants do have a good defense so it'll be a good test for Teddy Bridgewater and the Broncos offense, but I think they score enough to get the win.

2 Sun, Sep 19 @Jacksonville

WIN - A rookie quarterback going against the Denver Defense?  Win

3 Sun, Sep 26 vs New York Jets

WIN Ditto - Jets rookie qb against the Denver D is a good matchup for the Broncos, and the Broncos traditionally have played well in home openers

4 Sun, Oct 3 vs Baltimore

WIN - The Ravens are one of the AFC's best teams.  The Broncos have a chance though, since this is at home, and the Ravens have significant injuries at running back. If the Broncos are 3-0 entering this game as I predict, the momentum of that fast start will give the team a win over the favored Ravens.

5 Sun, Oct 10 @Pittsburgh

LOSS - Big Ben still has enough left to lead the Steelers over the Broncos

6 Sun, Oct 17 vs Las Vegas

WIN - I predict the Raiders/Broncos split their 2 games this year with both teams winning at home

7 Thu, Oct 21 @Cleveland

LOSS - Browns will be one of the most improved AFC teams this year

8 Sun, Oct 31 vs Washington

WIN - home field gives the edge to the Broncos in a close contest

9 Sun, Nov 7 @ Dallas

LOSS - Cowboys are a different team with Dak at QB

10 Sun, Nov 14 vs Philadelphia

WIN - Bronco D should handle another young QB

12 Sun, Nov 28 vs Los Angeles Chargers

LOSS - Chargers get revenge for a close loss at Denver last season

13 Sun, Dec 5 @ Kansas City

LOSS - Tough to beat the AFC's best team on the road

14 Sun, Dec 12 vs Detroit

WIN - Lions are one of the NFL's worst teams

15 Sun, Dec 19 vs Cincinnati

WIN - Broncos improved secondary will handle Joe Burrow

16 Sun, Dec 26 @ Las Vegas

LOSS - see week 6, home teams win this series

17 Sun, Jan 2 @ Los Angeles

LOSS - I hope not as I'll be at this game!  But Chargers look to be much improved under their new coaching staff.

18 Sun, Jan 9 vs Kansas City

WIN - I'm guessing KC has their playoff position clinched by now, they'll rest some starters, giving the Broncos the edge.

Overall record: 10 wins 7 losses  That may be good enough for a wildcard playoff berth, depending on how the rest of the AFC shakes out.  

Other thoughts: I think Teddy Bridgewater will do better than the other short term veteran quarterback fixes the team has tried in recent years (Case Keenum, Joe Flacco in their one year stints).  I don't think he's the long term answer at qb though.  If the Broncos were thinking long term, Drew Lock should have been the starter this year, to determine if Drew is the answer or not.  Lock did have a bad year last season, but with a new offensive coordinator and a covid19 shortened preseason it was not surprising that the 2nd year qb struggled.  Fangio wants to win to keep his job, and Bridgewater gives the team the best chance to win now.

I think the Broncos defense is the best we will have seen in years (barring significant injuries), close to the 2015 SB 50 champ bronco D.  That defense will give the team lots of wins.

Still the Broncos did not take a quarterback when they had the chance with an early draft position.  It was Josh Allen they passed on in 2018.  This year the team passed on Justin Fields and Mac Jones in round one, both of whom have shown promise in the preseason.  In 2021 if I am close to my win/loss position the Broncos won't be drafting early enough to get one of the top qbs in the 2022 draft.  And if Drew Lock isn't the answer (there's at least a 50/50 chance he is not) then the Broncos will again be hoping for a veteran free agent qb to lead them.  It worked with Peyton Manning.  Back in the day it worked with Charlie Johnson and Craig Morton (Morton via trade).  Most times it doesn't work, though.  

Bottom line: the Broncos should have taken a quarterback when they had the chance with an early first round draft choice in recent years.

