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Let it not be said that the MHR staff never responds to reader comments/challenges/questions. In the October 22, 2012 edition of Horse Tracks, reader OrangeandBluesBros posted the following comment:
Can't wait
for somebody to post statistics on how Broncos do first game after a bye week. C’mon Shrout, where are you when we need you?
by OrangeandBluesBros on Oct 22, 2012 10:04 AM MDT
Here I am OBB and here is the information you requested.
The Bye Week in the NFL
The NFL introduced the concept of a bye week in 1990. This schedule addition meant that each team would play sixteen games spread out over a seventeen week schedule. The timing of the bye week in each team's schedule is based upon the previous season's final regular season record and upon post-season participation. An interesting footnote to this addition is that in 1993, the NFL tried adding two bye weeks per team, but that plan was dropped in the 1994 season.
This means that the Broncos have had twenty-three byes from 1990-2011. Denver has a 17-6-0 overall record in the week following the bye. They are 12-3-0 at home and 5-3-0 when playing on the road. The Broncos have won the last two weeks following the bye, four of the last six and seven of the last ten.
Denver has faced thirteen different teams in those twenty-three games. Against only three out of those thirteen have the Broncos failed to compile a winning record in games played the week after the bye. The teams break down as follows:
| Team | Record | Team | Record | |
| New York Jets | 2-0 | Pittsburgh | 1-0 | |
| Seattle | 2-0 | Kansas City | 2-1 | |
| Indianapolis | 1-0 | Baltimore | 2-1 | |
| Arizona | 1-0 | Oakland | 2-2 | |
| Jacksonville | 1-0 | Miami | 1-1 | |
| San Diego | 1-0 | Minnesota | 0-1 | |
| New Orleans | 1-0 |
Let's take a brief look at those twenty-three games:
11-4-1990: Denver@Minnesota, Denver lost 22-27
Bye was in Week 8.
The Broncos defense logged 7 sacks (4 by LB Simon Fletcher) and an interception.
Denver had a 3-4-0 record before the bye and finished 5-11-0.
10-20-1991: Kansas City@Denver, Denver won 19-16
Bye was in Week 7.
Elway threw for 270 yards and a touchdown.
Denver had a 4-2-0 record before the bye and finished 12-4-0.
The Broncos defeated the Houston Oilers 26-24 in the Divisional round of the playoffs.
Denver lost 7-10 to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship game.
11-8-1992: New York Jets@Denver, Denver won 27-16.
Bye was in Week 9.
The Broncos defense logged 3 sacks and 1 interception that was returned for a touchdown.
Denver had a 5-3-0 record before the bye and finished 8-8-0.
10-3-1993: Indianapolis@Denver, Denver won 35-13
1st Bye of 1993 was in Week 4.
Denver dominated this game, compiling 196 rushing yards and 2 rushing touchdowns.
Elway threw for 260 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Denver had a 2-1-0 record before the first bye.
10-31-1993: Seattle@Denver, Denver won 28-17
2nd Bye of 1993 was in Week 8.
The Broncos defense logged 3 sacks (2 by DT Shane Dronett) and 2 interceptions.
Denver was 3-3-0 going into the 2nd bye and finished 9-7-0.
The Broncos lost 24-42 to the Los Angeles Raiders in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.
10-9-1994: Denver@Seattle, Denver won 16-9
Bye was in Week 5.
The Broncos defense logged 2 interceptions and recovered 3 fumbles.
Denver was 0-4-0 going into the bye and finished 7-9-0.
11-5-1995: Arizona@Denver, Denver won 38-6
Bye was in Week 9.
Denver rushed for 148 yards (135 by Terrell Davis) and 2 rushing touchdowns.
Elway threw for 268 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Denver was 4-4-0 going into the bye and finished 8-8-0.
10-20-1996: Baltimore@Denver, Denver won 45-34
Bye was in Week 7.
Denver rushed for 222 yards (194 by Terrell Davis) and 3 rushing touchdowns.
Elway threw for 326 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 interception.
Denver was 5-1-0 going into the bye and finished 13-3-0.
The Broncos lost 27-30 to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Divisional round of the playoffs.
10-19-1997: Denver@Oakland, Denver lost 25-28
Bye was in Week 7.
Denver rushed for 147 yards and 2 rushing touchdowns.
Elway threw for 309 yards and a touchdown.
Denver was 6-0-0 going into the bye and finished 12-4-0.
The Broncos defeated Jacksonville 42-17 in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.
Denver defeated Kansas City 14-10 in the Divisional round.
The Broncos defeated Pittsburgh 24-21 in the AFC Championship game.
