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{{short description|NFL team season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2013}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2013}}
{{Infobox NFL season
{{Infobox NFL season
| team = Denver Broncos
| team = Denver Broncos
| year = 1968
| year = 1968
| record = 5–9
| record = 5–9
| division_place = 4th [[1968 American Football League season|AFL Western]]
| division_place = 4th [[1968 American Football League season|AFL Western]]
| coach = [[Lou Saban]]
| coach = [[Lou Saban]]
| general manager = Lou Saban
| general manager = Lou Saban
| owner = [[Gerald Phipps]]
| owner = [[Gerald Phipps]]
| stadium = [[Mile High Stadium]]
| stadium = [[Mile High Stadium]]
| playoffs = ''Did not qualify''
| playoffs = ''Did not qualify''
| uniform =
| uniform =
| shortnavlink = Broncos seasons
| shortnavlink = Broncos seasons
}}
}}


The '''[[1968 NFL season|1968]] [[Denver Broncos]] [[List of Denver Broncos seasons|season]]''' was the ninth season for the team in the [[American Football League]] (AFL). Led by second-year head coach and general manager [[Lou Saban]], the Broncos improved their record from the previous season by posting a record of five wins and nine losses. They finished fourth in the AFL's Western division for the sixth straight season; the expansion [[1968 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]] finished fifth, allowing Denver to escape the cellar.
The '''[[1968 NFL season|1968]] [[Denver Broncos]] [[List of Denver Broncos seasons|season]]''' was the ninth season for the team in the [[American Football League]] (AFL). Led by second-year head coach and general manager [[Lou Saban]], the Broncos improved their record from the previous season by posting a record of five wins and nine losses. They finished fourth in the AFL's Western division for the sixth straight season; the expansion [[1968 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]] finished fifth, allowing Denver to escape the cellar.


There were threats of the Broncos relocating to [[Atlanta]], [[Chicago]], and [[Birmingham, Alabama]].<ref>''Sports Illustrated', July 26, 2010, The Unexpected Hero by Gary Smith, p.60, Published by Time Inc.</ref>
There were threats of the Broncos relocating to [[Atlanta]], [[Chicago]], and [[Birmingham, Alabama]].<ref>''Sports Illustrated'', July 26, 2010, The Unexpected Hero by Gary Smith, p.60, Published by Time Inc.</ref>


The 1968 season was the first in which Denver wore blue helmets with the trademark orange "D" logo.<ref>[http://uniformdatabases.com/broncos.html Gridiron Uniform Database: Denver Broncos]{{Dead link|date=May 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> They wore this uniform through the [[1973 Denver Broncos season|1973]] season, altering the shade of orange in their jerseys in [[1974 Denver Broncos season|1974]]; helmets remained the same until the [[1997 Denver Broncos season|1997]] season.<ref>[http://www.sportslogos.net/logos/list_by_team/3069/Denver_Broncos/ SportsLogos.net: Denver Broncos]</ref>
The 1968 season was the first in which Denver wore blue helmets with the trademark orange "D" logo; the helmets remained the same until the [[1997 Denver Broncos season|1997]] season.<ref>{{cite web|last=Saccomano|first=Jim|title=Sacco Sez: How the orange and blue began|url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/sacco-sez-how-the-orange-and-blue-began|website=DenverBroncos.com|date=August 7, 2022|access-date=January 29, 2024}}</ref>