RIP Floyd Little, the 1968 play that defined who he was

 

I have many fond memories of Floyd's playing days as a young bronco fan in the late 60's/early 70's. One play stands out: 

The first year I had season tickets in the South Stands at age 12 I attended the Buffalo Bills/Bronco game in November 1968. This was the game where Lou Saban "fired" Floyd after Floyd fumbled as the Broncos were trying to run out the clock. The Bills recovered and kicked what appeared to be the winning field goal. Floyd is walking dejectedly to the locker room under the South Stands when all of a sudden he runs back on the field, tells Fran Lynch he's replacing him, and Floyd tells Bronco qb Marlin Briscoe to throw a deep pass to him. And that's what happened. Floyd makes a great diving catch (still one of the best I have seen in my many years of being a bronco fan) that sets up the winning field goal for the Broncos. It was cold that day too - I was freezing in the South Stands when Floyd made that catch! I only found out later of what drama transpired between Floyd and Lou Saban. 

That game, and that play, symbolized what Floyd Little was all about. He was an inspiration to me and many Denver area youth in the late 60's and early 70's. The message Floyd gave us: never give up, always give your best, and good things will happen. Rest In Peace Floyd.

Top Ten Colorado Sports Events for 2020

The covid19 pandemic put a damper on the Colorado sports teams and on sports nation wide in 2020.  Still there were some memorable games for Colorado teams.  My annual top 10 list:

NUMBER TEN:

Denver Broncos 10/18: It was a disappointing year for the Broncos as the team only has 5 wins heading into the season finale vs the Raiders.  But the Broncos did get two entries on my top ten list.  The first?  The Broncos beat their long time nemesis the New England Patriots 18 to 12 on the Patriots home field.  Sure the Patriots did not have Tom Brady in 2020 but this was especially a surprise with the Broncos starting 3rd stringer Brett Rypien at quarterback.

NUMBER NINE:

Colorado Rockies 9/6: Rockies 7 Dodgers 6 A second straight win for the Rockies in LA (they had lost 17 of 19 against the Dodgers at Chavez Ravine before this series). The Rockies were the only team to win a series against the World Series Champion Dodgers in 2020.

NUMBER EIGHT:

Denver Nuggets 8/30: Jamal Murray with a 50 point performance to give the Nuggets a win in an elimination game vs Utah (119-107) and squaring their playoff series 3 games to 3. Murray has scored 142 points combined in 3 consecutive playoff games, emerging as Denver's next all star.

NUMBER SEVEN:

Colorado Buffaloes football 11/7: The Buffs beat ucla 48-42 in karl dorrell's first game as head coach.  This was a big surprise as Dorrell was a late hire after previous coach Mel Tucker quit unexpectedly.  With limited off season practices and with a quarterback who played at safety the year before, this was a surprise win.

NUMBER SIX:

Colorado Avalanche 8/31: Facing elimination down 3 games to 1 the Avalanche raced to a 5-0 lead in the first period and won their playoff game 6-3 against the Dallas Stars.  The Avs were without their top 2 goalies and won the game with 3rd stringer Michael Hutchinson in net.  The Avs losing this series in game 7 was the year's biggest sports disappointment, but this win and the game 6 win when facing elimination were highlights at the time.  They just couldn't win 3 straight elimination games like their arena partners the Nuggets did vs Utah and the LA Clippers.

NUMBER FIVE:

Denver Nuggets 9/11: Nuggets 111 Clippers 105 Down 3 games to 1, facing elimination in the series and behind 16 points in the 3rd quarter, it didn't look good for the Nuggets.  But the team had an amazing comeback to win the game in the 4th quarter to force a game 6.

NUMBER FOUR:

Denver Broncos 11/1: Broncos 31 Chargers 30  Broncos come back from 21 points down in the 3rd quarter, and score on the last play of the game with 1 second on the clock, to beat the Chargers.  Drew Lock had 3 td passes in the comeback and Phillip Lindsay had a big 55 yard td run to spark the comeback.

NUMBER THREE:

Colorado Avalanche 8/2:Nazem Kadri scores with 1/10th of a second left to give the Avalanche a 2-1 win over St Louis in the first game back after the pandemic shutdown.  A big win as the Blues were in 1st place, the Avs in second place at the time.

NUMBER TWO:

Denver Nuggets 9/15: Nuggets 104 Clippers 89 - Nuggets win game 7, coming back from a 3-1 series deficit, to reach the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2009.

