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1985 Denver Broncos
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Record: 11-5-0, Finished 2nd in AFC West Division
NFL Season Summary
Scored 380 points (23.8/g), 8th of 28 in the NFL.
Allowed 329 points (20.6/g), 13th.
Differential of 51 points (3.2/g), 8th.
Expected W-L: 9.4-6.6.
Takeaway/Giveaway Differential +5 (0.3/g), 7th.
Coached by Dan Reeves (11-5-0)
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1985 Statistics / Starters & Roster / Games & Schedule / Team Draftees
Starters
Glossary · ProBowl(*), 1st-team All-Pro(+), · CSV · PRE · Hide Non-primary Starters| Pos | Age | Yrs | GS | Summary of Player Stats | Drafted (tm/rnd/yr) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offensive Starters | Complete Team Stats | |||||
| QB | John Elway | 25 | 2 | 16 | 327 for 605, 3,891 yards, 22 td, 23 int, & 51 rushes for 253 yards and 0 td | Baltimore Colts / 1st / 1st pick / 1983 |
| RB | Sammy Winder | 26 | 3 | 12 | 199 rushes for 714 yards, 8 td, & 31 catches for 197 yards and 0 td | Denver Broncos / 5th / 131st pick / 1982 |
| WR | Butch Johnson | 31 | 9 | 8 | 19 catches for 380 yards, 3 td | Dallas Cowboys / 3rd / 87th pick / 1976 |
| WR | Steve Watson | 28 | 6 | 15 | 61 catches for 915 yards, 5 td | |
| WR | Vance Johnson | 22 | Rook | 7 | 51 catches for 721 yards, 3 td, & 10 rushes for 36 yards and 0 td | Denver Broncos / 2nd / 31st pick / 1985 |
| TE | Clarence Kay | 24 | 1 | 16 | 29 catches for 339 yards, 3 td | Denver Broncos / 7th / 186th pick / 1984 |
| TE | James Wright | 29 | 7 | 12 | 28 catches for 246 yards, 1 td | Atlanta Falcons / 7th / 179th pick / 1978 |
| LT | Dave Studdard | 30 | 6 | 15 | 2 fumbles recovered | Baltimore Colts / 9th / 245th pick / 1978 |
| LG | Keith Bishop | 28 | 5 | 14 | Denver Broncos / 6th / 157th pick / 1980 |
|
| C | Bill Bryan | 30 | 8 | 16 | 1 fumble recovered | Denver Broncos / 4th / 101st pick / 1977 |
| RG | Paul Howard | 35 | 12 | 15 | Denver Broncos / 3rd / 54th pick / 1973 |
|
| RT | Ken Lanier | 26 | 4 | 16 | Denver Broncos / 5th / 125th pick / 1981 |
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| Defensive Starters | ||||||
| LDE | Barney Chavous | 34 | 12 | 15 | 6.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | Denver Broncos / 2nd / 36th pick / 1973 |
| NT | Rubin Carter | 33 | 10 | 16 | 1.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | Denver Broncos / 5th / 121st pick / 1975 |
| RDE | Rulon Jones* | 27 | 5 | 16 | 10.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 3 fumbles recovered | Denver Broncos / 2nd / 42nd pick / 1980 |
| LOLB | Jim Ryan | 28 | 6 | 14 | 1.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | |
| LILB | Karl Mecklenburg*+ | 25 | 2 | 9 | 13.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | Denver Broncos / 12th / 310th pick / 1983 |
| LILB | Rick Dennison | 27 | 3 | 7 | ||
| RILB | Steve Busick | 27 | 4 | 16 | 0.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | Denver Broncos / 7th / 181st pick / 1981 |
| ROLB | Ken Woodard | 25 | 3 | 9 | 3.0 sacks, 1 interception, 0 fumbles recovered | Denver Broncos / 10th / 274th pick / 1982 |
| ROLB | Tom Jackson | 34 | 12 | 5 | Denver Broncos / 4th / 88th pick / 1973 |
|
| LCB | Louis Wright* | 32 | 10 | 15 | 0.0 sacks, 5 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | Denver Broncos / 1st / 17th pick / 1975 |
