:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46657160/usa-today-8359161.0.jpg)
The wheels finally came completely off in 1963 for the Denver Broncos as a decade-long streak of despair would go into full swing going 2-11-1 on the year. It wasn’t all bad. Well, maybe it was all bad.
Must Reads
In just a few short years, the entire thought of having a franchise called the Denver Broncos would be called into question. Frightening considering how loyal the fans are today. More on that later, though.
In 1963, the team was simply awful. Frank Tripucka would play in just two games and retire, marking the end of any hope of a serviceable quarterback in Denver for the next decade.
Early in this season, it appeared as though the Broncos might be on the way to righting the boat. After an 0-2 start, Denver eked out a 14-10 win over the Boston Patriots, then put up one of their greatest offensive efforts in franchise history when they posted 50 points against the San Diego Chargers to even their record at 2-2. Sadly, they failed to win another game for the rest of the season.
There were just two bright spots, Austin Gonsoulin and Lionel Taylor.
Both were worthy of an MVP award, but with the defense giving up 34 points per game I am hard pressed to award that distinction to Gonsoulin despite his 6 interceptions for 64 yards and a touchdown that season. He was the lone bright spot in an otherwise historically bad defensive unit.
1963 Preseason |
||||
| DATE | ATTENDANCE | SCORE | OPPONENT | GAME SITE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug. 3 | 11,445 | W 27-10 | Houston Oilers | University of Denver Stadium |
| Aug. 10 | 9,655 | L 35-19 | Oakland Raiders | Frank Youell Field |
| Aug. 17 | 11,135 | W 31-25 | San Diego Chargers | University of Denver Stadium |
| Aug. 23 | 6,865 | L 30-16 | Kansas City Chiefs | Municipal Stadium |
| Aug. 31 | 7,000 | L 21-14 | Buffalo Bills | Winston-Salem, N.C. |
1963 Regular Season |
||||
| Sept. 7 | 21,115 | L 59-7 | Kansas City Chiefs | University of Denver Stadium |
| Sept. 14 | 23,147 | L 14-20 | Houston Oilers | Jeppesen Stadium |
| Sept. 29 | 18,636 | W 14-10 | Boston Patriots | Bears Stadium |
| Oct. 6 | 18,428 | W 50-34 | San Diego Chargers | Bears Stadium |
| Oct. 13 | 24,087 | L 33-24 | Houston Oilers | Bears Stadium |
| Oct. 18 | 25,418 | L 40-21 | Boston Patriots | Fenway Park |
| Oct. 26 | 20,377 | T 35-35 | New York Jets | Polo Grounds |
| Nov. 3 | 19,424 | L 30-28 | Buffalo Bills | Bears Stadium |
| Nov. 9 | 30,989 | L 27-17 | Buffalo Bills | War Memorial Stadium |
| Nov. 17 | 14,247 | L 14-9 | New York Jets | Bears Stadium |
| Nov. 28 | 14,763 | L 26-10 | Oakland Raiders | Bears Stadium |
| Dec. 8 | 17,443 | L 52-21 | Kansas City Chiefs | Municipal Stadium |
| Dec. 15 | 15,223 | L 35-31 | Oakland Raiders | Frank Youell Field |
| Dec. 22 | 31,312 | L 58-20 | San Diego Chargers | Balboa Stadium |
MHR MVP of 1963
For the third time in the first four years of the Broncos existence, Lionel Taylor gets the MVP award. His 78 receptions for 1101 yards and a whopping 10 touchdowns represents the most significant offensive production on the team for that year.
It's a damn shame he has never even gotten a whiff of the Pro Football Hall of Fame given how dominating he was in the AFL in these early years. Often triple covered, he would produce game in and game out. When a team scores 33 total offensive touchdowns in a season and one guy is responsible for 10 of those, you’ve got to give him the nod for MVP.
Who gets your MVP?