Langbahn Team – Weltmeisterschaft

1980 Denver Broncos season

1980 Denver Broncos season
OwnerGerald Phipps
General managerFred Gehrke
Head coachRed Miller
Home fieldMile High Stadium
Results
Record8–8
Division place4th AFC West
Playoff finishDid not qualify

The 1980 Denver Broncos season was the team's 21st year in professional football and its 11th with the National Football League (NFL). Led by fourth-year head coach Red Miller the Broncos were 8–8, tied for third in the AFC West (fourth via tiebreaker), and missed the playoffs for the first time in four seasons.[1]

It was Miller's final season; ownership changed in February 1981 and front office changes were made in March.[2][3][4]

Offseason

NFL draft

1980 Denver Broncos draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
2 42 Rulon Jones *  Defensive end Utah State
3 74 Larry Carter  Defensive back Kentucky
4 107 Rick Parros  Running back Utah State
5 131 Mike Harden  Defensive back Michigan
5 136 Laval Short  Defensive tackle Colorado
6 157 Keith Bishop *  Guard Baylor
7 184 John Havekost  Guard Nebraska
8 197 Don Coleman  Wide receiver Oregon
9 243 Greg Bracelin  Linebacker California
10 270 Virgil Seay  Wide receiver Troy State
11 297 Phil Farris  Wide receiver North Carolina
      Made roster    †   Pro Football Hall of Fame    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

[5]

Personnel

Staff

1980 Denver Broncos staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches



Roster

1980 Denver Broncos roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams

Reserve


Rookies in italics

Preseason

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 August 9 Cincinnati Bengals W 17–6 1–0 Mile High Stadium 67,532
2 August 16 at New York Giants L 6–9 1–1 Giants Stadium 30,904
3 August 23 Los Angeles Rams L 13–26 1–2 Mile High Stadium 73,946
4 August 30 at Green Bay Packers W 38–0 2–2 Lambeau Field 53,060

Regular season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 September 7 at Philadelphia Eagles L 6–27 0–1 Veterans Stadium 70,307
2 September 14 Dallas Cowboys W 41–20 1–1 Mile High Stadium 74,919
3 September 21 San Diego Chargers L 13–30 1–2 Mile High Stadium 74,970
4 September 29 at New England Patriots L 14–23 1–3 Schaefer Stadium 60,153
5 October 5 at Cleveland Browns W 19–16 2–3 Municipal Stadium 81,065
6 October 13 Washington Redskins W 20–17 3–3 Mile High Stadium 74,657
7 October 19 Kansas City Chiefs L 17–23 3–4 Mile High Stadium 74,459
8 October 26 at New York Giants W 14–9 4–4 Giants Stadium 67,598
9 November 2 Houston Oilers L 16–20 4–5 Mile High Stadium 74,717
10 November 9 at San Diego Chargers W 20–13 5–5 San Diego Stadium 51,435
11 November 16 New York Jets W 31–24 6–5 Mile High Stadium 72,114
12 November 23 Seattle Seahawks W 36–20 7–5 Mile High Stadium 73,274
13 December 1 at Oakland Raiders L 3–9 7–6 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 51,593
14 December 7 at Kansas City Chiefs L 14–31 7–7 Arrowhead Stadium 40,237
15 December 14 Oakland Raiders L 21–24 7–8 Mile High Stadium 73,974
16 December 21 at Seattle Seahawks W 25–17 8–8 Kingdome 51,853
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1 (Sunday, September 7, 1980): at Philadelphia Eagles

Week 1: Denver Broncos at Philadelphia Eagles – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Broncos 0 0 606
Eagles 7 13 0727

at Veterans StadiumPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania

Team Category Player Statistics
DEN Passing
Rushing
Receiving
PHI Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Broncos Game Statistics Eagles
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession

Individual stats

Week 2 (Sunday, September 14, 1980): vs. Dallas Cowboys

Week 2: Dallas Cowboys at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Cowboys 0 10 3720
Broncos 7 17 14341

at Mile High StadiumDenver, Colorado

Team Category Player Statistics
DAL Passing
Rushing
Receiving
DEN Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Cowboys Game Statistics Broncos
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession

