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Home >> Hall OF Fame >> Denver Broncos
Hall of Fame Although the Denver Broncos' 39-97-4 record was the worst of any of the original eight American Football League teams', the franchise had many proud moments and several AFL superstars, including Lionel Taylor and Floyd Little. The Broncos won the first-ever American Football League game, over the Boston Patriots (13-10) on September 9, 1960. They had the first black place-kicker in professional football, Gene Mingo. In the league's first season, they had the leading quarterback, Frank Tripucka (248/478, 3,038 yds, 24 td); receiver, Lionel Taylor (92 for 1,235 yds, 12 td); interceptor, Goose Gonsoulin (11 for 98 yds); and scorer, Gene Mingo (123 total points on PAT, FG, td rushes, td receptions, and kick returns for td). The Broncos were the first AFL team ever to defeat an NFL team, on August 5, 1967 when they beat the Lions 13-7. They were the first pro football team to wear vertically-striped socks (and the first to burn their socks in a public ceremony!). Despite their relative lack of early success in the win-loss column, the Broncos produced some memorable games, like one in 1960 against the Buffalo Bills. Willmer Fowler, the first Buffalo back to top 100 yards rushing in a game with 120, broke a 61-yard run to set up Billy Atkins' early field goal. Then Jim Wagstaff's interception and 23-yard return to the Denver 31 set up a short TD plunge by Wray Carlton for a 10-0 lead. In the second quarter, Elbert Dubenion (6 for 134) took a flat pass and turned it into a 76-yard TD; but before the half ended, Denver's Gene Mingo scored, shortly after Ted Wegert ran a Bronco fumble 38 yards to the Bills 17. In a 5:16 span in the third, Atkins kicked a field goal, Mack Yoho returned a Frank Tripucka interception 15 yards for a score, Fowler ran 19 yards for a TD, and Atkins made another field goal to make it 38-7. The Bills seemed headed for an easy victory. But the Broncos then made their move. On the first play after the kickoff, Lionel Taylor (9 for199) caught a short pass and sped 80 yards for a score, and in the first 6:39 of the fourth, he caught two more TD passes from Tripucka covering 24 and 35 yards to make it 38-28. With the Bills suddenly stagnant on offense and defense, the Broncos' Don Allen scored on a one-yard run with 4:25 left. Denver's last drive started at their 33 with 1:14 to go. Tripucka (19 for 41, 5 TD, 328 yds) completed three passes, and Bills linebacker Archie Matsos was flagged for pass interference. The Broncos moved to the 12, and Mingo came in to kick a 19-yard tying field goal with 12 seconds remaining to cap the comeback. |
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