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PI Finds: Best Individual 5-Game Starts in Denver History

Posted by Neil Paine on October 12, 2009

As we all know, the Denver Broncos defeated the New England Patriots in come-from-behind fashion yesterday to secure a 5-0 start, their first in over a decade. With that in mind, I wanted to look at some of the best-ever performances in the season's first 5 games by members of the Broncos, and see how this year's crop matches up.

First, passing:

Yards
Rk Player Age Year Lg Tm G W L T Cmp Att Yds TD Int
1 Jay Cutler 25 2008 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 125 191 1502 10 4
2 John Elway* 33 1993 NFL DEN 5 3 2 0 125 197 1460 8 3
3 John Elway* 25 1985 NFL DEN 5 3 2 0 100 191 1379 12 8
4 Frank Tripucka 34 1962 AFL DEN 4 3 1 0 99 179 1340 6 10
5 John Elway* 34 1994 NFL DEN 5 1 4 0 120 196 1267 5 5
6 Kyle Orton 26 2009 NFL DEN 5 5 0 0 104 165 1236 7 1
7 John Elway* 35 1995 NFL DEN 5 2 3 0 101 183 1191 5 2
8 Brian Griese 27 2002 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 112 165 1176 9 6
9 Jay Cutler 24 2007 NFL DEN 5 2 3 0 98 152 1158 4 6
10 Brian Griese 25 2000 NFL DEN 4 2 2 0 91 143 1149 8 1
Passer Rating
Rk Player Age Year Lg Tm G W L T Cmp Att Yds TD Int Rate
1 Bubby Brister 36 1998 NFL DEN 4 4 0 0 43 71 561 8 2 111.3
2 Craig Morton 38 1981 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 72 112 1071 10 5 106.7
3 Brian Griese 25 2000 NFL DEN 4 2 2 0 91 143 1149 8 1 104.3
4 John Elway* 37 1997 NFL DEN 5 5 0 0 83 141 1095 12 3 103.0
5 Jay Cutler 25 2008 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 125 191 1502 10 4 98.1
6 Kyle Orton 26 2009 NFL DEN 5 5 0 0 104 165 1236 7 1 97.4
7 John Elway* 26 1986 NFL DEN 5 5 0 0 79 143 966 10 1 96.7
8 John Elway* 33 1993 NFL DEN 5 3 2 0 125 197 1460 8 3 93.0
9 Jake Plummer 28 2003 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 80 131 903 8 3 92.5
10 Brian Griese 26 2001 NFL DEN 5 3 2 0 95 149 1093 10 6 91.4
Adjusted Yards/Attempt
Rk Player Age Year Lg Tm G W L T Cmp Att Yds TD Int AY/A
1 Craig Morton 38 1981 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 72 112 1071 10 5 9.34
2 Bubby Brister 36 1998 NFL DEN 4 4 0 0 43 71 561 8 2 8.89
3 Brian Griese 25 2000 NFL DEN 4 2 2 0 91 143 1149 8 1 8.84
4 John Elway* 37 1997 NFL DEN 5 5 0 0 83 141 1095 12 3 8.51
5 Kyle Orton 26 2009 NFL DEN 5 5 0 0 104 165 1236 7 1 8.07
6 Jay Cutler 25 2008 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 125 191 1502 10 4 7.97
7 John Elway* 26 1986 NFL DEN 5 5 0 0 79 143 966 10 1 7.84
8 John Elway* 31 1991 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 77 139 1054 4 1 7.83
9 John Elway* 33 1993 NFL DEN 5 3 2 0 125 197 1460 8 3 7.54
10 Jake Plummer 28 2003 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 80 131 903 8 3 7.08

Then rushing:

