1996 Denver Broncos season
{{short description|NFL team season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2013}}
{{Infobox NFL team season
| logo =
| team = Denver Broncos
| year = 1996
| record = 13–3
| division_place = 1st AFC West
| coach = Mike Shanahan
| off_coach = Gary Kubiak
| def_coach = Greg Robinson
| general manager = John Beake and Mike Shanahan
| owner = Pat Bowlen
| president = Pat Bowlen
| stadium = Mile High Stadium
| playoffs = Lost Divisional Playoffs
(vs. Jaguars) 27–30
| pro bowlers = {{Collapsible list
| title = 9
| 2 = QB John Elway
| 3 = RB Terrell Davis
| 4 = TE Shannon Sharpe
| 5 = T Gary Zimmerman
| 6 = DE Alfred Williams
| 7 = DT Michael Perry
| 8 = OLB Bill Romanowski
| 9 = FS Steve Atwater
| 10 = SS Tyrone Braxton
}}
| AP All-pros = {{Collapsible list
| title = 5
| 1 = RB Terrell Davis (1st team)
| 2 = TE Shannon Sharpe (1st team)
| 3 = T Gary Zimmerman (1st team)
| 4 = DE Alfred Williams (1st team)
| 5 = QB John Elway (2nd team)
}}
| MVP = Terrell Davis
| uniform = 200px
| shortnavlink = Broncos seasons
}}
File:Mile High Stadium during a Broncos game on September 15, 1996.jpg at Mile High Stadium, September 15, 1996]]
The 1996 Denver Broncos season was the franchise's 27th season in the National Football League, the 37th overall and their 2nd under head coach Mike Shanahan. The Broncos improved on their 8–8 record from 1995 and finished the season with a 13–3 record. They also clinched the AFC West for the first time since 1991, and earning the top seed in the AFC Playoffs.
In the playoffs, the Broncos were upset by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Divisional Round, 30–27. Prior to their defeat, they were the top-seeded team in the NFL and were heavily favored to go to and win the Super Bowl by many analysts, breaking the AFC losing streak from the 1980s. The loss rendered the 1996 Broncos team as a historic failure, as it was a major Super Bowl or bust year.
Offseason
= NFL draft =
{{main|1996 NFL draft}}
{{NFL team draft start
| year = 1996
| teamname = Denver Broncos
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 1
| pick = 15
| player = John Mobley
| position = Linebacker
| college = Kutztown
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 2
| pick = 44
| player = Tory James
| position = Defensive back
| college = LSU
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
| probowl = yes
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 3
| pick = 65
| player = Detron Smith
| position = Running back
| college = Texas A&M
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 3
| pick = 78
| player = Mark Campbell
| position = Defensive tackle
| college = Florida
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 4
| pick = 100
| player = Jeff Lewis
| position = Quarterback
| college = Northern Arizona
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 4
| pick = 122
| player = Darrius Johnson
| position = Defensive back
| college = Oklahoma
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 5
| pick = 159
| player = Patrick Jeffers
| position = Wide receiver
| college = Virginia
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 6
| pick = 181
| player = Tony Veland
| position = Defensive back
| college = Nebraska
| notes =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 7
| pick = 213
| player = Leslie Ratliffe
| position = Offensive tackle
| college = Tennessee
| notes =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 7
| pick = 226
| player = Chris Banks
| position = Guard
| college = Kansas
| notes =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 7
| pick = 235
| player = L. T. Levine
| position = Running back
| college = Kansas
| notes =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 7
| pick = 236
| player = Brian Gragert
| position = Punter
| college = Wyoming
| notes =
}}
{{NFL team draft end
| hof = no
}}
Personnel
= Staff =
{{NFL final staff
| year = 1996
| team = Denver Broncos
| front_office =
- President and Chief Executive Officer – Pat Bowlen
- General Manager – John Beake
- Director of Player Personnel – Neal Dahlen
- Director of Pro Scouting – Jack Elway
- Director of College Scouting – Ted Sundquist
- College Scouting Consultant – Jerry Frei
- Administrative Assistant/Player Personnel – Harold Richardson
- Administrative Assistant/Defense – J. D. Brookhart
- College Scout – Dave Gettleman
| head_coach =
- Head Coach – Mike Shanahan
- Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line – Alex Gibbs
| offensive =
- Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks – Gary Kubiak
- Running Backs – Bobby Turner
- Wide Receivers – Mike Heimerdinger
- Tight Ends – Brian Pariani
- Assistant Offensive Line – Barney Chavous
- Offensive Assistant – Rick Dennison
| defensive =
- Defensive Coordinator – Greg Robinson
- Defensive Line – George Dyer