Individual stats

Week 3 (Sunday, September 21, 1980): vs. San Diego Chargers

Week 3: San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chargers 3 24 3030
Broncos 3 3 7013

at Mile High StadiumDenver, Colorado

Team Category Player Statistics
SD Passing
Rushing
Receiving
DEN Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Chargers Game Statistics Broncos
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession

Individual stats

Week 4 (Monday, September 29, 1980): at New England Patriots

Week 4: Denver Broncos at New England Patriots – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Broncos 7 0 7014
Patriots 3 7 7623

at Schaefer StadiumFoxborough, Massachusetts

Team Category Player Statistics
DEN Passing
Rushing
Receiving
NE Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Broncos Game Statistics Patriots
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession

Individual stats

Week 5 (Sunday, October 5, 1980): at Cleveland Browns

Week 5: Denver Broncos at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Broncos 3 10 3319
Browns 3 10 3016

at Municipal StadiumCleveland, Ohio

Team Category Player Statistics
DEN Passing
Rushing
Receiving
CLE Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Broncos Game Statistics Browns
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession

Individual stats

Week 6 (Monday, October 13, 1980): vs. Washington Redskins

Week 6: Washington Redskins at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Redskins 3 0 7717
Broncos 7 3 3720

at Mile High StadiumDenver, Colorado

Team Category Player Statistics
WAS Passing
Rushing
Receiving
DEN Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Redskins Game Statistics Broncos
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession

Individual stats

Week 7 (Sunday, October 19, 1980): vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Week 7: Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 3 10 7323
Broncos 7 7 3017

at Mile High StadiumDenver, Colorado

Team Category Player Statistics
KC Passing
Rushing
Receiving
DEN Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Chiefs Game Statistics Broncos
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession

Individual stats

Week 8 (Sunday, October 26, 1980): at New York Giants

Week 8: Denver Broncos at New York Giants – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Broncos 0 7 7014
Giants 3 6 009

at Giants StadiumEast Rutherford, New Jersey

Team Category Player Statistics
DEN Passing
Rushing
Receiving
NYG Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Broncos Game Statistics Giants
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession

Individual stats

Week 9 (Sunday, November 2, 1980): vs. Houston Oilers

Week 9: Houston Oilers at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Oilers 0 7 6720
Broncos 6 3 0716

at Mile High StadiumDenver, Colorado

Team Category Player Statistics
HOU Passing
Rushing
Receiving
DEN Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Oilers Game Statistics Broncos
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession

Individual stats

Week 10 (Sunday, November 9, 1980): at San Diego Chargers

Week 10: Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Broncos 0 7 6720
Chargers 0 6 0713

at Jack Murphy StadiumSan Diego, California

Team Category Player Statistics
DEN Passing
Rushing
Receiving
SD Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Broncos Game Statistics Chargers
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession

Individual stats

Week 11 (Sunday, November 16, 1980): vs. New York Jets

Week 11: New York Jets at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Jets 7 10 0724
Broncos 3 7 71431

at Mile High StadiumDenver, Colorado

Team Category Player Statistics
NYJ Passing
Rushing
Receiving
DEN Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Jets Game Statistics Broncos
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession

Individual stats

Week 12 (Sunday, November 23, 1980): vs. Seattle Seahawks

Week 12: Seattle Seahawks at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Seahawks 0 10 01020
Broncos 7 10 31636

at Mile High StadiumDenver, Colorado

Team Category Player Statistics
SEA Passing
Rushing
Receiving
DEN Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Seahawks Game Statistics Broncos
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession

Individual stats

Week 13 (Monday, December 1, 1980): at Oakland Raiders

Week 13: Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Broncos 3 0 003
Raiders 0 0 639

at Oakland–Alameda County ColiseumOakland, California

Team Category Player Statistics
DEN Passing
Rushing
Receiving
OAK Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Broncos Game Statistics Raiders
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession

Individual stats

Week 14 (Sunday, December 7, 1980): at Kansas City Chiefs

Week 14: Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Broncos 0 0 7714
Chiefs 0 28 0331

at Arrowhead StadiumKansas City, Missouri

Team Category Player Statistics
DEN Passing
Rushing
Receiving
KC Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Broncos Game Statistics Chiefs
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession

Individual stats

Week 15 (Sunday, December 14, 1980): vs. Oakland Raiders

Week 15: Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Raiders 7 10 0724
Broncos 0 7 7721

at Mile High StadiumDenver, Colorado

Team Category Player Statistics
OAK Passing
Rushing
Receiving
DEN Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Raiders Game Statistics Broncos
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession

Individual stats

Week 16 (Sunday, December 21, 1980): at Seattle Seahawks

Week 16: Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Broncos 10 9 6025
Seahawks 0 0 31417

at KingdomeSeattle, Washington

Team Category Player Statistics
DEN Passing
Rushing
Receiving
SEA Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Broncos Game Statistics Seahawks
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession

Individual stats

Standings

AFC West
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
San Diego Chargers(1) 11 5 0 .688 6–2 9–3 418 327 W2
Oakland Raiders(4) 11 5 0 .688 6–2 9–3 364 306 W2
Kansas City Chiefs 8 8 0 .500 4–4 6–8 319 336 W1
Denver Broncos 8 8 0 .500 3–5 5–7 310 323 W1
Seattle Seahawks 17 0 0 .250 8-0 9-0 291 408 w17

References

  1. ^ "Broncos sink Hawks as quick as you can say Matt Robinson". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. December 22, 1980. p. B1.
  2. ^ "Red is out, Reeves in at Denver". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. March 10, 1981. p. 19.
  3. ^ Reid, Ron (March 10, 1981). "Miller out, Reeves in as Broncos coach". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. 13.
  4. ^ "Reeves hired as new Bronco coach". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). Associated Press. March 11, 1981. p. G2.
  5. ^ "1980 Denver Broncos Draftees". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  6. ^ Pro Football Reference; Denver Broncos at Philadelphia Eagles – September 7, 1980
  7. ^ The Football Database; Denver Broncos at Philadelphia Eagles – September 7, 1980
  8. ^ Pro Football Reference; Dallas Cowboys at Denver Broncos – September 14, 1980
  9. ^ The Football Database; Dallas Cowboys at Denver Broncos – September 14, 1980
  10. ^ Pro Football Reference; San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos – September 21, 1980
  11. ^ The Football Database; San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos – September 21, 1980
  12. ^ Pro Football Reference; Denver Broncos at New England Patriots – September 29, 1980
  13. ^ The Football Database; Denver Broncos at New England Patriots – September 29, 1980
  14. ^ Pro Football Reference; Denver Broncos at Cleveland Browns – October 5, 1980
  15. ^ The Football Database; Denver Broncos at Cleveland Browns – October 5, 1980
  16. ^ Pro Football Reference; Washington Redskins at Denver Broncos – October 13, 1980
  17. ^ The Football Database; Washington Redskins at Denver Broncos – October 13, 1980
  18. ^ Pro Football Reference; Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos – October 19, 1980
  19. ^ The Football Database; Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos – October 19, 1980
  20. ^ Pro Football Reference; Denver Broncos at New York Giants – October 26, 1980
  21. ^ The Football Database; Denver Broncos at New York Giants – October 26, 1980
  22. ^ Pro Football Reference; Houston Oilers at Denver Broncos – November 2, 1980
  23. ^ The Football Database; Houston Oilers at Denver Broncos – November 2, 1980
  24. ^ Pro Football Reference; Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers – November 9, 1980
  25. ^ The Football Database; Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers – November 9, 1980
  26. ^ Pro Football Reference; New York Jets at Denver Broncos – November 16, 1980
  27. ^ The Football Database; New York Jets at Denver Broncos – November 16, 1980
  28. ^ Pro Football Reference; Seattle Seahawks at Denver Broncos – November 23, 1980
  29. ^ The Football Database; Seattle Seahawks at Denver Broncos – November 23, 1980
  30. ^ Pro Football Reference; Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders – December 1, 1980
  31. ^ The Football Database; Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders – December 1, 1980
  32. ^ Pro Football Reference; Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs – December 7, 1980
  33. ^ The Football Database; Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs – December 7, 1980
  34. ^ Pro Football Reference; Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos – December 14, 1980
  35. ^ The Football Database; Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos – December 14, 1980
  36. ^ Pro Football Reference; Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks – December 21, 1980
  37. ^ The Football Database; Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks – December 21, 1980