In 1968, Bears Stadium was sold to the city of Denver, which renamed it "Mile High Stadium" and built the upper deck along the west side, raising capacity to 50,657.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ballparktour.com/Former_Denver.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=June 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923181816/http://www.ballparktour.com/Former_Denver.html |archive-date=September 23, 2015 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
In 1968, Bears Stadium was sold to the city of Denver, which renamed it "Mile High Stadium" and built the upper deck along the west side, raising capacity to 50,657.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ballparktour.com/Former_Denver.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=June 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923181816/http://www.ballparktour.com/Former_Denver.html |archive-date=September 23, 2015 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
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| pick = 58
| pick = 58
| player = [[Garrett Ford Sr.|Garrett Ford]]
| player = [[Garrett Ford Sr.|Garrett Ford]]
| position = [[Running Back]]
| position = [[Running back]]
| college = [[1967 West Virginia Mountaineers football team|West Virginia]]
| college = [[1967 West Virginia Mountaineers football team|West Virginia]]
| notes =
| notes =
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| round = 3
| round = 3
| pick = 75
| pick = 75
| player = Bob Vaughn
| player = [[Bob Vaughn]]
| position = [[Offensive Tackle|Tackle]]
| position = [[Offensive tackle|Tackle]]
| college = [[1967 Ole Miss Rebels football team|Ole Miss]]
| college = [[1967 Ole Miss Rebels football team|Ole Miss]]
| notes =
| notes =
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| round = 4
| round = 4
| pick = 91
| pick = 91
| player = Gordon Lambert
| player = [[Gordon Lambert (American football)|Gordon Lambert]]
| position = [[Linebacker]]
| position = [[Linebacker]]
| college = [[Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks football|Tennessee-Martins]]
| college = [[Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks football|Tennessee-Martins]]
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| pick = 102
| pick = 102
| player = [[Drake Garrett]]
| player = [[Drake Garrett]]
| position = [[Defensive Back]]
| position = [[Defensive back]]
| college = [[1967 Michigan State Spartans football team|Michigan State]]
| college = [[1967 Michigan State Spartans football team|Michigan State]]
| notes =
| notes =
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| pick = 111
| pick = 111
| player = [[Gus Hollomon]]
| player = [[Gus Hollomon]]
| position = [[Defensive Back]]
| position = [[Defensive back]]
| college = [[1967 Houston Cougars football team|Houston]]
| college = [[1967 Houston Cougars football team|Houston]]
| notes =
| notes =
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| pick = 196
| pick = 196
| player = Steve Holloway
| player = Steve Holloway
| position = [[Defensive Back]]
| position = [[Defensive back]]
| college = [[Weber State Wildcats football|Weber State]]
| college = [[Weber State Wildcats football|Weber State]]
| notes =
| notes =
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| pick = 222
| pick = 222
| player = [[Paul Smith (defensive end)|Paul Smith]]
| player = [[Paul Smith (defensive end)|Paul Smith]]
| position = [[Defensive End]]
| position = [[Defensive end]]
| college = [[New Mexico Lobos football|New Mexico]]
| college = [[New Mexico Lobos football|New Mexico]]
| notes =
| notes =
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| pick = 252
| pick = 252
| player = Bob Langford
| player = Bob Langford
| position = [[Offensive Tackle|Tackle]]
| position = [[Offensive tackle|Tackle]]
| college = [[Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football|Middle Tennessee]]
| college = [[Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football|Middle Tennessee]]
| notes =
| notes =
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| pick = 304
| pick = 304
| player = Bobby Hendrix
| player = Bobby Hendrix
| position = [[Offensive Tackle|Tackle]]
| position = [[Offensive tackle|Tackle]]
| college = [[1967 Ole Miss Rebels football team|Ole Miss]]
| college = [[1967 Ole Miss Rebels football team|Ole Miss]]
| notes =
| notes =
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| pick = 330
| pick = 330
| player = [[Charlie Greer]]
| player = [[Charlie Greer]]
| position = [[Defensive Back]]
| position = [[Defensive back]]
| college = [[1967 Colorado Buffaloes football team|Colorado]]
| college = [[1967 Colorado Buffaloes football team|Colorado]]
| notes =
| notes =
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| pick = 438
| pick = 438
| player = Steve Grady
| player = Steve Grady
| position = [[Running Back]]
| position = [[Running back]]
| college = [[1967 USC Trojans football team|USC]]
| college = [[1967 USC Trojans football team|USC]]
| notes =
| notes =
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* Chairman of the Board – [[Gerald Phipps]]
* Chairman of the Board – [[Gerald Phipps]]
* President – [[Allan R Phipps]]
* President – [[Allan R Phipps]]
* General Manager – [[Lou Saban]]
* Director of Player Personnel – [[Fred Gehrke]]
* Director of Player Personnel – [[Fred Gehrke]]