| RCB | Mike Harden | 27 | 5 | 16 | 1.0 sacks, 5 interceptions, 2 fumbles recovered | Denver Broncos / 5th / 131st pick / 1980 |
| SS | Dennis Smith* | 26 | 4 | 12 | 4.0 sacks, 3 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | Denver Broncos / 1st / 15th pick / 1981 |
| FS | Steve Foley | 32 | 9 | 11 | 0.0 sacks, 3 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | Denver Broncos / 8th / 199th pick / 1975 |
| FS | Tony Lilly | 23 | 1 | 5 | 0.0 sacks, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | Denver Broncos / 3rd / 78th pick / 1984 |
| Special Teams Starters | ||||||
| K | Rich Karlis | 26 | 3 | 0 | 23 of 38 field goals & 41 of 44 extra points | |
| P | Chris Norman | 23 | 1 | 0 | 92 punts for a 40.9 average, 2 blocked | |
| PR | Vance Johnson | 22 | Rook | 7 | 30 punt returns for a 8.7 average and 0 td | Denver Broncos / 2nd / 31st pick / 1985 |
| KR | Vance Johnson | 22 | Rook | 7 | 30 kick returns for a 24.7 average and 0 td | Denver Broncos / 2nd / 31st pick / 1985 |
| Age | Pos | G | GS | Wt | Ht | College/Univ | BirthDate | Yrs | Drafted (tm/rnd/yr) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Barber | 32 | TE | 10 | 1 | 235 | 6-3 | Louisiana Tech | 6/4/1953 | 9 | Houston Oilers / 2nd / 48th pick / 1976 |
| Keith Bishop | 28 | G-C | 14 | 14 | 260 | 6-3 | Baylor,Nebraska | 3/10/1957 | 5 | Denver Broncos / 6th / 157th pick / 1980 |
| Bill Bryan | 30 | C-G | 16 | 16 | 251 | 6-2 | Duke | 6/21/1955 | 8 | Denver Broncos / 4th / 101st pick / 1977 |
| Steve Busick | 27 | LB | 16 | 16 | 227 | 6-4 | USC | 12/10/1958 | 4 | Denver Broncos / 7th / 181st pick / 1981 |
| Rubin Carter | 33 | NT-DT | 16 | 16 | 256 | 6-0 | Miami (FL) | 12/12/1952 | 10 | Denver Broncos / 5th / 121st pick / 1975 |
| Barney Chavous | 34 | DE-DT | 16 | 15 | 252 | 6-3 | South Carolina State | 3/22/1951 | 12 | Denver Broncos / 2nd / 36th pick / 1973 |
| Darren Comeaux | 25 | LB | 11 | 0 | 227 | 6-1 | Arizona State | 4/15/1960 | 3 | |
| Mark Cooper | 25 | G-T | 15 | 2 | 270 | 6-5 | Miami (FL) | 2/14/1960 | 2 | Denver Broncos / 2nd / 31st pick / 1983 |
| Rick Dennison | 27 | LB | 15 | 7 | 220 | 6-3 | Colorado State | 6/22/1958 | 3 | |
| John Elway | 25 | QB | 16 | 16 | 215 | 6-3 | Stanford | 6/28/1960 | 2 | Baltimore Colts / 1st / 1st pick / 1983 |
| Simon Fletcher | 23 | LB-DE | 16 | 1 | 240 | 6-5 | Houston | 2/18/1962 | Rook | Denver Broncos / 2nd / 54th pick / 1985 |
| Steve Foley | 32 | DB | 12 | 11 | 189 | 6-2 | Tulane | 11/11/1953 | 9 | Denver Broncos / 8th / 199th pick / 1975 |
| Mike Harden | 27 | DB | 16 | 16 | 192 | 6-1 | Michigan | 2/16/1958 | 5 | Denver Broncos / 5th / 131st pick / 1980 |
| Winford Hood | 23 | G-T | 16 | 3 | 262 | 6-3 | Georgia | 3/29/1962 | 1 | Denver Broncos / 8th / 207th pick / 1984 |
| Paul Howard | 35 | G | 16 | 15 | 260 | 6-3 | BYU | 9/12/1950 | 12 | Denver Broncos / 3rd / 54th pick / 1973 |
| Ricky Hunley | 24 | LB | 16 | 2 | 242 | 6-2 | Arizona | 11/11/1961 | 1 | Cincinnati Bengals / 1st / 7th pick / 1984 |
| Daniel Hunter | 23 | DB | 16 | 0 | 178 | 5-11 | Henderson State | 9/1/1962 | Rook | |
| Glenn Hyde | 34 | T-G-C | 11 | 0 | 253 | 6-3 | Pittsburgh | 3/14/1951 | 9 | |
| Roger Jackson | 26 | DB | 9 | 0 | 186 | 6-0 | Bethune-Cookman | 2/28/1959 | 3 | |
| Tom Jackson | 34 | LB | 12 | 5 | 220 | 5-11 | Louisville | 4/4/1951 | 12 | Denver Broncos / 4th / 88th pick / 1973 |
