This is an analytical overview based on the Wikipedia article detailing the 1980 Denver Broncos season. Read the full source article here. (opens in new tab)

The 1980 Denver Broncos Season

An analytical deep dive into the Broncos' performance, roster, and key moments of the 1980 NFL campaign.

Season Overview ๐Ÿ‘‡ Game Schedule ๐Ÿ—“๏ธ

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Season Overview

Final Standings

The 1980 Denver Broncos concluded their season with a record of 8 wins and 8 losses. This placed them fourth in the competitive AFC West division, failing to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in four seasons.

Coaching and Management

Under the guidance of fourth-year Head Coach Red Miller, the team faced significant changes. Following the season, ownership transitioned in February 1981, leading to subsequent front office adjustments in March of the same year, marking the end of Miller's tenure.

Home Field Advantage

The Broncos played their home games at the iconic Mile High Stadium, a venue known for its high altitude and passionate fanbase, which often provided a distinct advantage.

Offseason Developments

NFL Draft Selections

The Broncos participated in the 1980 NFL Draft, selecting key players to bolster their roster. Notable picks included:

  • Rulon Jones (Defensive End, Utah State) - Made at least one Pro Bowl.
  • Keith Bishop (Guard, Baylor) - Made at least one Pro Bowl.

Other selections aimed to strengthen various positions across the team.

1980 Denver Broncos Draft Picks
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
242Rulon Jones*Defensive endUtah StatePro Bowl
374Larry CarterDefensive backKentucky
4107Rick ParrosRunning backUtah State
5131Mike HardenDefensive backMichigan
5136Laval ShortDefensive tackleColorado
6157Keith Bishop*GuardBaylorPro Bowl
7184John HavekostGuardNebraska
8197Don ColemanWide receiverOregon
9243Greg BracelinLinebackerCalifornia
10270Virgil SeayWide receiverTroy State
11297Phil FarrisWide receiverNorth Carolina

*Indicates Pro Bowl selection during career.

Key Personnel

Front Office

  • Chairman of the Board: Gerald Phipps
  • President: Allan Phipps
  • Vice President/General Manager: Fred Gehrke
  • Director of Player Personnel: Carroll Hardy
  • Director of Pro Personnel: John Beake

Coaching Staff

  • Head Coach: Red Miller
  • Offensive Coordinator: Rod Dowhower
  • Offensive Backfield: Paul Roach
  • Wide Receivers: Fran Polsfoot
  • Offensive Line: Whitey Dovell
  • Defensive Coordinator: Joe Collier
  • Defensive Line: Stan Jones
  • Linebackers: Bob Zeman
  • Defensive Backs: Richie McCabe
  • Special Teams: Marv Braden

Team Roster

Quarterbacks

  • 16 Jeff Knapple
  • 7 Craig Morton
  • 17 Matt Robinson

Running Backs

  • 30 Jim Jensen
  • 32 Jon Keyworth
  • 41 Rob Lytle
  • 46 Dave Preston

Wide Receivers

  • 82 Larry Brunson
  • 86 Emery Moorehead
  • 25 Haven Moses
  • 80 Rick Upchurch
  • 81 Steve Watson

Tight Ends

  • 85 Ron Egloff
  • 88 Riley Odoms
  • 87 James Wright

Offensive Linemen

  • 54 Keith Bishop (G/C)
  • 64 Billy Bryan (C)
  • 73 Kelvin Clark (T)
  • 62 Tom Glassic (G)
  • 65 Glenn Hyde (G)
  • 60 Paul Howard (G)
  • 71 Claudie Minor (T)
  • 70 Dave Studdard (T)
  • 61 Arland Thompson (G)

Defensive Linemen

  • 77 Greg Boyd (DE)
  • 68 Rubin Carter (NT)
  • 79 Barney Chavous (DE)
  • 75 Rulon Jones (DE)
  • 72 Don Latimer (NT)
  • 66 Brison Manor (DE)
  • 63 Laval Short (NT)