Denver defeated the Green Bay Packers 31-24 in Super Bowl XXXII.
10-25-1998: Jacksonville@Denver, Denver won 37-24
Bye was in Week 7.
The Broncos defense logged 7 sacks (2 by DT Trevor Pryce) and recovered 1 fumble.
Denver was 6-0-0 going into the bye and finished 14-2-0.
The Broncos defeated Miami 38-3 in the Divisional round of the playoffs.
Denver defeated the New York Jets 23-10 in the AFC Championship game.
The Broncos defeated the Atlanta Falcons 34-19 in Super Bowl XXXIII.
12-5-1999: Kansas City@Denver, Denver lost 10-16
Bye was in Week 12.
Denver had 83 rushing yards and 1 rushing touchdown.
Brian Griese threw for 227 yards and 1 interception.
Denver was 4-7 going into the bye and finished 6-10.
11-5-2000: Denver@New York Jets, Denver won 30-23
Bye was in Week 9.
Terrell Davis rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown.
Griese threw for 327 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception.
Denver was 4-4-0 going into the bye and finished 11-5-0.
The Broncos lost 3-21 to the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.
12-30-2001: Oakland@Denver, Denver won 23-17
Bye was in Week 15.
The Broncos defense logged 3 sacks, 2 interceptions and a fumble recovery.
Denver was 7-7-0 going into the bye and finished 8-8-0.
11-11-2002: Oakland@Denver, Denver lost 10-34
Bye was in Week 9.
Griese threw for 293 yards and an interception.
Denver was 6-2-0 going into the bye and finished 9-7-0.
11-16-2003: San Diego@Denver, Denver won 37-8
Bye was in Week 10.
The Broncos rushed for 201 yards.
Jake Plummer threw for 253 yards, 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.
Denver was 5-4-0 going into the bye and finished 10-6-0.
The Broncos lost 10-41 to the Indianapolis Colts in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.
11-21-2004: Denver@New Orleans, Denver won 34-13
Bye was in Week 10.
The Broncos defense logged 3 interceptions (with 1 returned for a touchdown), 2 sacks and a fumble recovery.
Denver was 6-3-0 going into the bye and finished 10-6-0.
The Broncos lost 24-49 to the Indianapolis Colts in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.
11-13-2005: Denver@Oakland, Denver won 31-17
Bye was in Week 9.
The Broncos defense logged 4 sacks and 3 interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown by the late Darrent Williams.
Denver was 6-2-0 going into the bye and finished 13-3-0.
The Broncos defeated New England 27-13 in the Divisional round of the playoffs.
Denver lost 17-34 to Pittsburgh in the AFC Championship game.
10-9-2006: Baltimore@Denver, Denver won 13-3
Bye was in Week 4
The Broncos defense logged 2 sacks and 3 interceptions.
Denver was 2-1-0 going in the bye and finished 9-7-0.
10-21-2007: Pittsburgh@Denver, Denver won 31-28
Bye was in Week 6
The Broncos defense logged 4 sacks (2 by DE Elvis Dumervil), 2 interceptions and a fumble recovery.
Denver was 2-3-0 going into the bye and finished 7-9-0.
11-2-2008: Miami@Denver, Denver lost 17-26
Bye was in Week 8.
Jay Cutler threw for 307 yards, 2 touchdowns and 3 interceptions.
Denver was 4-3-0 going into the bye and finished 8-8-0.
11-1-2009: Denver@Baltimore, Denver lost 7-30
Bye was in Week 7.
The Broncos defense logged 2 sacks and held the Ravens offense out of the end zone until the fourth quarter.
Denver was 6-0-0 going into the bye and finished 8-8-0.
11-14-2010: Kansas City@Denver, Denver won 49-29
Bye was in Week 9.
Kyle Orton threw for 296 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Denver was 2-6-0 going into the bye and finished 4-12-0.
10-23-2011: Denver@Miami, Denver won 18-15 in overtime
Bye was in Week
The Broncos rushed by committe for 177 yards.
Tim Tebow threw two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to position Denver for a tie and the overtime win.
Denver was 1-4-0 going into the bye and finished 8-8-0.
The Broncos defeated Pittsburgh 29-23 in overtime in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.
Denver lost 10-45 to New England in the Divisional round of the playoffs.
If there is any faith to be placed in historical precedence, the Broncos should win this Sunday against the Saints. They have a .739 winning record in games played the week after the bye. They have a .800 winning record in games played at home the week after the bye. Finally, they defeated New Orleans 34-13 in the only meeting of Denver and New Orleans in the week following a Broncos’ bye. Here’s to history repeating itself.
Go Broncos!!!!!