| head_coach =
| head_coach =
* Head Coach – [[Lou Saban]]
* General Manager/Head Coach – [[Lou Saban]]


| offensive =
| offensive =
* Offensive Backs – [[Hunter Enis]]
* Offensive backfield – [[Hunter Enis]]
* Wide Receivers – [[Sam Rutigliano]]
* Offensive receivers – [[Sam Rutigliano]]
* Offensive Line – [[Whitey Dovell]]
* Offensive line – [[Whitey Dovell]]


| defensive =
| defensive =
* Defensive Line – [[Stan Jones (American football)|Stan Jones]]
* Defensive line – [[Stan Jones (American football)|Stan Jones]]
* Defensive Backs/Secondary – [[Dick MacPherson]]
* Defensive backfield – [[Dick MacPherson]]
}}
}}


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{{NFLplayer|22|Fran Lynch}}
{{NFLplayer|22|Fran Lynch}}
{{NFLplayer|40|Brendan McCarthy|d=American football|rookie=y|FB}}
{{NFLplayer|40|Brendan McCarthy|d=American football|rookie=y|FB}}
{{NFLplayer|48|Alex Moore|d=running back|rookie=y}}


| wide_receivers =
| wide_receivers =
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{{NFLplayer|59|Larry Kaminski|C}}
{{NFLplayer|59|Larry Kaminski|C}}
{{NFLplayer|61|Bob Vaughn|rookie=y|G}}
{{NFLplayer|61|Bob Vaughn|rookie=y|G}}
{{NFLplayer|60|Bob Young|d=American football|G}}
{{NFLplayer|60|Bob Young|d=offensive lineman|G}}


| defensive_linemen =
| defensive_linemen =
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{{NFLplayer|51|Dave Tobey|d=American football}}
{{NFLplayer|51|Dave Tobey|d=American football}}