Linebackers

  • 52 Greg Bracelin (OLB)
  • 56 Larry Evans (ILB)
  • 53 Randy Gradishar (ILB)
  • 57 Tom Jackson (OLB)
  • 58 Rob Nairne (OLB)
  • 50 Jim Ryan (ILB)

Defensive Backs

  • 43 Steve Foley (FS/CB)
  • 31 Mike Harden (SS)
  • 27 Maurice Harvey (FS)
  • 22 Aaron Kyle (CB)
  • 36 Bill Thompson (SS)
  • 20 Louis Wright (CB)

Special Teams

  • 11 Luke Prestridge (P)
  • 19 Fred Steinfort (K)

Reserve / Injured

  • 24 Otis Armstrong (RB)
  • 35 Larry Canada (RB)
  • -- Tom Davis (C)
  • -- John Havekost (G)
  • -- Rick Parros (RB)
  • 83 Golden Richards (WR)
  • 59 Joe Rizzo (LB)
  • 45 Perry Smith (CB)
  • 51 Bob Swenson (LB)

Players in italics were rookies.

Preseason Performance

Preseason Schedule

The Broncos began their 1980 campaign with a preseason schedule designed to prepare the team for the upcoming regular season. Key matchups included:

  • August 9 vs. Cincinnati Bengals: Won 17-6
  • August 16 at New York Giants: Lost 6-9
  • August 23 vs. Los Angeles Rams: Lost 13-26
  • August 30 at Green Bay Packers: Won 38-0

The team finished the preseason with a 2-2 record.

Regular Season Schedule

Matchups and Outcomes

The Denver Broncos navigated a challenging 1980 regular season schedule. Here is a summary of their weekly matchups:

1980 Denver Broncos Regular Season Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1Sep 7at Philadelphia EaglesL 6โ€“270โ€“1Veterans Stadium70,307
2Sep 14vs. Dallas CowboysW 41โ€“201โ€“1Mile High Stadium74,919
3Sep 21vs. San Diego ChargersL 13โ€“301โ€“2Mile High Stadium74,970
4Sep 29at New England PatriotsL 14โ€“231โ€“3Schaefer Stadium60,153
5Oct 5at Cleveland BrownsW 19โ€“162โ€“3Municipal Stadium81,065
6Oct 13vs. Washington RedskinsW 20โ€“173โ€“3Mile High Stadium74,657
7Oct 19vs. Kansas City ChiefsL 17โ€“233โ€“4Mile High Stadium74,459
8Oct 26at New York GiantsW 14โ€“94โ€“4Giants Stadium67,598
9Nov 2vs. Houston OilersL 16โ€“204โ€“5Mile High Stadium74,717
10Nov 9at San Diego ChargersW 20โ€“135โ€“5Jack Murphy Stadium51,435
11Nov 16vs. New York JetsW 31โ€“246โ€“5Mile High Stadium72,114
12Nov 23vs. Seattle SeahawksW 36โ€“207โ€“5Mile High Stadium73,274
13Dec 1at Oakland RaidersL 3โ€“97โ€“6Oaklandโ€“Alameda County Coliseum51,593
14Dec 7at Kansas City ChiefsL 14โ€“317โ€“7Arrowhead Stadium40,237
15Dec 14vs. Oakland RaidersL 21โ€“247โ€“8Mile High Stadium73,974
16Dec 21at Seattle SeahawksW 25โ€“178โ€“8Kingdome51,853

Game Highlights

Week 1 vs. Eagles

The season commenced with an away game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Despite a competitive first half, the Broncos struggled offensively, ultimately falling 6-27.

Week 1: Denver Broncos at Philadelphia Eagles
Quarter1234Total
Broncos00606
Eagles7130727

Key Moments: Eagles' Harold Carmichael scored an early touchdown. The Broncos managed two field goals in the third quarter but could not overcome the deficit.

Attendance: 70,307

Week 2 vs. Cowboys

Returning home, the Broncos secured a decisive victory over the Dallas Cowboys with a commanding performance, winning 41-20. This marked a significant turnaround from the previous week.

