1997 Denver Broncos season

1997 Denver Broncos season
Owner	Pat Bowlen
President	Pat Bowlen
Head coach	Mike Shanahan
General manager	John Beake
Offensive coordinator	Gary Kubiak
Defensive coordinator	Greg Robinson
Home field	Mile High Stadium
Results
Record	12–4
Division place	2nd AFC West
Playoff finish	Won Wild Card Playoffs (vs. Jaguars) 42–17 Won Divisional Playoffs (at Chiefs) 14–10 Won AFC Championship (at Steelers) 24–21 Won Super Bowl XXXII (vs. Packers) 31–24
Pro Bowlers	QB John Elway RB Terrell Davis TE Shannon Sharpe C Tom Nalen
Uniform
← 1996 Broncos seasons 1998 →

The 1997 Denver Broncos season was the franchise's 28th season in the National Football League, and the 38th overall. The Broncos finished the season with a record of 12–4, finishing second in the AFC West, and winning Super Bowl XXXII. The Broncos were the second wild card team since the 1970 merger to win a Super Bowl, joining the 1980 Oakland Raiders.

The 1997 season saw the new addition of the Denver Broncos' newest wordmark and logo. Their default colors were navy blue pants, navy blue pants and orange shoes.^[1][2] This would continue until 2012 when they assigned the all blue to the "Main alternate" slot, replacing the primary uniforms with orange tops, white bottoms and orange/white shoes.

Offseason[]

NFL draft[]

1997 Denver Broncos draft
Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Notes
1	28	Trevor Pryce *	Defensive tackle	Clemson
3	67	Dan Neil	Guard	Texas
4	124	Cory Gilliard	Cornerback	Ball State
Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Season summary[]

Having lost a disappointing playoff game to Jacksonville the year before, many thought this might be John Elway's last chance to win a Super Bowl. They started off the season by winning their first six games, beating the Chiefs, Seahawks, Rams, Bengals, Falcons and Patriots in the first game between the last two unbeaten NFL teams since 1973.^[3] They then lost to the Raiders, then defeated the Bills, Seahawks, and Panthers. They then lost to the Chiefs, beat the Raiders and the Chargers, lost to the Steelers and the 49ers, but finished the season with a win against the Chargers.

They made the playoffs as a wildcard and advanced against the Jaguars and Chiefs and defeated the Steelers in the 1997 AFC Championship Game. They then won Super Bowl XXXII against the Packers 31–24, only the second team since the NFL/AFL merger in 1970 to ever win a Super Bowl as a wildcard, and the first AFC team to win the title since the Los Angeles Raiders in Super Bowl XVIII following the 1983 season. The win was a big morale boost to Denver and the Broncos, who had suffered through four previous Super Bowl losses, and especially Elway, who had led three of those defeats.

The 1997 Broncos were tenth in the league in total passing yards with 3704 and fourth in the league in total rushing yards with 2378. They finished with 6082 total yards, first in the NFL. They were fourth in total yards given up with 4969. They were also first in total points scored with 472. They were seventh in total points allowed with 287.

The team's 12–4 record is their fifth-best 16-game season in franchise history.

During the season John Elway threw for 3635 yards and Terrell Davis rushed for 1750 yards. Rod Smith had 70 receptions for 1180 yards and Ed McCaffrey had 45 receptions for 590 yards. Tight end Shannon Sharpe has 72 receptions for 1107 yards. Kicker Jason Elam kicked 26 field goals out of 36 attempted. Davis, Elway, Tom Nalen, Sharpe, and Neil Smith made the Pro Bowl.

Personnel[]

Staff[]

1997 Denver Broncos staff

	Front office President and Chief Executive Officer – Pat Bowlen General Manager – Director of Player Personnel – Neal Dahlen Director of Pro Scouting – Jack Elway Director of College Scouting – Ted Sundquist College Scouting Consultant – Jerry Frei College Scout – Dave Gettleman Head coaches Head Coach – Mike Shanahan Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line – Alex Gibbs Offensive coaches Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks – Gary Kubiak Running Backs – Bobby Turner Wide Receivers – Mike Heimerdinger Tight Ends – Brian Pariani Assistant Offensive Line – Barney Chavous Offensive Assistant – Dwain Painter Offensive Assistant – Ricky Porter			Defensive coaches Defensive Coordinator – Greg Robinson Defensive Line – Linebackers – Frank Bush Defensive Backs/Secondary – Ed Donatell Defensive Assistant – Rick Smith Pass Rush Specialist – John Teerlinck Special teams coaches Special Teams – Rick Dennison Strength and conditioning Strength and Conditioning – Assistant Strength and Conditioning – Strength Assistant – Barney Chavous

