General manager John Beake Division place 1st AFC West Start date 1998 Home field Mile High Stadium | Record 14–2 Head coach Mike Shanahan Owner Pat Bowlen | |
 | ||
Playoff finish Won Divisional Playoffs (Dolphins) 38–3
Won Conference Championship (Jets) 23–10
Won Super Bowl XXXIII (2) (Falcons) 34–19 Similar 1997 Denver Broncos s, 1999 Denver Broncos s, 1989 San Francisco 49ers sea, 1992 Dallas Cowboys, 1976 Oakland Raiders s | ||
The 1998 Denver Broncos season was the franchise's 39th season in the National Football League, and the 49th overall.
Contents
- NFL Draft
- AFC Championship Game vs New York Jets
- Super Bowl XXXIII vs Atlanta Falcons
- Season summary
- Team stats
- Player stats
- Awards and records
- Milestones
- References
This season had a record of 14–2, second best in the NFL, and won Super Bowl XXXIII. They won their first thirteen games, the best start since the unbeaten 1972 Dolphins.
It was John Elway's final season after he had considered retiring during the off-season and Terrell Davis ran for 2,008 yards, making him only the fourth player to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season. In 2007, the 1998 Broncos were ranked as the 12th greatest Super Bowl champions on the NFL Network's documentary series America's Game: The Super Bowl Champions.
NFL Draft
The Broncos drafted Tennessee wide receiver Marcus Nash with the 30th overall pick and Michigan Quarterback Brian Griese in the 3rd round, 91st pick overall.
AFC Championship Game vs New York Jets
Despite a subpar performance from Quarterback John Elway, the Broncos come from a ten-point deficit to score twenty three unanswered points, thanks in large part to the Jets turning the ball over an astonishing six times.
Super Bowl XXXIII: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Broncos become the third team in the last 10 years to repeat as Super Bowl champions, along with the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys. John Elway was voted Super Bowl MVP.
Season summary
The Broncos won their first 13 games of the season. There was much speculation that they might finish 19–0 and the Broncos were featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated. However, they were upset by the New York Giants (who would end another attempt at a 19–0 season nine seasons later) in week 15 by a score of 20–16. They finished the regular season 14–2 after losing to the Dolphins in their first encounter with that team since 1985.
They finished first in the AFC West and won their divisional playoff game against the Miami Dolphins 38–3 for their first win over the Dolphins since 1968. They then won the AFC Championship over the Bill Parcells coached New York Jets 23–10 after coming back from a 10–0 deficit. Many had expected Denver to play the Minnesota Vikings in the Super Bowl, the team with the number one record that year at 15–1, but the Vikings lost the NFC Championship Game to the Atlanta Falcons in overtime.
The Broncos defeated the Falcons 34–19 in Super Bowl XXXIII. Elway was the Super Bowl MVP and Davis rushed for over 100 yards. It was Elway's last game, and until the 2013 season, the last time Denver reached the Super Bowl.
Team stats
The Broncos had 3,808 yards passing, sixth in the league. They had 2,468 yards rushing, second in the league and 26 rushing touchdowns, first in the league. They had 6,276 total yards, third best.
They gave up 3,983 passing yards, a low 28 out of 30 in the NFL, but were third in rushing yards given up with 1,287. They gave up 5,270 yards, 12th in the NFL. They scored 501 points, second in the league and gave up 309, eighth fewest in the league.
The team's 14–2 record is currently their best 16-game record in franchise history.
Player stats
Elway threw for 2,806 yards for the season, 22 touchdowns and ten interceptions. Davis rushed for 2,008 yards and 21 touchdowns. Rod Smith had 86 receptions for 1,222 yards and six touchdowns. Ed McCaffrey had 64 receptions for 1,053 yards. Shannon Sharpe had 64 receptions for 768 yards. Jason Elam kicked 23 out of 27 field goals and 58 out of 58 extra points including a 63-yard field goal to tie Tom Dempsey with the longest field goal in NFL history at that time. The record has since been eclipsed by another Denver Bronco (Matt Prater). Steve Atwater, Davis, Elway, Tony Jones, Mark Schlereth, McCaffrey, Tom Nalen, Bill Romanowski, and Sharpe made the Pro Bowl.