NUMBER ONE:

Denver Nuggets 9/1: Nuggets 80 Jazz 78 in game 7 to win the series after coming back from a 3 games to 1 deficit. Sure the Nuggets came back from a similar 3-1 deficit in their next series against the Clippers, but this game had more drama than any other Nuggets playoff game at the end. Utah had a 3 pointer that just missed at the buzzer which would have given the Jazz the win and the series.

So the Nuggets surprising playoff run to the Western Conference Finals was my highlight of the Colorado sports year in 2020.  What surprises will 2021 bring?  Stay tuned ...

37 years ago Gary Kubiak was suddenly the Broncos starting qb (just like Kendall Hinton will be today!)

 

The Broncos have never faced a situation like today in starting Kendall Hinton at quarterback. The only situation kind of like it was November 20, 1983. Elway's rookie year. John came down with the flu game day morning. His backup, Steve Deberg, was unavailable. So the Broncos had to start 3rd string rookie Gary Kubiak at qb that day. "Kubiak??!!!!" my Mom said when she heard the news. Kubiak was not the household name he is today - rather a little known rookie qb who made the team knowing he'd never be the starter in Denver with Elway around.

Kubiak went on to lead the Broncos to a 38-27 win over the Seahawks that day. His first TD pass was a 78 yarder to Steve Watson.

I'll be rooting for Hinton today, just like I was for the unknown Gary Kubiak when I was sitting in the South Stands watching Gary's debut 37 years ago!

My Top Ten Bronco Home Openers in the Past 52 Years

 

This week I was featured on a CBS Channel 4 segment on the Denver Broncos opener.  My story is that I have been to every Broncos home opener since 1967 except for one!  I will also miss Monday night's home opener against the Titans (as well as all other fans) but I'll be cheering on the team from home.  Pictured above is my ticket from the first home opener I attended at age 11 - at a $2 kids end zone price of $2!

This segment got me to thinking - what were the best Bronco home openers I have attended?  Listed below is my top ten list. I have lots of great memories from these games!

NUMBER TEN:

1971 Broncos 10 Miami 10 - the famous "half a loaf" game where the broncos, tied with the Dolphins in the last two minutes, ran out the clock rather than go for the win.  Coach Lou Saban said after the game "half a loaf is better than none" (meaning he'd take the tie) which alienated him with Bronco fans for the rest of his time in Denver.  Actually in retrospect a tie was a good result for the Broncos as the Dolphins went on to a 10-3-1 record while the Broncos finished 4-9-1 with Saban leaving as head coach half way through the season.  The only Bronco touchdown?  from wide receiver Dwight Harrison, who was later traded to Buffalo for one of the best Bronco receivers ever (Haven Moses).

NUMBER NINE:

2001 Broncos 31 NY Giants 20 - a Monday night football opening of the new stadium. The fans go home happy but then find out Bronco legendary wide receiver Ed McCaffery had suffered a season ending injury and the 9/11 tragedy happened the next morning.

NUMBER EIGHT:

1977 Broncos 7 St Louis Cardinals 0 - Broncos famed Orange Crush defense was in fine form with this shutout of the Cardinals at the start of a magical 77 Bronco season leading to the team's first Super Bowl appearance.   The Broncos offense was a mess under new qb Craig Morton in this game but came around as the season progressed (highlighted by scoring 34 points in the franchise's first playoff game against the Steelers)

NUMBER SEVEN:

2016 Broncos 21 Carolina 20 - In a rare Super Bowl rematch in the kickoff game of the 2016 season, the Panthers miss a field goal in the final seconds to give the win to the Broncos.  Peyton Manning had retired, and going into the game the Broncos were underdogs with qb Trevor Siemian getting his first start. But Siemian had a surprisingly good game to lead the Broncos to the win.

NUMBER SIX:

1980 Broncos 41 Cowboys 20 -a promising home debut for new Bronco qb Matt Robinson, who had 2 rushing td's, as the broncos got revenge for the Super Bowl 12 loss to America's team two years earlier.  Siemian and Robinson's first games as Broncos starting qbs would not to lead to long term success for either, but at least they can think back to their successful openers.