Week 2: Dallas Cowboys at Denver Broncos
Quarter1234Total
Cowboys0103720
Broncos71714341

Key Moments: Quarterback Matt Robinson threw touchdown passes and ran for two scores. The Broncos' defense forced turnovers, contributing to the dominant win.

Attendance: 74,919

Week 3 vs. Chargers

The Broncos hosted the San Diego Chargers in a divisional matchup. Despite a strong effort, they succumbed to the Chargers' offense, losing 13-30.

Week 3: San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos
Quarter1234Total
Chargers3243030
Broncos337013

Key Moments: The Chargers established an early lead with a touchdown and field goal. Denver's offense struggled to keep pace, managing only one touchdown and three field goals.

Attendance: 74,970

Week 4 at Patriots

Facing the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football, the Broncos were unable to secure a victory, losing 14-23 in a closely contested game.

Week 4: Denver Broncos at New England Patriots
Quarter1234Total
Broncos707014
Patriots377623

Key Moments: Denver scored first but allowed the Patriots to rally. A late field goal sealed the win for New England.

Attendance: 60,153

Week 5 at Browns

In a tight contest against the Cleveland Browns, the Broncos emerged victorious with a narrow 19-16 win, thanks to clutch kicking from Fred Steinfort.

Week 5: Denver Broncos at Cleveland Browns
Quarter1234Total
Broncos3103319
Browns3103016

Key Moments: The game was a back-and-forth affair, tied at 13-13 at halftime. Steinfort's four field goals, including the game-winner, proved decisive.

Attendance: 81,065

Week 6 vs. Redskins

On Monday Night Football, the Broncos hosted the Washington Redskins and secured a dramatic comeback victory, winning 20-17.

Week 6: Washington Redskins at Denver Broncos
Quarter1234Total
Redskins307717
Broncos733720

Key Moments: Craig Morton connected with Rick Upchurch for a late touchdown, sealing the win. The Broncos' defense held strong in the crucial final moments.

Attendance: 74,657

Week 7 vs. Chiefs

The Broncos faced the Kansas City Chiefs at home but were unable to maintain their momentum, losing 17-23.

Week 7: Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos
Quarter1234Total
Chiefs3107323
Broncos773017

Key Moments: Denver took an early lead, but the Chiefs responded with two touchdowns before halftime. Despite a strong defensive effort, the Broncos couldn't close the gap in the second half.

Attendance: 74,459

Week 8 at Giants

In a defensive struggle, the Broncos traveled to face the New York Giants and emerged victorious with a 14-9 win.

Week 8: Denver Broncos at New York Giants
Quarter1234Total
Broncos077014
Giants36009

Key Moments: The Broncos scored touchdowns in the second and third quarters, while their defense limited the Giants to field goals.

Attendance: 67,598

Week 9 vs. Oilers

The Houston Oilers visited Denver, and in a close game, the Broncos fell short, losing 16-20.

Week 9: Houston Oilers at Denver Broncos
Quarter1234Total
Oilers076720
Broncos630716

Key Moments: Earl Campbell scored two touchdowns for the Oilers. The Broncos' offense managed only field goals and a late touchdown, not enough to secure the win.

Attendance: 74,717

Week 10 at Chargers

The Broncos traveled to San Diego and secured a crucial road victory against the Chargers, winning 20-13.

Week 10: Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers
Quarter1234Total
Broncos076720
Chargers060713

Key Moments: Rob Lytle scored a touchdown in the second quarter, and the Broncos added points via field goals and a late touchdown run to secure the win.

Attendance: 51,435

Week 11 vs. Jets

Hosting the New York Jets, the Broncos delivered a strong offensive performance to win 31-24.

Week 11: New York Jets at Denver Broncos
Quarter1234Total
Jets7100724
Broncos3771431

Key Moments: The Broncos scored 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, including a touchdown reception by Jim Jensen and a defensive score, to clinch the victory.

Attendance: 72,114

Week 12 vs. Seahawks

The Broncos continued their winning streak at home against the Seattle Seahawks, securing a convincing 36-20 victory.

Week 12: Seattle Seahawks at Denver Broncos
Quarter1234Total
Seahawks077620
Broncos7771536

Key Moments: The Broncos offense scored multiple touchdowns, including a strong performance from the running game. A dominant fourth quarter sealed the win.