| defensive_backs =
| defensive_back =
{{NFLplayer|23|Drake Garrett|rookie=y|CB}}
{{NFLplayer|23|Drake Garrett|rookie=y|CB}}
{{NFLplayer|20|Charlie Greer|d=American football|rookie=y|SS}}
{{NFLplayer|20|Charlie Greer|d=American football|rookie=y|SS}}
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|-
|-
! 1
! 1
| colspan=7 align="center" | ''Bye''
| colspan=7 align="center" | ''[[Bye (sports)|Bye]]''
|-style="background: #fcc;"
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 2
! 2
| September 15
| September 15
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| 25,049
| 25,049
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196809150cin.htm Recap]
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196809150cin.htm Recap]
|-style="background: #fcc;"
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 3
! 3
| September 22
| September 22
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| 45,821
| 45,821
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196809220kan.htm Recap]
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196809220kan.htm Recap]
|-style="background: #fcc;"
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 4
! 4
| September 29
| September 29
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| 37,024
| 37,024
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196809290den.htm Recap]
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196809290den.htm Recap]
|-style="background: #cfc;"
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 5
! 5
| October 6
| October 6
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| 41,257
| 41,257
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196810060den.htm Recap]
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196810060den.htm Recap]
|-style="background: #cfc;"
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 6
! 6
| October 13
| October 13
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| 62,052
| 62,052
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196810130nyj.htm Recap]
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196810130nyj.htm Recap]
|-style="background: #fcc;"
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 7
! 7
| October 20
| October 20
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| 42,953
| 42,953
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196810200sdg.htm Recap]
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196810200sdg.htm Recap]
|-style="background: #cfc;"
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 8
! 8
| October 27
| October 27
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| 44,115
| 44,115
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196810270den.htm Recap]
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196810270den.htm Recap]
|-style="background: #cfc;"
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 9
! 9
| November 3
| November 3
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| 18,304
| 18,304
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196811030nwe.htm Recap]
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196811030nwe.htm Recap]
|-style="background: #fcc;"
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 10
! 10
| November 10
| November 10
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| 50,002
| 50,002
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196811100den.htm Recap]
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196811100den.htm Recap]
|-style="background: #fcc;"
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 11
! 11
| November 17
| November 17
Line 402: Line 403:
| 36,075
| 36,075
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196811170oti.htm Recap]
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196811170oti.htm Recap]
|-style="background: #cfc;"
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 12
! 12
| November 24
| November 24
Line 411: Line 412:
| 35,201
| 35,201
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196811240den.htm Recap]
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196811240den.htm Recap]
|-style="background: #fcc;"
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 13
! 13
| December 1
| December 1
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| 35,212
| 35,212
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196812010den.htm Recap]
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196812010den.htm Recap]
|-style="background: #fcc;"
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 14
! 14
| December 8
| December 8
Line 429: Line 430:
| 47,754
| 47,754
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196812080rai.htm Recap]
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196812080rai.htm Recap]
|-style="background: #fcc;"
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 15
! 15
| December 14
| {{dow tooltip|December 14, 1968}}
| '''[[1968 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]]'''
| '''[[1968 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]]'''
| '''L''' 7–30
| '''L''' 7–30
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| 38,463
| 38,463
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196812140den.htm Recap]
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196812140den.htm Recap]
|-style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Denver Broncos|year=1968|border=2}}"
|}
⚫
|colspan="8"| '''Note:''' Intra-division opponents are in '''bold''' text.
'''Note:'''
⚫
|}<ref name=chtopdnv>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yQpWAAAAIBAJ&pg=2700%2C3918971 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=Associated Press |title=Chiefs top Denver, clinch Western tie |date=December 15, 1968 |page=2B}}</ref>
⚫
*Intra-division opponents are in '''bold''' text.
⚫
* Saturday (December 14)<ref name=chtopdnv>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yQpWAAAAIBAJ&pg=2700%2C3918971 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon) |agency=Associated Press |title=Chiefs top Denver, clinch Western tie |date=December 15, 1968 |page=2B}}</ref>


===Standings===
===Standings===
Line 451: Line 451:
==External links==
==External links==
*[https://media.denverbroncos.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/1968.pdf Denver Broncos] – 1968 media guide
*[https://media.denverbroncos.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/1968.pdf Denver Broncos] – 1968 media guide
*[https://www.webcitation.org/6BE951ntO?url=http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/den/1968.htm 1968 Denver Broncos] at [[Pro-Football-Reference.com]]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20121005055141/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/den/1968.htm 1968 Denver Broncos] at [[Pro-Football-Reference.com]]


{{Denver Broncos}}
{{Denver Broncos}}
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[[Category:1968 American Football League season by team|Denver Broncos]]
[[Category:1968 American Football League season by team|Denver Broncos]]
[[Category:1968 in sports in Colorado]]
[[Category:1968 in sports in Colorado]]

{{Americanfootball-season-stub}}

Latest revision as of 11:48, 17 October 2024

1968 Denver Broncos season
OwnerGerald Phipps
General managerLou Saban
Head coachLou Saban
Home fieldMile High Stadium
Results
Record5–9
Division place4th AFL Western
Playoff finishDid not qualify

The 1968 Denver Broncos season was the ninth season for the team in the American Football League (AFL). Led by second-year head coach and general manager Lou Saban, the Broncos improved their record from the previous season by posting a record of five wins and nine losses. They finished fourth in the AFL's Western division for the sixth straight season; the expansion Cincinnati Bengals finished fifth, allowing Denver to escape the cellar.