Roster[]

1997 Denver Broncos roster

	Quarterbacks  7 John Elway  6 Bubby Brister  8 Jeff Lewis Running backs 30 Terrell Davis 29 Howard Griffith FB 22 Vaughn Hebron 31 Derek Loville 37 Anthony Lynn FB 42 Detron Smith FB Wide receivers 83 Flipper Anderson 82 David Gamble 85 Willie Green 81 Patrick Jeffers 87 Ed McCaffrey 80 Rod Smith Tight ends 89 Dwayne Carswell 86 Byron Chamberlain 84 Shannon Sharpe		Offensive linemen 70 Jamie Brown T 63 David Diaz-Infante G/C 75 Brian Habib G 77 Tony Jones T 66 Tom Nalen C 62 Dan Neil G 69 Mark Schlereth G 74 Harry Swayne T 65 Gary Zimmerman T Defensive linemen 96 Harald Hasselbach DE 72 Ernest Jones DE 97 Mike Lodish DT 95 Michael Dean Perry DT 93 Trevor Pryce DT 99 David Richie DT 90 Neil Smith DE 98 Maa Tanuvasa DT 94 Keith Traylor DT 91 Alfred Williams DE		Linebackers 57 Allen Aldridge MLB 56 Keith Burns MLB 59 Glenn Cadrez OLB 51 John Mobley OLB 53 Bill Romanowski OLB 58 Steve Russ OLB Defensive backs 27 Steve Atwater FS 34 Tyrone Braxton SS 39 Ray Crockett CB 33 Dedrick Dodge SS 23 Darrien Gordon CB 21 Randy Hilliard CB 25 Darrius Johnson CB 26 Tim McKyer CB 32 Tony Veland FS Special teams  3 Scott Bentley K  1 Jason Elam K 16 Tom Rouen P		Reserve lists 60 K. C. Jones C (IR) Practice squad 79 Chris Banks G 50 Hillary Butler LB Rookies in italics

^[4]

Schedule[]

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	TV Time (MT)	TV Announcers	Game site	Record	Attendance
1	August 31, 1997	Kansas City Chiefs	W 19–3	NBC 2:00pm	Dick Enberg, Paul Maguire & Phil Simms	Mile High Stadium	1–0	75,600
2	September 7, 1997	at Seattle Seahawks	W 35–14	NBC 2:00pm	Dick Enberg, Paul Maguire & Phil Simms	Kingdome	2–0	55,859
3	September 14, 1997	St. Louis Rams	W 35–14	FOX 2:00pm	Sam Rosen & Bill Maas	Mile High Stadium	3–0	74,338
4	September 21, 1997	Cincinnati Bengals	W 38–20	NBC 2:00pm	Charlie Jones & Randy Cross	Mile High Stadium	4–0	73,871
5	September 28, 1997	at Atlanta Falcons	W 29–21	NBC 11:00am	Charlie Jones & Bob Trumpy	Georgia Dome	5–0	48,211
6	October 6, 1997	New England Patriots	W 34–13	ABC 7:00pm	Al Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf	Mile High Stadium	6–0	75,821
7	Bye week
8	October 19, 1997	at Oakland Raiders	L 25–28	NBC 2:00pm	Tom Hammond & Randy Cross	Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum	6–1	57,006
9	October 26, 1997	at Buffalo Bills	W 23–20 (OT)	NBC 11:00am	Tom Hammond & Randy Cross	Rich Stadium	7–1	78,458
10	November 2, 1997	Seattle Seahawks	W 30–27	NBC 2:00pm	Tom Hammond & Randy Cross	Mile High Stadium	8–1	74,212
11	November 9, 1997	Carolina Panthers	W 34–0	FOX 2:00pm	Pat Summerall & John Madden	Mile High Stadium	9–1	71,408
12	November 16, 1997	at Kansas City Chiefs	L 22–24	NBC 11:00am	Dick Enberg, Paul Maguire & Phil Simms	Arrowhead Stadium	9–2	77,963
13	November 24, 1997	Oakland Raiders	W 31–3	ABC 7:00pm	Al Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf	Mile High Stadium	10–2	75,307
14	November 30, 1997	at San Diego Chargers	W 38–28	ESPN 6:00pm	Mike Patrick & Joe Theismann	Qualcomm Stadium	11–2	54,245
15	December 7, 1997	at Pittsburgh Steelers	L 24–35	NBC 11:00am	Dick Enberg, Paul Maguire & Phil Simms	Three Rivers Stadium	11–3	59,739
16	December 15, 1997	at San Francisco 49ers	L 17–34	ABC 7:00pm	Al Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf	3Com Park	11–4	68,461
17	December 21, 1997	San Diego Chargers	W 38–3	NBC 2:00pm	Mike Breen & James Lofton	Mile High Stadium	12–4	69,632