| Butch Johnson | 31 | WR | 16 | 8 | 187 | 6-1 | California-Riverside | 5/28/1954 | 9 | Dallas Cowboys / 3rd / 87th pick / 1976 |
| Vance Johnson | 22 | WR | 16 | 7 | 185 | 5-11 | Arizona | 3/13/1963 | Rook | Denver Broncos / 2nd / 31st pick / 1985 |
| Rulon Jones* | 27 | DE | 16 | 16 | 260 | 6-6 | Utah State | 3/25/1958 | 5 | Denver Broncos / 2nd / 42nd pick / 1980 |
| Rich Karlis | 26 | K | 16 | 0 | 180 | 6-0 | Cincinnati | 5/23/1959 | 3 | |
| Clarence Kay | 24 | TE | 16 | 16 | 237 | 6-2 | Georgia | 7/30/1961 | 1 | Denver Broncos / 7th / 186th pick / 1984 |
| Greg Kragen | 23 | NT-DT | 16 | 1 | 263 | 6-3 | Utah State | 3/4/1962 | Rook | |
| Gary Kubiak | 24 | QB | 16 | 0 | 192 | 6-0 | Texas A&M | 8/15/1961 | 2 | Denver Broncos / 8th / 197th pick / 1983 |
| Gene Lang | 23 | RB | 12 | 2 | 196 | 5-10 | LSU | 3/15/1962 | 1 | Denver Broncos / 11th / 298th pick / 1984 |
| Ken Lanier | 26 | T | 16 | 16 | 281 | 6-3 | Florida State | 7/8/1959 | 4 | Denver Broncos / 5th / 125th pick / 1981 |
| Tony Lilly | 23 | DB | 16 | 5 | 199 | 6-0 | Florida | 2/16/1962 | 1 | Denver Broncos / 3rd / 78th pick / 1984 |
| Keli McGregor | 22 | TE | 2 | 0 | 250 | 6-6 | Colorado State | 1/23/1963 | Rook | Denver Broncos / 4th / 110th pick / 1985 |
| Karl Mecklenburg*+ | 25 | LB-DE | 16 | 9 | 240 | 6-3 | Augustana (SD),Minnesota | 9/1/1960 | 2 | Denver Broncos / 12th / 310th pick / 1983 |
| Dean Miraldi | 27 | T-G | 10 | 0 | 266 | 6-5 | Long Beach State,Utah | 4/8/1958 | 3 | Philadelphia Eagles / 2nd / 55th pick / 1981 |
| Chris Norman | 23 | P | 16 | 0 | 198 | 6-2 | South Carolina | 5/25/1962 | 1 | |
| Nathan Poole | 29 | RB | 3 | 0 | 210 | 5-9 | Louisville | 12/17/1956 | 6 | Cincinnati Bengals / 10th / 250th pick / 1979 |
| Randy Robbins | 23 | DB | 10 | 1 | 189 | 6-2 | Arizona | 9/14/1962 | 1 | Denver Broncos / 4th / 89th pick / 1984 |
| Jim Ryan | 28 | LB | 16 | 14 | 217 | 6-1 | William & Mary | 5/18/1957 | 6 | |
| Clint Sampson | 24 | WR | 16 | 0 | 183 | 5-11 | San Diego State | 1/4/1961 | 2 | Denver Broncos / 3rd / 60th pick / 1983 |
| Steve Sewell | 22 | RB-WR | 16 | 2 | 210 | 6-3 | Oklahoma | 4/2/1963 | Rook | Denver Broncos / 1st / 26th pick / 1985 |
| Dennis Smith* | 26 | DB | 13 | 12 | 200 | 6-3 | USC | 2/3/1959 | 4 | Denver Broncos / 1st / 15th pick / 1981 |
| Dave Studdard | 30 | T-G-TE | 16 | 15 | 260 | 6-4 | Texas | 11/22/1955 | 6 | Baltimore Colts / 9th / 245th pick / 1978 |
| Don Summers | 24 | TE | 2 | 0 | 230 | 6-4 | Boise State,Oregon Tech | 2/22/1961 | 1 | |
| Andre Townsend | 23 | DE-NT | 16 | 1 | 265 | 6-3 | Mississippi | 10/8/1962 | 1 | Denver Broncos / 2nd / 46th pick / 1984 |
| Steve Watson | 28 | WR | 16 | 15 | 195 | 6-4 | Temple | 5/28/1957 | 6 | |
| Gerald Willhite | 26 | RB | 15 | 4 | 200 | 5-10 | San Jose State | 5/30/1959 | 3 | Denver Broncos / 1st / 21st pick / 1982 |
| Steve Wilson | 28 | DB-WR | 14 | 4 | 195 | 5-10 | Howard | 8/24/1957 | 6 | |
| Sammy Winder | 26 | RB | 14 | 12 | 203 | 5-11 | Southern Miss | 7/15/1959 | 3 | Denver Broncos / 5th / 131st pick / 1982 |
| Ken Woodard | 25 | LB | 16 | 9 | 218 | 6-1 | Tuskegee | 1/22/1960 | 3 | Denver Broncos / 10th / 274th pick / 1982 |
| James Wright | 29 | TE | 16 | 12 | 240 | 6-3 | TCU | 9/1/1956 | 7 | Atlanta Falcons / 7th / 179th pick / 1978 |
| Louis Wright* | 32 | DB | 15 | 15 | 200 | 6-2 | Arizona State,San Jose State | 1/31/1953 | 10 | Denver Broncos / 1st / 17th pick / 1975 |
| Team Total | 26.7 | 16 | 223.7 | 6-1.9 | 4.1 |