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The Denver Broncos somehow would win four games in 1966, despite how terrible the team was offensively. Head coach Mac Speedie was fired after an 0-2 start. He was replaced by Ray Malavasi. The coaching carousel certainly didn't turn the franchise around - it would be another decade before that would happen.
What made matters worse that year was having to watch as Broncos’ quarterbacks threw more interceptions than touchdowns given up to opponents by the Denver defense along the way to setting an AFL record for the fewest points scored in a single season.
In the season opener against the Houston Oilers, the Broncos failed to record a single first down in the entire game on their way to a 45-7 loss. Denver finished that game with -1 passing yards and a net yardage total of 26 yards.
A footnote to the season, this was the first season in which the champion of the AFL faced off against the NFL’s champion in what would come to be credited as the first Super Bowl.
1966 Preseason |
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| DATE | ATTENDANCE | SCORE | OPPONENT | GAME SITE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug. 6 | 17,771 | L 32-30 | Kansas City Chiefs | University of Denver Stadium |
| Aug. 12 | 30,476 | L 25-3 | Buffalo Bills | War Memorial Stadium |
| Aug. 24 | 18,442 | W 28-16 | Miami Dolphins | Memphis, Tennessee |
| Aug. 28 | 14,074 | L 52-21 | Oakland Raiders | Bears Stadium |
1966 Regular Season |
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| Sept. 3 | 30,156 | L 45-7 | Houston Oilers | Rice Stadium |
| Sept. 18 | 25,337 | L 24-10 | Boston Patriots | Bears Stadium |
| Sept. 25 | 29,878 | L 16-7 | New York Jets | Bears Stadium |
| Oct. 2 | 27,203 | W 40-38 | Houston Oilers | Bears Stadium |
| Oct. 8 | 33,929 | L 37-10 | Kansas City Chiefs | Municipal Stadium |
| Oct. 16 | 23,393 | L 24-7 | Miami Dolphins | Orange Bowl |
| Oct. 23 | 26,196 | L 56-10 | Kansas City Chiefs | Bears Stadium |
| Oct. 30 | 25,819 | L 24-17 | San Diego Chargers | Balboa Stadium |
| Nov. 6 | 18,154 | W 17-10 | Boston Patriots | Fenway Park |
| Nov. 20 | 26,703 | L 17-3 | Oakland Raiders | Bears Stadium |
| Nov. 27 | 24,860 | W 20-17 | San Diego Chargers | Bears Stadium |
| Dec. 4 | 32,592 | W 17-7 | Miami Dolphins | Bears Stadium |
| Dec. 11 | 31,765 | L 28-10 | Oakland Raiders | Oakland Coliseum |
| Dec. 18 | 40,538 | L 38-21 | Buffalo Bills | War Memorial Stadium |
MHR MVP of 1966
The Broncos had just three Pro Bowlers that year, but the one who shined the most was punter slash offensive receiving threat, Bob Scarpitto. He would lead the team with 5 total touchdowns on the year, which is quite a large percentage of the 18 total touchdowns this woeful team would score that year.
However, it was contribution in the punting game that set him a cut above the rest as he would punt the ball an astonishing 77 times in fourteen games, averaging an impressive 45.2 yards per punt with a long of 70. Not bad, considering the Broncos were punting more than any team in the league.
Who gets your MVP?