Yards
Rk Player Age Year Lg Tm G W L T Att Yds TD
1 Terrell Davis 25 1998 NFL DEN 5 5 0 0 114 657 8
2 Terrell Davis 24 1997 NFL DEN 5 5 0 0 118 605 4
3 Terrell Davis 23 1996 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 112 573 4
4 Bobby Humphrey 23 1990 NFL DEN 5 2 3 0 109 568 4
5 Gaston Green 25 1991 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 110 518 3
6 Travis Henry 28 2007 NFL DEN 5 2 3 0 102 498 1
7 Tatum Bell 25 2006 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 100 470 1
8 Clinton Portis 22 2003 NFL DEN 4 3 1 0 69 432 3
9 Mike Anderson 26 2000 NFL DEN 4 2 2 0 91 429 3
10 Sammy Winder 25 1984 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 88 416 1
11 Floyd Little 31 1973 NFL DEN 5 2 3 0 89 374 6
12 Floyd Little 27 1969 AFL DEN 4 2 2 0 69 364 3
13 Floyd Little 30 1972 NFL DEN 5 1 4 0 86 355 4
14 Floyd Little 28 1970 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 92 353 1
15 Otis Armstrong 25 1976 NFL DEN 5 3 2 0 94 351 3
16 Cookie Gilchrist 30 1965 AFL DEN 5 2 3 0 103 347 2
17 Tony Dorsett* 34 1988 NFL DEN 5 2 3 0 93 345 4
18 Knowshon Moreno 22 2009 NFL DEN 5 5 0 0 81 337 1
Yards/Rush
Rk Player Age Year Lg Tm G W L T Att Yds Y/A TD
1 Terrell Davis 25 1998 NFL DEN 5 5 0 0 114 657 5.8 8
2 Bobby Humphrey 23 1990 NFL DEN 5 2 3 0 109 568 5.2 4
3 Terrell Davis 24 1997 NFL DEN 5 5 0 0 118 605 5.1 4
4 Terrell Davis 23 1996 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 112 573 5.1 4
5 Travis Henry 28 2007 NFL DEN 5 2 3 0 102 498 4.9 1
6 Sammy Winder 25 1984 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 88 416 4.7 1
7 Mike Anderson 26 2000 NFL DEN 4 2 2 0 91 429 4.7 3
8 Gaston Green 25 1991 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 110 518 4.7 3
9 Tatum Bell 25 2006 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 100 470 4.7 1
10 Floyd Little 31 1973 NFL DEN 5 2 3 0 89 374 4.2 6
11 Knowshon Moreno 22 2009 NFL DEN 5 5 0 0 81 337 4.2 1

Receiving:

Receptions
Rk Player Age Year Lg Tm G W L T Rec Yds TD
1 Rod Smith 31 2001 NFL DEN 5 3 2 0 42 513 5
2 Lionel Taylor 26 1961 AFL DEN 5 1 4 0 42 574 4
3 Rod Smith 30 2000 NFL DEN 5 2 3 0 38 562 3
4 Brandon Marshall 24 2008 NFL DEN 4 3 1 0 34 423 3
5 Lionel Taylor 29 1964 AFL DEN 5 1 4 0 33 459 4
6 Lionel Taylor 27 1962 AFL DEN 5 4 1 0 32 363 1
7 Eddie Royal 22 2008 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 30 321 2
8 Shannon Sharpe 25 1993 NFL DEN 5 3 2 0 30 312 1
9 Lionel Taylor 30 1965 AFL DEN 5 2 3 0 30 378 1
10 Rod Smith 35 2005 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 28 309 1
11 Vance Johnson 27 1990 NFL DEN 5 2 3 0 27 436 0
12 Brandon Marshall 23 2007 NFL DEN 5 2 3 0 27 362 2
13 Glyn Milburn 23 1994 NFL DEN 5 1 4 0 27 192 1
14 Ed McCaffrey 32 2000 NFL DEN 5 2 3 0 26 323 1
15 Shannon Sharpe 30 1998 NFL DEN 5 5 0 0 26 307 4
16 Shannon Sharpe 28 1996 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 26 316 2
17 Rod Smith 34 2004 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 26 326 1
18 Rod Smith 32 2002 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 26 307 2
19 Jim D. Jensen 26 1980 NFL DEN 5 2 3 0 25 161 0
20 Brandon Marshall 25 2009 NFL DEN 5 5 0 0 24 283 4
Receiving Yards
Rk Player Age Year Lg Tm G W L T Rec Yds TD
1 Lionel Taylor 26 1961 AFL DEN 5 1 4 0 42 574 4
2 Rod Smith 30 2000 NFL DEN 5 2 3 0 38 562 3
3 Rod Smith 31 2001 NFL DEN 5 3 2 0 42 513 5
4 Lionel Taylor 29 1964 AFL DEN 5 1 4 0 33 459 4
5 Vance Johnson 27 1990 NFL DEN 5 2 3 0 27 436 0
6 Brandon Marshall 24 2008 NFL DEN 4 3 1 0 34 423 3
7 Lionel Taylor 28 1963 AFL DEN 5 2 3 0 24 422 4
8 Steve Watson 24 1981 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 19 396 5
9 Ed McCaffrey 30 1998 NFL DEN 5 5 0 0 23 392 4
10 Javon Walker 27 2006 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 20 388 2
11 Lionel Taylor 30 1965 AFL DEN 5 2 3 0 30 378 1
12 Rod Smith 27 1997 NFL DEN 5 5 0 0 21 367 4
13 Lionel Taylor 27 1962 AFL DEN 5 4 1 0 32 363 1
14 Rick Upchurch 27 1979 NFL DEN 5 3 2 0 20 363 1
15 Brandon Marshall 23 2007 NFL DEN 5 2 3 0 27 362 2
16 Shannon Sharpe 27 1995 NFL DEN 4 2 2 0 24 343 0
17 Al Denson 27 1969 AFL DEN 5 2 3 0 21 340 6
18 Vance Johnson 25 1988 NFL DEN 5 2 3 0 21 340 1
19 Steve Watson 26 1983 NFL DEN 4 1 3 0 17 340 1
20 Eric Crabtree 23 1968 AFL DEN 5 2 3 0 20 334 2
21 Rod Smith 34 2004 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 26 326 1
22 Ed McCaffrey 32 2000 NFL DEN 5 2 3 0 26 323 1
23 Eddie Royal 22 2008 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 30 321 2
24 Mike Haffner 27 1969 AFL DEN 5 2 3 0 20 318 3
25 Shannon Sharpe 28 1996 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 26 316 2
26 Steve Watson 28 1985 NFL DEN 5 3 2 0 21 316 1
27 Shannon Sharpe 25 1993 NFL DEN 5 3 2 0 30 312 1
28 Rod Smith 33 2003 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 24 312 0
29 Rod Smith 35 2005 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 28 309 1
30 Rod Smith 28 1998 NFL DEN 5 5 0 0 23 308 2
31 Shannon Sharpe 30 1998 NFL DEN 5 5 0 0 26 307 4
32 Rod Sherman 27 1972 NFL DEN 5 1 4 0 16 307 0
33 Rod Smith 32 2002 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 26 307 2
34 Al Carmichael 31 1960 AFL DEN 5 3 2 0 16 299 1
35 Ed McCaffrey 34 2002 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 21 299 2
36 Vance Johnson 26 1989 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 20 296 2
37 Derek Russell 24 1993 NFL DEN 5 3 2 0 19 296 1
38 Rick Upchurch 23 1975 NFL DEN 5 3 2 0 9 294 2
39 Gene Prebola 24 1962 AFL DEN 5 4 1 0 19 292 0
40 Bob Scarpitto 23 1962 AFL DEN 5 4 1 0 16 285 2
41 Al Denson 25 1967 AFL DEN 4 1 3 0 13 284 3
42 Brandon Marshall 25 2009 NFL DEN 5 5 0 0 24 283 4
Receiving TD
Rk Player Age Year Lg Tm G W L T Rec Yds TD
1 Al Denson 27 1969 AFL DEN 5 2 3 0 21 340 6
2 Rod Smith 31 2001 NFL DEN 5 3 2 0 42 513 5
3 Steve Watson 24 1981 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 19 396 5
4 Brandon Marshall 25 2009 NFL DEN 5 5 0 0 24 283 4
5 Ed McCaffrey 31 1999 NFL DEN 5 1 4 0 21 280 4
6 Ed McCaffrey 29 1997 NFL DEN 5 5 0 0 19 263 4
7 Ed McCaffrey 30 1998 NFL DEN 5 5 0 0 23 392 4
8 Shannon Sharpe 30 1998 NFL DEN 5 5 0 0 26 307 4
9 Rod Smith 27 1997 NFL DEN 5 5 0 0 21 367 4
10 Lionel Taylor 29 1964 AFL DEN 5 1 4 0 33 459 4

And finally, defense & special teams:

Sacks
Rk Player Age Year Lg Tm G W L T Sk
1 Elvis Dumervil 25 2009 NFL DEN 5 5 0 0 8
2 Simon Fletcher 27 1989 NFL DEN 4 3 1 0 6.5
3 Rulon Jones 28 1986 NFL DEN 4 4 0 0 6
4 Karl Mecklenburg 25 1985 NFL DEN 3 1 2 0 6
5 Trevor Pryce 24 1999 NFL DEN 4 1 3 0 5
6 Bertrand Berry 28 2003 NFL DEN 2 2 0 0 4.5
7 Alfred Williams 27 1996 NFL DEN 3 3 0 0 4.5
8 Elvis Dumervil 23 2007 NFL DEN 3 2 1 0 4
9 Simon Fletcher 28 1990 NFL DEN 3 1 2 0 4
10 Rulon Jones 27 1985 NFL DEN 3 1 2 0 4
Punting Avg.
Rk Player Age Year Lg Tm G W L T Pnt Yds Y/P Blck
1 Todd Sauerbrun 34 2007 NFL DEN 5 2 3 0 12 615 51.25 0
2 Tom Rouen 30 1998 NFL DEN 5 5 0 0 21 1032 49.14 1
3 Tom Rouen 33 2001 NFL DEN 5 3 2 0 23 1124 48.87 1
4 Jim Fraser 27 1963 AFL DEN 5 2 3 0 25 1200 48.00 0
5 Brett Kern 22 2008 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 14 671 47.93 0
6 Bob Scarpitto 26 1965 AFL DEN 5 2 3 0 19 903 47.53 0
7 Bob Scarpitto 28 1967 AFL DEN 5 1 4 0 35 1655 47.29 0
8 Todd Sauerbrun 32 2005 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 22 1030 46.82 1
9 Mike Horan 33 1992 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 28 1302 46.50 0
10 Tom Rouen 31 1999 NFL DEN 5 1 4 0 22 1023 46.50 0
11 Brett Kern 23 2009 NFL DEN 5 5 0 0 23 1066 46.35 0
Scoring, Kickers
Rk Player Age Year Lg Tm G W L T TD XPM XPA XP% FGM FGA FG% Pts
1 Gene Mingo 23 1962 AFL DEN 5 4 1 0 3 12 14 85.70% 12 15 80.00% 66
2 Jason Elam 33 2003 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 0 15 15 100.00% 12 13 92.30% 51
3 Matt Prater 24 2008 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 0 15 15 100.00% 12 13 92.30% 51
4 David Treadwell 24 1989 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 0 12 12 100.00% 12 13 92.30% 48
5 Gene Mingo 21 1960 AFL DEN 5 3 2 0 2 11 11 100.00% 8 11 72.70% 47
6 Jason Elam 34 2004 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 0 9 9 100.00% 12 13 92.30% 45
7 Bobby Howfield 33 1970 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 0 11 11 100.00% 11 16 68.80% 44
8 Rich Karlis 26 1985 NFL DEN 5 3 2 0 0 16 18 88.90% 9 11 81.80% 43
9 Jason Elam 24 1994 NFL DEN 5 1 4 0 0 9 9 100.00% 11 13 84.60% 42
10 David Treadwell 26 1991 NFL DEN 5 4 1 0 0 12 12 100.00% 10 12 83.30% 42
11 Matt Prater 25 2009 NFL DEN 5 5 0 0 0 9 9 100.00% 10 13 76.90% 39

This entry was posted on Monday, October 12th, 2009 at 12:56 pm and is filed under PI Finds. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

5 Responses to “PI Finds: Best Individual 5-Game Starts in Denver History”

  1. Patrick W Says:
    October 12th, 2009 at 2:19 pm

    Interesting - not one entry from the 1977 team that went 5-0 (and then 6-0) on their way to a 12-2 regular season and a Super Bowl berth - arguably the best Bronco team of the four that lost Super Bowls when you look at what their defense accomplished. But understandable given their pop-gun offense of that year.

  2. Scott Kacsmar Says:
    October 12th, 2009 at 2:38 pm

    Bubby Brister's 1998 numbers aren't from the first 5 games of the season. He played in the middle in relief of Elway.

  3. jiffy Says:
    October 12th, 2009 at 5:21 pm

    Hey, any way to get Brister on a list is OK by me.

  4. Justin Kubatko Says:
    October 13th, 2009 at 4:34 am

    Scott Kacsmar wrote:

    Bubby Brister's 1998 numbers aren't from the first 5 games of the season.

    Yes, they are. He might not have played in all five games, but those stats were accumulated in the team's first five games.

  5. Larry Says:
    October 13th, 2009 at 3:08 pm

    That's a lot of players around the top 20. Dumervil's topping the sack numbers is impressive. I guess we see some of the reasons that they're 5-0.

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