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The Denver Broncos of 1968 were actually a pretty exciting team despite their 5-9 losing record. This season, the Broncos recorded their highest number of wins in a season since the 1962 season with five wins. Floyd Little won the AFL’s rushing title, becoming the first player on a last place team to accomplish this feat. While Marlin Briscoe would become the first African American starting quarterback in NFL history, finishing first runner-up for Rookie of the Year.
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Naturally, what does a bad franchise do with such promise? They cut Briscoe prior to the 1969 season without any viable Plan B.
Of course, there were other issues the franchise should have been focused on. A number of rumors surfaced that the Broncos were going to move out of Denver. Speculation had them moving to Birmingham, Alabama, Atlanta or Chicago.
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Obviously nothing ever came of this, but it did lead to Floyd Little and the Broncos campaigning to build a fanbase that eventually spawned Broncomania. It was also the year Bears Stadium was sold the city of Denver which renamed it "Mile High Stadium." Not only that, 1968 was the first season in which the familiar "D" appeared on the Broncos’ helmets. History was being made on so many levels in 1968.
1968 Preseason |
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| DATE | ATTENDANCE | SCORE | OPPONENT | GAME SITE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug. 10 | 13,841 | W 15-13 | Cincinnati Bengals | University of Denver Stadium |
| Aug. 17 | 20,901 | L 39-16 | Minnesota Vikings | University of Denver Stadium |
| Aug. 23 | 22,254 | L 22-6 | San Francisco 49ers | University of Denver Stadium |
| Aug. 30 | 10,328 | L 6-3 | San Diego Chargers | San Antonio, Texas |
| Sept. 7 | 18,031 | L 23-7 | Oakland Raiders | Portland, Oregon |
1968 Regular Season |
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| Sept. 15 | 25,049 | L 24-10 | Cincinnati Bengals | Nippert Stadium |
| Sept. 22 | 45,821 | L 34-2 | Kansas City Chiefs | Municipal Stadium |
| Sept. 29 | 37,024 | L 20-17 | Boston Patriots | Bears Stadium |
| Oct. 6 | 41,257 | W 10-7 | Cincinnati Bengals | Bears Stadium |
| Oct. 13 | 62,052 | W 21-13 | New York Jets | Shea Stadium |
| Oct. 20 | 42,953 | L 55-24 | San Diego Chargers | San Diego Stadium |
| Oct. 27 | 44,115 | W 21-14 | Miami Dolphins | Bears Stadium |
| Nov. 3 | 18,304 | W 35-14 | Boston Patriots | Fenway Park |
| Nov. 10 | 50,002 | L 43-7 | Oakland Raiders | Bears Stadium |
| Nov. 17 | 36,075 | L 38-17 | Houston Oilers | Astrodome |
| Nov. 24 | 35,201 | W 34-32 | Buffalo Bills | Bears Stadium |
| Dec. 1 | 35,212 | L 47-23 | San Diego Chargers | Bears Stadium |
| Dec. 8 | 47,754 | L 33-27 | Oakland Raiders | Oakland Coliseum |
| Dec. 14 | 38,463 | L 30-7 | Kansas City Chiefs | Bears Stadium |
MHR MVP of 1968
Marlin Briscoe gets the nod here over Floyd Little. Mostly because Briscoe was the first quarterback the Denver Broncos had since Frank Tripucka that was dynamic enough to win some football games.
He would finish with 14 touchdown passes in just 5 starts and game action in 11 total. He played a large role in four of the five wins that year, with his best game coming against the Buffalo Bills late in the season when he, Floyd Little and Al Denson exploded offensively. Brisoe threw for 335 yards and four touchdowns, while Little caught four passes for a whooping 165 yards and one touchdown. Denson nabbed another five passes for 107 and a touchdown. The Broncos defeated the Bills 34-32 in what would be their fifth and final win of the 1968 season.
Who gets your MVP?