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BRONCO MILESTONES

SEPTEMBER 9, 1960- The Broncos become the first AFL victor when they defeated the Patriots in Boston in history's first AFL game, 13-10. Attendance - 21,597.

JUNE 8, 1966- Merger of American and National Leagues announced.

AUGUST 5, 1967- Broncos defeat Detroit Lions 13-7 in pre-season game for AFL's first win over the NFL.

OCTOBER 22, 1973- "Orange Monday" With banners waving, the Broncos perhaps play the most important game to date in the club's history against Oakland on national television. Denver comes back to knot the contest, 23-23, on a 35-yard field goal by Jim Turner.

DECEMBER 9, 1973- Denver 42, San Diego 28! The Broncos are winners at last, as Denver clinches the team's seventh victory of the season, assuring the club of a winning year.

DECEMBER 4, 1977- With a 24-14 win at Houston the Broncos clinch a playoff berth, first in the club's history. Later in the day, the Broncos clinch the AFC Western Division championship when the Raiders fall to the Los Angeles Rams.

DECEMBER 18, 1977- The Broncos lose to Dallas in the regular season finale, 14-6, but post the best record in the history of the franchise, 12-2, tied with Dallas for the best in the NFL.

DECEMBER 24, 1977- Before the largest crowd ever to watch a sporting event in the state of Colorado, 75,011, the Broncos stop the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of playoff action, 34-21.

JANUARY 1, 1978- In a hard-fought game at Mile High Stadium, the Broncos dethrone the Raiders, 20-17, for the AFC championship and a trip to the Super Bowl in New Orleans.

JANUARY 15, 1978- Broncos fall to the Cowboys, 27-10, in Super Bowl XII.

DECEMBER 10, 1978- Denver downs Kansas City, 24-3, winning second straight division championship.

DECEMBER 30, 1978- Denver loses in the playoffs to eventual Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, 33-10.

JANUARY 29, 1979- Broncos are represented by an all-time high of seven players in the NFL Pro Bowl, including Randy Gradishar, Tom Jackson, Riley Odoms, Billy Thompson, Louis Wright, Lyle Alzado, and Rick Upchurch.

DECEMBER 17, 1979- Denver clinches a playoff berth for the third straight year.

DECEMBER 23, 1979- Denver loses in wild card playoff game at Houston, 13-7.

MAY 2, 1983- In the biggest trade in franchise history, Denver acquires quarterback John Elway, the first player taken in the NFL draft, and signs him to a five-year contract.

DECEMBER 11, 1983- Elway throws three fourth quarter touchdown passes to erase a 19-0 deficit and lead the Broncos to a 21-19 playoff-clinching win over Baltimore. This marks the fourth Bronco appearance in playoff competition.

DECEMBER 24, 1983- Denver loses the wild card game at Seattle. 31-7.

MARCH 23, 1984- Pat Bowlen is introduced as the new owner of the Denver Broncos, assuming the title of President and Chief Executive Officer.

DECEMBER 15, 1984- Denver wins its 13th game of the season, the most in Bronco history, and captures the AFC West crown with a 31-14 win over Seattle.

DECEMBER 30, 1984- Pittsburgh defeats Denver 24-17 in a divisional playoff game.

DECEMBER 20, 1985- Denver beats Seattle 27-24 to close out the season at 11-5.

DECEMBER 20, 1986- Broncos conclude regular season play with second straight 11-5 record.

JANUARY 4, 1987- Broncos post a 22-17 playoff win over New England Patriots before 76,105, largest crowd ever to watch a Denver home game.

JANUARY 11, 1987- "The Drive" Broncos post a thrilling, 23-20 overtime win over the Cleveland Browns to win the AFC championship and earn a trip to Super Bowl XXI.

JANUARY 25, 1987- The Broncos lose to the New York Giants by a 39-20 score in Super Bowl XXI, a game watched by 101,063 at the Rose Bowl and played before a national television audience of 127,000,000. In addition, the game was televised live in 53 other nations.

JANUARY 17, 1988- Denver becomes the first AFC team to win consecutive conference championships since Pittsburgh of 1978-79 by defeating Cleveland 38-33. The game garnered a 91 television share in the Denver area, believed to be an all-time national viewing high.

JANUARY 31, 1988- The Broncos lose to Washington 42-10 in Super Bowl XXII in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.

JANUARY 7, 1990- The Broncos advance to the AFC Championship Game with a come-from-behind 24-23 win over Pittsburgh.

JANUARY 14, 1990- The Broncos become the only AFC team to win three conference titles in the 1980s with a 37-21 victory over Cleveland in the AFC Championship Game.

JANUARY 28, 1990- Denver loses 55-10 to San Francisco in Super Bowl XXIV in the New Orleans Superdome.

