1974 Denver Broncos season: Difference between revisions

1974 Denver Broncos season
1974 Denver Broncos season
Owner	Gerald Phipps
General manager	John Ralston
Head coach	John Ralston
Home field	Mile High Stadium
Results
Record	7–6–1
Division place	2nd AFC West
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
	← 1973; Broncos seasons; 1975 →;

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The 1974 Denver Broncos season was the team's 15th year in professional football and its fifth with the National Football League (NFL). Led by third-year head coach and general manager John Ralston, the Broncos had a winning record for the second straight season with seven wins, six losses, and one tie, which was fifth-best in the conference.

Denver finished second in the AFC West, but 4½ games behind the Oakland Raiders, who clinched in mid-November,^[1] and 1½ games behind the wild card Buffalo Bills. In their fifteen years of existence, the Broncos had yet to reach the postseason.

The team played at Detroit on Thanksgiving and won in the final NFL game at Tiger Stadium;^[2] the Lions moved north to the Pontiac Silverdome in 1975.

Offseason

NFL Draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	College
1974 Denver Broncos draft
1	14	Randy Gradishar * ^†	LB	Ohio State
2	42	Carl Wafer	DT	Tennessee State
3	68	Claudie Minor	T	San Diego State
4	92	Ozell Collie	DB	Colorado
6	145	John Winesberry	WR	Stanford
10	248	Charlie Johnson	DB	Southern
11	276	Steve Buchanan	RB	Holy Cross
12	301	Larry Cameron	LB	Alcorn A&M
13	326	John Clerkley	DT	Fort Valley State
14	354	Rich Marks	DB	Northern Illinois
15	379	Peil Pennington	QB	Massachusetts
16	404	Darrell Austin	T	South Carolina
17	432	Boyd Brown	TE	Alcorn A&M
Made roster † Pro Football Hall of Fame * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Personnel

Staff

**1974 Denver Broncos staff**
	Front office Chairman of the Board – Gerald Phipps President – Allan Phipps Assistant General Manager/Director of Player Personnel – Fred Gehrke Director of Scouting – Carroll Hardy Head coaches Vice President/General Manager/Head Coach – John Ralston Offensive coaches Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Backfield – Max Coley Wide Receivers – Kay Dalton Offensive Line – Jerry Frei			Defensive coaches Defensive Coordinator – Joe Collier Defensive Line – Doc Urich Defensive Backs – Bob Gambold Special teams coaches Special Teams/Linebackers – Myrel Moore

Source:^[3]

Roster

**1974 Denver Broncos roster**
Quarterbacks (QB) 16 John Hufnagel 12 Charley Johnson 10 Steve Ramsey Running backs (RB) 24 Otis Armstrong 44 Floyd Little 22 Fran Lynch 30 Oliver Ross Wide receivers (WR) 25 Haven Moses 80 Jerry Simmons 82 Otto Stowe Tight ends (TE) 87 Boyd Brown 81 Billy Masters 88 Riley Odoms		Offensive linemen (OL) 65 LeFrancis Arnold G 74 Mike Current T 60 Paul Howard G 68 Larron Jackson T 61 Tommy Lyons G 50 Bobby Maples C 71 Claudie Minor T 78 Marv Montgomery T 64 Mike Schnitker G Defensive linemen (DL) 77 Lyle Alzado DE 79 Barney Chavous DE 76 Steve Coleman DE 55 Pete Duranko DT 63 John Grant DT 70 Paul Smith DT		Linebackers (LB) 53 Ken Criter 52 Randy Gradishar 58 Tom Graham MLB 57 Tom Jackson OLB 45 Bill Laskey 56 Ray May OLB 66 Jim O'Malley Defensive backs (DB) 20 Charlie Greer S 26 Calvin Jones CB 41 Leroy Mitchell CB 46 John Rowser CB 36 Bill Thompson S 23 Maurice Tyler Special teams 17 Larry Steele P 15 Jim Turner K 42 Billy Van Heusen		Reserve 11 Bobby Anderson RB (IR) Rookies in italics

Source:

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance	Recap
1	September 15	Los Angeles Rams	L 10–17	0–1	Mile High Stadium	51,121	Recap
2	September 22	Pittsburgh Steelers	T 35–35 (OT)	0–1–1	Mile High Stadium	51,068	Recap
3	September 30	at Washington Redskins	L 3–30	0–2–1	RFK Stadium	54,395	Recap
4	October 6	at Kansas City Chiefs	W 17–14	1–2–1	Arrowhead Stadium	67,298	Recap
5	October 13	New Orleans Saints	W 33–17	2–2–1	Mile High Stadium	50,881	Recap
6	October 20	San Diego Chargers	W 27–7	3–2–1	Mile High Stadium	50,928	Recap
7	October 27	at Cleveland Browns	L 21–23	3–3–1	Cleveland Stadium	60,478	Recap
8	November 3	Oakland Raiders	L 17–28	3–4–1	Mile High Stadium	45,946	Recap
9	November 10	at Baltimore Colts	W 17–6	4–4–1	Memorial Stadium	33,244	Recap
10	November 18	Kansas City Chiefs	L 34–42	4–5–1	Mile High Stadium	50,236	Recap
11	November 24	at Oakland Raiders	W 20–17	5–5–1	Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum	51,224	Recap
12	November 28	at Detroit Lions	W 31–27	6–5–1	Tiger Stadium	51,157	Recap
13	December 8	Houston Oilers	W 37–14	7–5–1	Mile High Stadium	46,942	Recap
14	December 15	at San Diego Chargers	L 0–17	7–6–1	San Diego Stadium	36,571	Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

^[1]^[4] Thursday (November 28: Thanksgiving)^[2]

Standings

AFC West
view talk edit	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Oakland Raiders	12	2	0	.857	5–1	9–2	355	228	W3
Denver Broncos	7	6	1	.536	3–3	5–4–1	302	294	L1
Kansas City Chiefs	5	9	0	.357	2–4	4–7	233	293	L2
San Diego Chargers	5	9	0	.357	2–4	4–7	212	285	W2

References

^ ^a ^b "Third-period blitz spurs Chiefs, 42-34". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. November 19, 1974. p. 3C.
^ ^a ^b "Broncs boot Lions with onside kick". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. November 29, 1974. p. 20.
^ 1974 Denver Broncos Media Guide. p. 4. Retrieved December 22, 2013.
^ "'The Redskins are back' – Allen". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. December 1, 1974. p. 1B.

External links

Denver Broncos – 1974 media guide
Broncos at Pro-Football-Reference.com

This article relating to an American football season is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[thpb-1] "Third-period blitz spurs Chiefs, 42-34". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. November 19, 1974. p. 3C.

[ppgbbl-2] "Broncs boot Lions with onside kick". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. November 29, 1974. p. 20.

[3] 1974 Denver Broncos Media Guide. p. 4. Retrieved December 22, 2013.

