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1986 Denver Broncos
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Record: 11-5-0, Finished 1st in AFC West Division
NFL Season Summary
1986 AFC Champions
Scored 378 points (23.6/g), 6th of 28 in the NFL.
Allowed 327 points (20.4/g), 15th.
Differential of 51 points (3.2/g), 9th.
Expected W-L: 9.4-6.6.
Takeaway/Giveaway Differential +6 (0.4/g), 9th.
Coached by Dan Reeves (11-5-0)
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1986 Statistics / Starters & Roster / Games & Schedule / Team Draftees
Starters
| Pos | Age | Yrs | GS | Summary of Player Stats | Drafted (tm/rnd/yr) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offensive Starters | Complete Team Stats | |||||
| QB | John Elway* | 26 | 3 | 16 | 280 for 504, 3,485 yards, 19 td, 13 int, & 52 rushes for 257 yards and 1 td | Baltimore Colts / 1st / 1st pick / 1983 |
| RB | Sammy Winder* | 27 | 4 | 15 | 240 rushes for 789 yards, 9 td, & 26 catches for 171 yards and 5 td | Denver Broncos / 5th / 131st pick / 1982 |
| FB | Gerald Willhite | 27 | 4 | 12 | 85 rushes for 365 yards, 5 td, & 64 catches for 529 yards and 3 td | Denver Broncos / 1st / 21st pick / 1982 |
| WR | Vance Johnson | 23 | 1 | 7 | 31 catches for 363 yards, 2 td, & 5 rushes for 15 yards and 0 td | Denver Broncos / 2nd / 31st pick / 1985 |
| WR | Steve Watson | 29 | 7 | 16 | 45 catches for 699 yards, 3 td | |
| WR | Clint Sampson | 25 | 3 | 5 | 21 catches for 259 yards, 0 td | Denver Broncos / 3rd / 60th pick / 1983 |
| TE | Clarence Kay | 25 | 2 | 12 | 15 catches for 195 yards, 1 td | Denver Broncos / 7th / 186th pick / 1984 |
| LT | Dave Studdard | 31 | 7 | 15 | 1 fumble recovered | Baltimore Colts / 9th / 245th pick / 1978 |
| LG | Keith Bishop* | 29 | 6 | 14 | 1 fumble recovered | Denver Broncos / 6th / 157th pick / 1980 |
| C | Bill Bryan | 31 | 9 | 16 | Denver Broncos / 4th / 101st pick / 1977 |
|
| RG | Paul Howard | 36 | 13 | 13 | Denver Broncos / 3rd / 54th pick / 1973 |
|
| RT | Ken Lanier | 27 | 5 | 16 | Denver Broncos / 5th / 125th pick / 1981 |
|
| Defensive Starters | ||||||
| LDE | Andre Townsend | 24 | 2 | 16 | 2.5 sacks, 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | Denver Broncos / 2nd / 46th pick / 1984 |
| NT | Greg Kragen | 24 | 1 | 14 | 0.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 3 fumbles recovered | |
| RDE | Rulon Jones*+ | 28 | 6 | 16 | 13.5 sacks, 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | Denver Broncos / 2nd / 42nd pick / 1980 |
| LOLB | Jim Ryan | 29 | 7 | 14 | 1.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | |
| LILB | Karl Mecklenburg*+ | 26 | 3 | 16 | 9.5 sacks, 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | Denver Broncos / 12th / 310th pick / 1983 |
| RILB | Ricky Hunley | 25 | 2 | 15 | 0.5 sacks, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovered | Cincinnati Bengals / 1st / 7th pick / 1984 |
| ROLB | Tom Jackson | 35 | 13 | 14 | 0.5 sacks, 0 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | Denver Broncos / 4th / 88th pick / 1973 |
| LCB | Louis Wright | 33 | 11 | 16 | 0.0 sacks, 3 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | Denver Broncos / 1st / 17th pick / 1975 |
| RCB | Mike Harden | 28 | 6 | 16 | 0.0 sacks, 6 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | Denver Broncos / 5th / 131st pick / 1980 |
| SS | Dennis Smith* | 27 | 5 | 14 | 1.0 sacks, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovered | Denver Broncos / 1st / 15th pick / 1981 |
| FS | Steve Foley | 33 | 10 | 15 | 0.0 sacks, 2 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | Denver Broncos / 8th / 199th pick / 1975 |