Game summaries[]

Week 1[]

1 2 3 4 Total Chiefs 0 0 3 0 3 • Broncos 3 6 0 10 19 Date: August 31 Location: Mile High Stadium Game start: 2:00 pm MDT Referee: Ed Hochuli TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg, Paul Maguire, and Phil Simms

Week 2[]

1 2 3 4 Total • Broncos 10 3 15 7 35 Seahawks 0 14 0 0 14 Date: September 7 Location: Kingdome Game start: 2:00 pm MDT Referee: Phil Luckett TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg, Paul Maguire, and Phil Simms

Week 3[]

1 2 3 4 Total Rams 7 0 0 7 14 • Broncos 7 7 7 14 35 Date: September 14 Location: Mile High Stadium Game start: 2:00 pm MDT TV announcers (FOX): Sam Rosen and Bill Maas

Week 4[]

1 2 3 4 Total Bengals 7 0 10 3 20 • Broncos 0 14 7 17 38 Date: September 21 Location: Mile High Stadium Game start: 2:00 pm MDT Referee: Mike Carey TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Randy Cross

Week 5[]

1 2 3 4 Total • Broncos 15 8 6 0 29 Falcons 0 7 7 7 21 Date: September 28 Location: Georgia Dome Game start: 11:00 am MDT Referee: Dick Hantak TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Bob Trumpy

Week 6[]

1 2 3 4 Total Patriots 0 13 0 0 13 • Broncos 14 0 17 3 34 Date: October 6 Location: Mile High Stadium Game start: 7:00 pm MDT Referee: Jerry Markbreit TV announcers (ABC): Al Michaels, Frank Gifford and Dan Dierdorf

Week 8[]

1 2 3 4 Total Broncos 7 3 7 8 25 • Raiders 7 7 7 7 28 Date: October 19 Location: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Game start: 2:00 pm MDT Referee: Bernie Kukar TV announcers (NBC): Tom Hammond and Randy Cross

Week 9[]

1 2 3 4 OT Total • Broncos 0 10 10 0 3 23 Bills 0 0 20 0 0 20 Date: October 26 Location: Rich Stadium Game start: 11:00 am MDT Referee: Ron Blum TV announcers (NBC): Tom Hammond and Randy Cross

Week 10[]

1 2 3 4 Total Seahawks 3 7 10 7 27 • Broncos 3 10 14 3 30 Date: November 2 Location: Mile High Stadium Game start: 2:00 pm MST Referee: Tom White TV announcers (NBC): Tom Hammond and Randy Cross

Week 11[]

1 2 3 4 Total Panthers 0 0 0 0 0 • Broncos 14 3 10 7 34 Date: November 9 Location: Mile High Stadium Game start: 2:00 pm MST Referee: Johnny Grier TV announcers (Fox): Pat Summerall and John Madden

Week 12[]

1 2 3 4 Total Broncos 3 10 3 6 22 • Chiefs 0 14 7 3 24 Date: November 16 Location: Arrowhead Stadium Game start: 11:00 am MST Referee: Bill Carollo TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg, Paul Maguire and Phil Simms

Week 13[]

1 2 3 4 Total Raiders 0 3 0 0 3 • Broncos 0 14 17 0 31 Date: November 24 Location: Mile High Stadium Game start: 7:00 pm MST Referee: Mike Carey TV announcers (ABC): Al Michaels, Frank Gifford and Dan Dierdorf