[trab-4] "'The Redskins are back' – Allen". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. December 1, 1974. p. 1B.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{short description|NFL team season}}
-{{Cleanup rewrite|date=April 2019}}
 {{Use mdy dates|date=December 2013}}
 {{Infobox NFL season
@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 The '''[[1974 NFL season|1974]] [[Denver Broncos]] season''' was the team's 15th year in professional football and its fifth with the [[National Football League]] (NFL).  Led by third-year head coach and general manager [[John Ralston (coach)|John Ralston]], the Broncos had a winning record for the second straight season with seven wins, six losses, and one tie, which was fifth-best in the conference.
-Denver finished second in the AFC West, but 4½ games behind the [[1974 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]], who clinched in mid-November,<ref name=thpb>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CKRVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NeADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6610%2C4667298 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=Associated Press |title=Third-period blitz spurs Chiefs, 42-34 |date=November 19, 1974 |page=3C}}</ref> and 1½ games behind the wild card [[1974 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]]. In their fifteen years of existence, the Broncos had yet to reach the postseason.
+Denver finished second in the AFC West, but 4½ games behind the [[1974 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]], who clinched in mid-November,<ref name=thpb>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CKRVAAAAIBAJ&pg=6610%2C4667298 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=Associated Press |title=Third-period blitz spurs Chiefs, 42-34 |date=November 19, 1974 |page=3C}}</ref> and 1½ games behind the wild card [[1974 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]]. In their fifteen years of existence, the Broncos had yet to reach the postseason.
-The team played at [[1974 Detroit Lions season|Detroit]] on [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving]] and won in the final NFL game at [[Tiger Stadium (Detroit)|Tiger Stadium]];<ref name=ppgbbl>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CIFIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=V20DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5201%2C4385483 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |agency=Associated Press |title=Broncs boot Lions with onside kick|date=November 29, 1974 |page=20}}</ref> the Lions moved north to the [[Pontiac Silverdome]] in [[1975 Detroit Lions season|1975]].
+The team played at [[1974 Detroit Lions season|Detroit]] on [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving]] and won in the final NFL game at [[Tiger Stadium (Detroit)|Tiger Stadium]];<ref name=ppgbbl>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CIFIAAAAIBAJ&pg=5201%2C4385483 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |agency=Associated Press |title=Broncs boot Lions with onside kick|date=November 29, 1974 |page=20}}</ref> the Lions moved north to the [[Pontiac Silverdome]] in [[1975 Detroit Lions season|1975]].
 ==Offseason==
@@ Line 36: / Line 36: @@
  | notes          =
  | maderoster     = yes
- | hof            =
+ | hof            = yes
  | probowl        = yes
 }}
@@ Line 43: / Line 43: @@
  | pick           = 42
  | player         = [[Carl Wafer]]
- | position       = [[Defensive Tackle|DT]]
+ | position       = [[Defensive tackle|DT]]
- | college        = [[Tennessee State Tigers football|Tennessee State]]
+ | college        = [[1973 Tennessee State Tigers football team|Tennessee State]]
  | notes          =
  | maderoster     =
@@ Line 87: / Line 87: @@
  | pick           = 248
  | player         = Charlie Johnson
- | position       = [[Defensive Back|DB]]
+ | position       = [[Defensive back|DB]]
  | college        = [[Southern Jaguars football|Southern]]
  | notes          =
@@ Line 99: / Line 99: @@
  | player         = Steve Buchanan
  | position       = [[Running back|RB]]
- | college        = [[Holy Cross Crusaders football|Holy Cross]]
+ | college        = [[1973 Holy Cross Crusaders football team|Holy Cross]]
  | notes          =
  | maderoster     =
@@ Line 108: / Line 108: @@
  | round          = 12
  | pick           = 301
- | player         = Larry Cameron
+ | player         = [[Larry Cameron]]
  | position       = [[Linebacker|LB]]
  | college        = [[Alcorn A&M Braves football|Alcorn A&M]]
@@ Line 120: / Line 120: @@
  | pick           = 326
  | player         = John Clerkley
- | position       = [[Defensive Tackle|DT]]
+ | position       = [[Defensive tackle|DT]]
  | college        = [[Fort Valley State University|Fort Valley State]]
  | notes          =
@@ Line 131: / Line 131: @@
  | pick           = 354
  | player         = Rich Marks
- | position       = [[Defensive Back|DB]]
+ | position       = [[Defensive back|DB]]
- | college        = [[Northern Illinois Huskies football|Northern Illinois]]
+ | college        = [[1973 Northern Illinois Huskies football team|Northern Illinois]]
  | notes          =
  | maderoster     =
@@ Line 162: / Line 162: @@
  | round          = 17
  | pick           = 432
- | player         = Boyd Brown
+ | player         = [[Boyd Brown (American football)|Boyd Brown]]
- | position       = [[Tight End|TE]]
+ | position       = [[Tight end|TE]]
  | college        = [[Alcorn A&M Braves football|Alcorn A&M]]
  | notes          =
@@ Line 181: / Line 181: @@
 * Chairman of the Board – [[Gerald Phipps]]
 * President – [[Allan Phipps]]
-* Vice President/General Manager – [[John Ralston (American football)|John Ralston]]
 * Assistant General Manager/Director of Player Personnel – [[Fred Gehrke]]
 * Director of Scouting – [[Carroll Hardy]]
 | head_coach =
-* Head Coach – [[John Ralston (American football)|John Ralston]]
+* Vice President/General Manager/Head Coach – [[John Ralston (American football)|John Ralston]]
 | offensive =
@@ Line 196: / Line 195: @@
 * Defensive Coordinator – [[Joe Collier]]
 * Defensive Line – [[Doc Urich]]
-* Linebackers – [[Myrel Moore]]
+* Defensive Backs – [[Bob Gambold]]
-* Defensive Backs/Secondary – [[Bob Gambold]]
+| special_teams =
+* Special Teams/Linebackers – [[Myrel Moore]]
 }}
-:{{small|Source:}}<ref>{{cite book |title=1974 Denver Broncos Media Guide |url=http://media.denverbroncos.com/section_display.cfm?section_id=136 |page=4 |accessdate=December 22, 2013}}</ref>
+:{{small|Source:}}<ref>{{cite book |title=1974 Denver Broncos Media Guide |url=http://media.denverbroncos.com/section_display.cfm?section_id=136 |page=4 |access-date=December 22, 2013}}</ref>
 ===Roster===
@@ Line 255: / Line 256: @@
 {{NFLplayer|66|Jim O'Malley}}
-| defensive_backs =
+| defensive_back =
 {{NFLplayer|20|Charlie Greer|d=American football|S}}
 {{NFLplayer|26|Calvin Jones|d=cornerback|CB}}
@@ Line 269: / Line 270: @@
 | reserve_lists =
+{{NFLplayer|11|Bobby Anderson|d=American football|RB|IR}}
 | practice_squad =
 }}
@@ Line 301: / Line 304: @@
 | '''T''' 35–35 {{small|(OT)}}
 | 0–1–1
-| Mile High Stadium
+| [[Mile High Stadium]]
 | 51,068
 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197409220den.htm Recap]
@@ Line 328: / Line 331: @@
 | '''W''' 33–17
 | 2–2–1
-| Mile High Stadium
+| [[Mile High Stadium]]
 | 50,881
 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197410130den.htm Recap]
@@ Line 337: / Line 340: @@
 | '''W''' 27–7
 | 3–2–1
-| Mile High Stadium
+| [[Mile High Stadium]]
 | 50,928
 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197410200den.htm Recap]
@@ Line 355: / Line 358: @@
 | '''L''' 17–28
 | 3–4–1
-| Mile High Stadium
+| [[Mile High Stadium]]
 | 45,946
 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197411030den.htm Recap]
@@ Line 373: / Line 376: @@
 | '''L''' 34–42
 | 4–5–1
-| Mile High Stadium
+| [[Mile High Stadium]]
 | 50,236
 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197411180den.htm Recap]
@@ Line 400: / Line 403: @@
 | '''W''' 37–14
 | 7–5–1
-| Mile High Stadium
+| [[Mile High Stadium]]
 | 46,942
 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197412080den.htm Recap]
@@ Line 412: / Line 415: @@
 | 36,571
 | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197412150sdg.htm Recap]
+|-style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Denver Broncos|year=1974|border=2}}"
-|}
+|colspan="8"| '''Note:''' Intra-division opponents are in '''bold''' text.
-:* [[List of Monday Night Football results (1970–89)#1975 NFL season|Monday night]] (September 30, November 18),<ref name=thpb/><ref name=trab>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HMgTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=N-ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=2538%2C65710 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=Associated Press |title='The Redskins are back' – Allen |date=December 1, 1974 |page=1B }}</ref> Thursday (November 28: [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving]])<ref name=ppgbbl/>
+|}<ref name=thpb/><ref name=trab>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HMgTAAAAIBAJ&pg=2538%2C65710 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=Associated Press |title='The Redskins are back' – Allen |date=December 1, 1974 |page=1B }}</ref> Thursday (November 28: [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving]])<ref name=ppgbbl/>
 ===Standings===
@@ Line 433: / Line 437: @@
 [[Category:Denver Broncos seasons]]
 [[Category:1974 in sports in Colorado]]
+{{Americanfootball-season-stub}}