- Linebackers – Frank Bush
- Defensive Backs/Secondary – Ed Donatell
- Defensive Assistant – Rick Smith
| special_teams =
- Special Teams – Richard Smith
| strength =
- Strength and Conditioning – Rich Tuten
- Assistant Strength and Conditioning – Greg Saporta
- Strength Assistant – Barney Chavous
}}
= Roster =
{{NFL season roster
| year = 1996
| team = Denver Broncos
| quarterbacks =
{{NFLplayer| 7|John Elway}}
{{NFLplayer| 8|Jeff Lewis|d=American football|rookie=y}}
{{NFLplayer|14|Bill Musgrave}}
| running_backs =
{{NFLplayer|29|Aaron Craver|FB}}
{{NFLplayer|30|Terrell Davis}}
{{NFLplayer|22|Vaughn Hebron|KR}}
{{NFLplayer|38|Reggie Rivers}}
{{NFLplayer|42|Detron Smith|rookie=y|FB}}
| wide_receivers =
{{NFLplayer|82|Patrick Jeffers|rookie=y}}
{{NFLplayer|81|Todd Kinchen|PR}}
{{NFLplayer|87|Ed McCaffrey}}
{{NFLplayer|83|Anthony Miller|d=wide receiver, born 1965}}
{{NFLplayer|88|Mike Sherrard}}
{{NFLplayer|80|Rod Smith|d=wide receiver|PR}}
| tight_ends =
{{NFLplayer|89|Dwayne Carswell}}
{{NFLplayer|86|Byron Chamberlain}}
{{NFLplayer|84|Shannon Sharpe}}
| offensive_linemen =
{{NFLplayer|70|Jamie Brown|d=American football|T}}
{{NFLplayer|63|David Diaz-Infante|G}}
{{NFLplayer|75|Brian Habib|G}}
{{NFLplayer|68|Reggie McElroy|T}}
{{NFLplayer|66|Tom Nalen|C}}
{{NFLplayer|69|Mark Schlereth|G}}
{{NFLplayer|64|Ralph Tamm|G/C}}
{{NFLplayer|76|Broderick Thompson|T}}
{{NFLplayer|65|Gary Zimmerman|T}}
| defensive_linemen =
{{NFLplayer|67|Mark Campbell|d=defensive tackle|rookie=y|DT}}
{{NFLplayer|79|Jumpy Geathers|DT}}
{{NFLplayer|96|Harald Hasselbach|DE}}
{{NFLplayer|72|Ernest Jones|d=defensive lineman|DE/DT}}
{{NFLplayer|97|Mike Lodish|DT}}
{{NFLplayer|95|Michael Dean Perry|DT}}
{{NFLplayer|94|Jeff Robinson|d=American football|DE/LS}}
{{NFLplayer|98|Maa Tanuvasa|DT}}
{{NFLplayer|91|Alfred Williams|DE}}
{{NFLplayer|90|Dan Williams|d=defensive end|DE}}
| linebackers =
{{NFLplayer|57|Allen Aldridge|MLB}}
{{NFLplayer|56|Keith Burns|d=American football player|MLB}}
{{NFLplayer|59|Glenn Cadrez|OLB}}
{{NFLplayer|54|Britt Hager|OLB}}
{{NFLplayer|51|John Mobley|rookie=y|OLB}}
{{NFLplayer|53|Bill Romanowski|OLB}}
| defensive_back =
{{NFLplayer|27|Steve Atwater|FS}}
{{NFLplayer|34|Tyrone Braxton|SS}}
{{NFLplayer|39|Ray Crockett|CB}}
{{NFLplayer|37|Tim Hauck|FS}}
{{NFLplayer|21|Randy Hilliard|CB}}
{{NFLplayer|20|Tory James|rookie=y|CB}}
{{NFLplayer|25|Darrius Johnson|rookie=y|CB}}
{{NFLplayer|31|Rondell Jones|SS}}
{{NFLplayer|48|Lionel Washington|CB}}
| special_teams =
{{NFLplayer| 1|Jason Elam|K}}
{{NFLplayer|16|Tom Rouen|P}}
| reserve_lists =
{{NFLplayer|77|Jason Childs|T|PUP}}
{{NFLplayer|--|Steve Russ|LB|Military}}
| practice_squad =
{{NFLplayer|--|Reggie Green|d=American football|rookie=y|G}}
{{NFLplayer|60|John Jones|d=offensive line|G}}
{{NFLplayer|--|Marcus Price|T}}
{{NFLplayer|41|Michael Titley|TE}}
{{NFLplayer|32|Tony Veland|rookie=y|S}}
53 active, 2 inactive, 5 practice squad
}}
Regular season
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Denver Broncos|year=1996|border=2}}"| Week !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Denver Broncos|year=1996|border=2}}"| Date !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Denver Broncos|year=1996|border=2}}"| Opponent !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Denver Broncos|year=1996|border=2}}"| Result !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Denver Broncos|year=1996|border=2}}"| Record !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Denver Broncos|year=1996|border=2}}"| Venue !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Denver Broncos|year=1996|border=2}}"| Attendance !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Denver Broncos|year=1996|border=2}}"| Recap |
| style="background: #cfc;"
! 1 | September 1 | W 31–6 | 1–0 | 70,595
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199609010den.htm Recap] |
| style="background: #cfc;"
! 2 | September 8 | at Seattle Seahawks | W 30–20 | 2–0 | Kingdome | 43,671
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199609080sea.htm Recap] |
| style="background: #cfc;"
! 3 | September 15 | W 27–23 | 3–0 | Mile High Stadium | 71,535
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199609150den.htm Recap] |
| style="background: #fcc;"
! 4 | September 22 | at Kansas City Chiefs | L 14–17 | 3–1 | 79,439
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199609220kan.htm Recap] |
| style="background: #cfc;"
! 5 | September 29 | at Cincinnati Bengals | W 14–10 | 4–1 | 51,798
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199609290cin.htm Recap] |
| style="background: #cfc;"
! 6 | October 6 | W 28–17 |5–1 |Mile High Stadium | 75,058
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199610060den.htm Recap] |
| 7
| colspan="7" |Bye |
|---|
| style="background: #cfc;"
! 8 | October 20 | W 45–34 | 6–1 | Mile High Stadium | 70,453