DECEMBER 22, 1991- Denver closes out the regular season at 12-4 and wins the AFC West title for the fifth time in eight years.

JANUARY 4, 1992- The Broncos overcome a 21-6 deficit to defeat Houston 26-24 in an AFC Divisional Playoff Game. The winning field goal was set up by a drive that began at the Denver two. The Broncos converted two fourth down plays to keep the possession alive.

JANUARY 12, 1992- Despite a sterling effort by Denver's defense, the Broncos fall 10-7 to Buffalo in the AFC Championship Game.

JANUARY 9, 1994- The Broncos return to the playoffs as a Wild Card team, dropping a 42-24 first round game to the Los Angeles Raiders at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

JANUARY 31, 1994- Mike Shanahan is hired as the 11th head coach in Bronco history. Shanahan, a Denver assistant coach from 1984-87 and 1989-91, signed a seven-year contract as head coach after spending the previous three years in San Francisco where he served as offensive coordinator.

DECEMBER 1, 1996- The Broncos win the AFC West and clinch home-field advantage for the playoffs with a 34-7 win over Seattle.

JANUARY 4, 1997- Denver hosts its first playoff game since Jan.4, 1992, as the Jacksonville Jaguars come to Mile High Stadium and beat the Broncos.

DECEMBER 27, 1997- The Broncos defeat Jacksonville 42-17 in the AFC Wild Card game at Mile High Stadium to record their first playoff victory since Jan. 4, 1992.

JANUARY 4, 1998- The Broncos defeat Kansas City 14-10 in the AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Arrowhead Stadium.

JANUARY 11, 1998- The Broncos defeat at Pittsburgh 24-21 in the AFC Championship Game at Three Rivers Stadium, John Elway passed for two touchdowns in the final 1:47 of the first half to help Denver build a 24-14 lead and the Broncos forced four turnovers by Pittsburgh quarterback Kordell Stewart and held on to earn a trip to Super Bowl XXXII.

JANUARY 25, 1998- Terrell Davis's third one-yard touchdown run with 1:45 remaining capped a brilliant 157-yard performance and lifted the Denver Broncos to a stunning 31-24 victory over the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXII in San Diego, their first NFL championship in the 38-year history of the franchise.

October 26, 1999- In the year of the longball, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa hit 62, and Jason Elam hit 63. It's fair to say Elam's Mile long, Mile High kick went farther than the 28-year-old, 63-yard record field goal that former New Orleans kicker Tom Dempsey booted against the Detroit Lions at Tulane Stadium on Nov. 8, 1970. Just as Dempsey now has company, so do all-time NFL greats Jim Brown and O.J. Simpson. They now share with Davis their record as the running backs who got to 1,000 yards fastest in a season. Each has done it in seven games, Brown in 1958, Simpson in '73 and '75. Davis, whose 136 rushing yards against Jacksonville a team that had not allowed a 100-yard rusher in its past 18 regular-season games, gave him 1,001 for the season and like Elam, owned a slice of NFL history. Elam joined Dempsey, Davis joined Brown and Simpson, Elway went over 7,000 career passing attempts, Denver won its 20th straight home regular-season game, the Broncos extended their franchise-record 12-game winning streak.

December 27, 1999- Terrell Davis became only the fourth running back in NFL history to reach the coveted 2,000 yard mark. He won his first NFL rushing title, becoming the second Bronco to do that. The other was Otis Armstrong, who ran for 1,407 in 1974. What's more, Davis passed Floyd Little to become the club's career rushing leader. Little had 6,323 in nine seasons from 1967-75. Davis has 6,413 in four. "He is the best back I have ever played with, and he's the best back I've ever seen,' said quarterback John Elway. "He's got consistency and toughness. There is no one better.'' Davis entered the game needing 170 yards to reach 2,000. He powered his way to 54 yards in the first quarter, 28 more in the second, 51 in the third, then 45 in the historic fourth, when flashbulbs began exploding much like the 74,057 in attendance at Mile High.

JANUARY 9, 1999- The Broncos defeat the Miami Dolphins 38-3 in the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Mile High Stadium. With 21 carries for 199 yards, Terrell Davis blew past the Dolphins defense and Roger Craig, Chuck Foreman and Earnest Byner into eighth place on the NFL's all-time postseason rushing list.

JANUARY 17, 1999- The Broncos defeat the New York Jets 23-10 in the AFC Championship Game at Mile High Stadium. they advanced to their AFC record sixth Super Bowl. The Broncos defense allowed a combined 13 points and 14 rushing yards in its two playoff victories.

JANUARY 31, 1999- The Broncos offense scored 17 fourth-quarter points to put away the Atlanta Falcons 34-19 in Super Bowl XXXIII. Elway completed 18 of 29 passes for 336 yards and one touchdown and rushed for another, on the way to his first Super Bowl MVP award.