NUMBER FIVE:

1967 Broncos 26 Patriots 21 - My first ever home opener at age 11.  It was Floyd Little's regular season debut, and fans were excited after the Broncos were the first AFL team to beat NFL teams in two preseason games (the Lions and the Vikings). This win gave us more hope.  Hopes that were quickly dashed with a 51-0 loss to the Raiders the next week which led to a Broncos 9 game losing streak.

NUMBER FOUR:

1975 Broncos 37 Chiefs 33 - Charlie Johnson throws 3 td passes in a game that featured a spectacular debut for Broncos rookie Rick Upchurch. Rick had a 13 yard td run, 3 catches for 153 yards including a 90 yard td, 3 kickoff returns for 88 yards, and a 30 yard punt return.  To this day the best opening game for a Bronco rookie I have ever seen.

NUMBER THREE:

2008 Broncos 39 Chargers 38 - Jay Cutler throws 4 td passes including the winning td and a successful 2 point conversion with 24 seconds to play.

NUMBER TWO:

1986 Broncos 38 Raiders 36 - John Elway throws for 2 tds and scores on a pass from Steve Sewell on another to give the Broncos a thrilling come from behind win over the Raiders.

NUMBER ONE:

2013 Broncos 47 Ravens 27 - Peyton Manning throws 7 tds as the Broncos avenge their playoff loss the previous season to the defending Super Bowl champ Ravens.

What was the one Bronco home opener I missed?  2012's win over the Steelers featuring Peyton Manning's Bronco regular season debut.  I was on a once in a lifetime Alaska trip at the time, doing a flight seeing excursion over the great mountain (Denali) at kickoff.  This 2012 game would have been in my top 10 somewhere had I been there!

With Von Miller likely out for the season the Broncos are underdogs for Monday night's opener vs the Titans.  But I have learned over the years - never count out the Broncos, no matter how bad the team looks, in a home opener!  The Broncos record for home openers I have attended?  44 wins 8 losses!

Remembering Carroll Hardy, could Jack Lambert have been a Bronco?

 

Carroll Hardy passed away this past week.  He gained fame as the only player to pinch hit for Ted Williams during his baseball career.  But there was much more to Hardy than that, as this article on the cubuffs.com site relates.

 Though I was only 9 years old I do remember seeing Hardy play for the minor league Denver Bears in 1965 at the end of his baseball career.

What I remember more was his role with the Denver Broncos.  As the cubuffs.com article says: 

"As a pro football executive, he was often credited with helping to build Denver's famous "Orange Crush" defense that led to the team's first AFC West Division title and Super Bowl appearance in the 1977 season."

As a big Bronco fan and young season ticket holder in the 70's I wanted to learn more about the game.  I saw an ad for a book called "Scouts Guide to the NFL".  I ordered it. This 1976 publication was written by Joel Buchsbaum, one of the earliest NFL draft analysts (even before Mel Kiper).  In it he speculated that the 77 Broncos would be a threat to take the division title away from the Super Bowl Champion Oakland Raiders.  I was stunned - though hopeful of a good Bronco season I hadn't read anywhere that the Broncos could actually beat out the Raiders in 1977.  And of course that's what the Broncos did - shocking the pro football world.  Buchsbaum gained credibility with me and I always read his draft guides until his death in 2002.  Buchsbaum had a unique life of his own - read more about him here.

Buchsbaum once wrote about Hardy's role in the 1974 Broncos draft. The Broncos had selected Randy Gradishar in the first round. When the team's second round pick came up Hardy, as part of the Broncos scouting staff, recommended another linebacker, rated at the top of the Broncos draft board.. "We already have our linebacker," coach John Ralston said. The Broncos drafted defensive lineman Carl Wafer in round 2 (who never did anything in the NFL)

The linebacker who the Broncos scouting staff led by Hardy had rated at the top of their draft board in round 2?

Jack Lambert

Lambert went four picks after the Broncos to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and went on to have a Hall of Fame career.

If this is true, imagine the Orange Crush 3-4 defense with both Gradishar and Lambert!  John Ralston deserves a lot of credit for the strong drafts the Broncos had in the early 70's, but Carroll Hardy had a big part in those drafts too.  RIP Carroll.