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199610200den.htm Recap] |
| style="background: #cfc;"
! 9 | October 27 | W 34–7 | 7–1 | Mile High Stadium | 75,652
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199610270den.htm Recap] |
| style="background: #cfc;"
! 10 | {{dow tooltip| November 4, 1996}} | at Oakland Raiders | W 22–21 | 8–1 | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | 61,179
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199611040rai.htm Recap] |
| style="background: #cfc;"
! 11 | November 10 | W 17–12 | 9–1 | Mile High Stadium | 75,555
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199611100den.htm Recap] |
| style="background: #cfc;"
! 12 | November 17 | at New England Patriots | W 34–8 | 10–1 | 59,457
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199611170nwe.htm Recap] |
| style="background: #cfc;"
! 13 | November 24 | at Minnesota Vikings | W 21–17 | 11–1 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 59,142
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199611240min.htm Recap] |
| style="background: #cfc;"
! 14 | December 1 | W 34–7 | 12–1 | Mile High Stadium | 74,982
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199612010den.htm Recap] |
| style="background: #fcc;"
! 15 | December 8 | at Green Bay Packers | L 6–41 | 12–2 | 60,712
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199612080gnb.htm Recap] |
| style="background: #cfc;"
! 16 | December 15 | W 24–19 | 13–2 | Mile High Stadium | 75,466
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199612150den.htm Recap] |
| style="background: #fcc;"
! 17 | December 22 | at San Diego Chargers | L 10–16 | 13–3 | 46,801
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199612220sdg.htm Recap] |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
{{1996 AFC West standings}}
Postseason
{{see also|1996–97 NFL playoffs}}
= Schedule =
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
| style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Denver Broncos|year=1996|border=2}}"| Round
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Denver Broncos|year=1996|border=2}}"| Date !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Denver Broncos|year=1996|border=2}}"| Opponent (seed) !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Denver Broncos|year=1996|border=2}}"| Result !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Denver Broncos|year=1996|border=2}}"| Record !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Denver Broncos|year=1996|border=2}}"| Venue !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Denver Broncos|year=1996|border=2}}"| Attendance !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Denver Broncos|year=1996|border=2}}"| Recap |
|---|
| Wild Card
| colspan="6" align="center"| First-round bye |
| style="background: #fcc;"
| {{dow tooltip|January 4, 1997|df=F j, Y}} | Jacksonville Jaguars (5) | L 27–30 | 0–1 | 75,678
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199701040den.htm Recap] |
= AFC Divisional Playoffs: vs (5) Jacksonville Jaguars =
{{Americanfootballbox
|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Denver Broncos|year=1996|border=2}};text-align:center;
|state=autocollapse
|title=AFC Divisional Playoffs: (5) Jacksonville Jaguars at (1) Denver Broncos – Game summary
|date=January 4, 1997
|stadium = Mile High Stadium, Denver, CO
|time=2:00 p.m. (Mountain Time)
| attendance=75,678
| weather={{convert|36|F|C}}, sunny
|road=Jaguars
|R1=0|R2=13|R3=7|R4=10
|home= Broncos
|H1=12|H2=0|H3=0|H4=15
}} Broncos lost and in 1997 finished 12-4. Win to the Jaguars in the Wild Card 42-17, Win to the Chiefs 14-10 in the Divisional Round, Win to the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game 24-21. And win in Super Bowl XXXII to the Packers 31-24.
Awards and records
AP Offensive Player of the Year – Terrell Davis
UPI AFL-AFC Offensive MVP – Terrell Davis (1996 was the last year this award was given out)
Terrell Davis set franchise rushing record for most carries (345) in a season and most rushing touchdowns (13) in a season
= Milestones =
Terrell Davis reached 1,000 yards faster than any Denver Bronco running back in franchise history
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://media.denverbroncos.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/1996.pdf Denver Broncos] – 1996 media guide
- [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/den/1996.htm Broncos on Pro Football Reference]
- [http://www.jt-sw.com/football/pro/results.nsf/Teams/1996-den Broncos Schedule on jt-sw.com]
{{Denver Broncos seasons}}
{{Denver Broncos}}
{{1996 NFL season by team}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1996 Denver Broncos Season}}
Category:Denver Broncos seasons
Category:AFC West championship seasons
Category:Long stubs with short prose
{{Americanfootball-season-stub}}