v t e Denver Broncos
Founded in 1960 Based in Denver, Colorado Headquartered in Dove Valley, Colorado
Franchise	History All-time roster Starting quarterbacks Coaches Seasons First-round draft picks
Stadiums	Mile High Stadium Empower Field at Mile High
Key personnel	Owners Rob Walton Greg Penner (CEO) Carrie Walton Penner Mellody Hobson Condoleezza Rice Lewis Hamilton General manager George Paton Head coach Sean Payton Consultant John Elway
Culture	A Few Seconds of Panic Alan Roach Barrel Man Bucky the Bronco Cheerleaders Elway to Marino Everybody's All-American "Hold That Mork" (Mork & Mindy episode) "Joy to the World" Miles Orange Crush Defense "Rocky Mountain Way" South Park "Cartman's Mom Is a Dirty Slut" "Sarcastaball" Thunder "You Only Move Twice" (The Simpsons episode)
Lore	1977 season (Broncomania) Snowball Game The Drive The Fumble Tebowmania 3:16 game Mile High Miracle No Fly Zone
Rivalries	Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders Los Angeles Chargers New England Patriots Brady–Manning rivalry Pittsburgh Steelers Seattle Seahawks
Retired numbers	7 18 44
Division championships (15)	1977 1978 1984 1986 1987 1989 1991 1996 1998 2005 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Conference championships (8)	1977 1986 1987 1989 1997 1998 2013 2015
League championships (3)	1997 (XXXII) 1998 (XXXIII) 2015 (50)
Media	Radio network Dave Logan Brian Griese Scott Hastings Ed McCaffrey Alan Roach TV: KUSA 9News Radio: 850 KOA (AM)
Current league affiliations	League: National Football League (1970–present) Conference: American Football Conference Division: West Division
Former league affiliation	League: American Football League (1960–1969)