Attendance: 73,274

Week 13 at Raiders

A critical divisional road game against the Oakland Raiders resulted in a tough 3-9 loss for the Broncos.

Week 13: Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders
Quarter1234Total
Broncos00303
Raiders03069

Key Moments: This was a low-scoring defensive battle. The Broncos' only points came from a field goal, while the Raiders managed three field goals.

Attendance: 51,593

Week 14 at Chiefs

The Broncos traveled to Kansas City to face the Chiefs, suffering a significant 14-31 defeat.

Week 14: Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs
Quarter1234Total
Broncos773014
Chiefs31071131

Key Moments: The Chiefs established control early, scoring touchdowns and field goals throughout the game. Denver's offense struggled to generate consistent scoring.

Attendance: 40,237

Week 15 vs. Raiders

In a crucial home game against the Oakland Raiders, the Broncos narrowly lost 21-24 in a game that could have significantly impacted playoff hopes.

Week 15: Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos
Quarter1234Total
Raiders003624
Broncos630721

Key Moments: The Broncos led early but allowed the Raiders to come back. A late field goal by Oakland sealed the victory, effectively ending Denver's playoff chances.

Attendance: 73,974

Week 16 at Seahawks

Concluding the season on the road against the Seattle Seahawks, the Broncos secured a 25-17 victory.

Week 16: Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks
Quarter1234Total
Broncos777425
Seahawks073717

Key Moments: The Broncos established an early lead and maintained control throughout the game, ending the season on a positive note.

Attendance: 51,853

Draft Class Analysis

Impact Players

The 1980 draft class aimed to inject new talent into the Broncos roster. Key contributors emerged, notably:

  • Rulon Jones: A standout defensive end who earned Pro Bowl honors during his career, providing consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
  • Keith Bishop: An accomplished guard who also achieved Pro Bowl status, anchoring the offensive line.

These selections represented strategic investments in strengthening the team's core positions for future success.

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References

References

  1.  The Football Database; Denver Broncos at Philadelphia Eagles รขย€ย“ September 7, 1980
  2.  The Football Database; Dallas Cowboys at Denver Broncos รขย€ย“ September 14, 1980
  3.  The Football Database; San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos รขย€ย“ September 21, 1980
  4.  The Football Database; Denver Broncos at New England Patriots รขย€ย“ September 29, 1980
  5.  The Football Database; Denver Broncos at Cleveland Browns รขย€ย“ October 5, 1980
  6.  The Football Database; Washington Redskins at Denver Broncos รขย€ย“ October 13, 1980
  7.  The Football Database; Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos รขย€ย“ October 19, 1980
  8.  The Football Database; Denver Broncos at New York Giants รขย€ย“ October 26, 1980
  9.  The Football Database; Houston Oilers at Denver Broncos รขย€ย“ November 2, 1980
  10.  The Football Database; Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers รขย€ย“ November 9, 1980
  11.  The Football Database; New York Jets at Denver Broncos รขย€ย“ November 16, 1980
  12.  The Football Database; Seattle Seahawks at Denver Broncos รขย€ย“ November 23, 1980
  13.  The Football Database; Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders รขย€ย“ December 1, 1980
  14.  The Football Database; Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs รขย€ย“ December 7, 1980
  15.  The Football Database; Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos รขย€ย“ December 14, 1980
  16.  The Football Database; Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks รขย€ย“ December 21, 1980
A full list of references for this article are available at the 1980 Denver Broncos season Wikipedia page

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Academic Disclaimer

Important Notice

This content has been generated by an AI model for educational and analytical purposes, drawing upon data from Wikipedia. While efforts have been made to ensure accuracy and adherence to the source material, this presentation may not capture every nuance or be entirely free from interpretation.

This is not official sports commentary or analysis. The information provided is intended for academic study and personal enrichment. Always consult official NFL records and reputable sports historians for definitive information. The creators of this page are not affiliated with the Denver Broncos or the NFL.

The creators assume no responsibility for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information presented herein.