There were threats of the Broncos relocating to Atlanta, Chicago, and Birmingham, Alabama.[1]

The 1968 season was the first in which Denver wore blue helmets with the trademark orange "D" logo; the helmets remained the same until the 1997 season.[2]

In 1968, Bears Stadium was sold to the city of Denver, which renamed it "Mile High Stadium" and built the upper deck along the west side, raising capacity to 50,657.[3]

Offseason

[edit]

NFL/AFL Draft

[edit]
Main article: 1968 NFL/AFL Draft
1968 Denver Broncos draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
2 31 Curley Culp * †  Defensive tackle Arizona State
3 58 Garrett Ford  Running back West Virginia
3 75 Bob Vaughn  Tackle Ole Miss
4 91 Gordon Lambert  Linebacker Tennessee-Martins
4 102 Drake Garrett  Defensive back Michigan State
4 111 Gus Hollomon  Defensive back Houston
8 196 Steve Holloway  Defensive back Weber State
9 222 Paul Smith *  Defensive end New Mexico
10 252 Bob Langford  Tackle Middle Tennessee
12 304 Bobby Hendrix  Tackle Ole Miss
13 330 Charlie Greer  Defensive back Colorado
14 357 Marlin Briscoe *  Quarterback Nebraska-Omaha
15 386 Jeff Kuhman  Linebacker Vermont
16 412 Adin Brown  Linebacker William & Mary
17 438 Steve Grady  Running back USC
      Made roster    †   Pro Football Hall of Fame    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Personnel

[edit]

Staff

[edit]
1968 Denver Broncos staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches




Roster

[edit]
1968 Denver Broncos roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams


Rookies in italics

Source:

Regular season

[edit]
Main article: 1968 American Football League season

Schedule

[edit]
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap
1 Bye
2 September 15 at Cincinnati Bengals L 10–24 0–1 Nippert Stadium 25,049 Recap
3 September 22 at Kansas City Chiefs L 2–34 0–2 Municipal Stadium 45,821 Recap
4 September 29 Boston Patriots L 17–20 0–3 Mile High Stadium 37,024 Recap
5 October 6 Cincinnati Bengals W 10–7 1–3 Mile High Stadium 41,257 Recap
6 October 13 at New York Jets W 21–13 2–3 Shea Stadium 62,052 Recap
7 October 20 at San Diego Chargers L 24–55 2–4 San Diego Stadium 42,953 Recap
8 October 27 Miami Dolphins W 21–14 3–4 Mile High Stadium 44,115 Recap
9 November 3 at Boston Patriots W 35–14 4–4 Fenway Park 18,304 Recap
10 November 10 Oakland Raiders L 7–43 4–5 Mile High Stadium 50,002 Recap
11 November 17 at Houston Oilers L 17–38 4–6 Astrodome 36,075 Recap
12 November 24 Buffalo Bills W 34–32 5–6 Mile High Stadium 35,201 Recap
13 December 1 San Diego Chargers L 23–47 5–7 Mile High Stadium 35,212 Recap
14 December 8 at Oakland Raiders L 27–33 5–8 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 47,754 Recap
15 December 14 Kansas City Chiefs L 7–30 5–9 Mile High Stadium 38,463 Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

[4]

Standings

[edit]
AFL Western Division
W L T PCT DIV PF PA STK
Oakland Raiders 12 2 0 .857 6–2 453 233 W8
Kansas City Chiefs 12 2 0 .857 7–1 371 170 W5
San Diego Chargers 9 5 0 .643 5–3 382 310 L2
Denver Broncos 5 9 0 .357 1–7 275 404 L3
Cincinnati Bengals 3 11 0 .214 1–7 215 329 L3

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings in the AFL.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Sports Illustrated, July 26, 2010, The Unexpected Hero by Gary Smith, p.60, Published by Time Inc.
  2. ^ Saccomano, Jim (August 7, 2022). "Sacco Sez: How the orange and blue began". DenverBroncos.com. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  3. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved June 9, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ "Chiefs top Denver, clinch Western tie". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. December 15, 1968. p. 2B.
[edit]
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