Week 14[]

1 2 3 4 Total • Broncos 7 21 7 3 38 Chargers 0 7 7 14 28 Date: November 30 Location: Qualcomm Stadium Game start: 6:00 pm MST Referee: Gerald Austin TV announcers (ESPN): Mike Patrick and Joe Theismann

Week 15[]

1 2 3 4 Total Broncos 14 7 3 0 24 • Steelers 7 14 7 7 35 Date: December 7 Location: Three Rivers Stadium Game start: 11:00 am MST Referee: Walt Coleman TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg, Paul Maguire and Phil Simms

Week 16[]

1 2 3 4 Total Broncos 10 0 7 0 17 • 49ers 0 14 10 10 34 Date: December 15 Location: Candlestick Park Game start: 7:00 pm MST Referee: Phil Luckett TV announcers (ABC): Al Michaels, Frank Gifford and Dan Dierdorf

Week 17[]

1 2 3 4 Total Chargers 3 0 0 0 3 • Broncos 0 24 7 7 38 Date: December 21 Location: Mile High Stadium Game start: 2:00 pm MST Referee: Jerry Markbreit TV announcers (NBC): Mike Breen and James Lofton

Standings[]

AFC West
view talk	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	STK
(1) Kansas City Chiefs	13	3	0	.813	375	232	W6
(4) Denver Broncos	12	4	0	.750	472	287	W1
Seattle Seahawks	8	8	0	.500	365	362	W2
Oakland Raiders	4	12	0	.250	324	419	L5
San Diego Chargers	4	12	0	.250	266	425	L8

Playoffs[]

Round	Date	Opponent	Result	TV Time (MT)	TV Announcers	Game site	Attendance
Wild Card Playoffs	December 27, 1997	Jacksonville Jaguars	W 42–17	ABC 2:00pm	Al Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf	Mile High Stadium	74,481
Divisional Playoffs	January 4, 1998	at Kansas City Chiefs	W 14–10	NBC 2:00pm	Dick Enberg, Paul Maguire & Phil Simms	Arrowhead Stadium	76,695
AFC Championship	January 11, 1998	at Pittsburgh Steelers	W 24–21	NBC 10:30am	Dick Enberg, Paul Maguire & Phil Simms	Three Rivers Stadium	61,382
Super Bowl XXXII	January 25, 1998	N Green Bay Packers	W 31–24	NBC 4:30pm	Dick Enberg, Paul Maguire & Phil Simms	Qualcomm Stadium	68,912

Wild Card[]

1 2 3 4 Total Jaguars 0 7 10 0 17 • Broncos 14 7 0 21 42 Date: December 27 Location: Mile High Stadium Referee: Bernie Kukar TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Al Michaels, and Dan Dierdorf

In the 1997 AFC Wildcard Playoff weekend, the Broncos were paired against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Broncos viewed this game as a chance to avenge the previous season's Divisional Playoff loss of 30–27 to the Jaguars, an early exit in a year the Broncos were favored to win the Super Bowl. Ultimately, 21 unanswered 4th quarter points saw the Broncos seize the win and a playoff berth against the Division Champion Kansas City Chiefs.

Divisional[]

1 2 3 4 Total • Broncos 0 7 0 7 14 Chiefs 0 0 10 0 10 Date: January 4 Location: Arrowhead Stadium Referee: Jerry Markbreit TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg, Paul Maguire, and Phil Simms

AFC Championship Game[]

1 2 3 4 Total • Broncos 7 17 0 0 24 Steelers 7 7 0 7 21 Date: January 11 Location: Three Rivers Stadium Referee: Ron Blum TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg, Paul Maguire, and Phil Simms

Super Bowl[]

1 2 3 4 Total Packers 7 7 3 7 24 • Broncos 7 10 7 7 31 Date: January 25 Location: Qualcomm Stadium Game start: 4:30 pm MST Referee: Ed Hochuli TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg, Phil Simms and Paul Maguire

Awards and records[]

• Terrell Davis, Super Bowl MVP
• John Elway, Franchise Record, Most Touchdowns in One Season, 27 Touchdown Passes ^[5]

References[]

External links[]

• [1] at Pro-Football-Reference.com