| Special Teams Starters | ||||||
| K | Rich Karlis | 27 | 4 | 0 | 20 of 28 field goals & 44 of 45 extra points | |
| P | Jack Weil | 24 | Rook | 0 | 34 punts for a 39.5 average, 0 blocked | |
| PR | Gerald Willhite | 27 | 4 | 12 | 42 punt returns for a 11.1 average and 1 td | Denver Broncos / 1st / 21st pick / 1982 |
| KR | Ken Bell | 22 | Rook | 0 | 23 kick returns for a 23.1 average and 0 td |
| No. | Age | Pos | G | GS | Wt | Ht | College/Univ | BirthDate | Yrs | Drafted (tm/rnd/yr) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | Ken Bell | 22 | RB-WR | 16 | 0 | 190 | 5-10 | Boston College | 11/16/1964 | Rook | |
| 54 | Keith Bishop* | 29 | G-C | 16 | 14 | 260 | 6-3 | Baylor,Nebraska | 3/10/1957 | 6 | Denver Broncos / 6th / 157th pick / 1980 |
| 24 | Tony Boddie | 26 | RB | 1 | 0 | 195 | 5-11 | Montana State | 11/11/1960 | Rook | |
| 64 | Bill Bryan | 31 | C-G | 16 | 16 | 251 | 6-2 | Duke | 6/21/1955 | 9 | Denver Broncos / 4th / 101st pick / 1977 |
| 68 | Rubin Carter | 34 | NT-DT | 5 | 2 | 256 | 6-0 | Miami (FL) | 12/12/1952 | 11 | Denver Broncos / 5th / 121st pick / 1975 |
| 69 | Tony Colorito | 22 | NT | 15 | 0 | 260 | 6-5 | USC | 9/8/1964 | Rook | Denver Broncos / 5th / 134th pick / 1986 |
| 59 | Darren Comeaux | 26 | LB | 16 | 0 | 227 | 6-1 | Arizona State | 4/15/1960 | 4 | |
| 63 | Mark Cooper | 26 | G-T | 8 | 4 | 270 | 6-5 | Miami (FL) | 2/14/1960 | 3 | Denver Broncos / 2nd / 31st pick / 1983 |
| 55 | Rick Dennison | 28 | LB | 16 | 2 | 220 | 6-3 | Colorado State | 6/22/1958 | 4 | |
| 7 | John Elway* | 26 | QB | 16 | 16 | 215 | 6-3 | Stanford | 6/28/1960 | 3 | Baltimore Colts / 1st / 1st pick / 1983 |
| 73 | Simon Fletcher | 24 | LB-DE | 16 | 2 | 240 | 6-5 | Houston | 2/18/1962 | 1 | Denver Broncos / 2nd / 54th pick / 1985 |
| 43 | Steve Foley | 33 | DB | 16 | 15 | 189 | 6-2 | Tulane | 11/11/1953 | 10 | Denver Broncos / 8th / 199th pick / 1975 |
| 62 | Mike Freeman | 25 | C-G | 4 | 0 | 256 | 6-3 | Arizona | 10/13/1961 | 2 | |
| 90 | Freddie Gilbert | 24 | DE | 15 | 0 | 275 | 6-4 | Georgia | 4/8/1962 | Rook | Denver Broncos / 1st / 19th pick / 1984 Supp |
| 85 | Joey Hackett | 28 | TE | 16 | 4 | 267 | 6-5 | Elon | 9/29/1958 | Rook | |
| 31 | Mike Harden | 28 | DB | 16 | 16 | 192 | 6-1 | Michigan | 2/16/1958 | 6 | Denver Broncos / 5th / 131st pick / 1980 |
| 36 | Mark Haynes | 28 | DB | 11 | 0 | 194 | 5-11 | Colorado | 11/6/1958 | 6 | New York Giants / 1st / 8th pick / 1980 |
| 78 | Winford Hood | 24 | G-T | 9 | 2 | 262 | 6-3 | Georgia | 3/29/1962 | 2 | Denver Broncos / 8th / 207th pick / 1984 |
| 2 | Mike Horan | 27 | P | 4 | 0 | 192 | 5-11 | Long Beach State | 2/1/1959 | 2 | Atlanta Falcons / 9th / 235th pick / 1982 |
| 60 | Paul Howard | 36 | G | 15 | 13 | 260 | 6-3 | BYU | 9/12/1950 | 13 | Denver Broncos / 3rd / 54th pick / 1973 |
| 98 | Ricky Hunley | 25 | LB | 16 | 15 | 242 | 6-2 | Arizona | 11/11/1961 | 2 | Cincinnati Bengals / 1st / 7th pick / 1984 |
| 25 | Daniel Hunter | 24 | DB | 10 | 0 | 178 | 5-11 | Henderson State | 9/1/1962 | 1 | |
| 80 | Mark Jackson | 23 | WR | 16 | 1 | 180 | 5-9 | Purdue | 7/23/1963 | Rook | Denver Broncos / 6th / 161st pick / 1986 |
| 57 | Tom Jackson | 35 | LB | 16 | 14 | 220 | 5-11 | Louisville | 4/4/1951 | 13 | Denver Broncos / 4th / 88th pick / 1973 |
| 82 | Vance Johnson | 23 | WR | 12 | 7 | 185 | 5-11 | Arizona | 3/13/1963 | 1 | Denver Broncos / 2nd / 31st pick / 1985 |
| 75 | Rulon Jones*+ | 28 | DE | 16 | 16 | 260 | 6-6 | Utah State | 3/25/1958 | 6 | Denver Broncos / 2nd / 42nd pick / 1980 |
| 3 | Rich Karlis | 27 | K | 16 | 0 | 180 | 6-0 | Cincinnati | 5/23/1959 | 4 | |
| 88 | Clarence Kay | 25 | TE | 13 | 12 | 237 | 6-2 | Georgia | 7/30/1961 | 2 | Denver Broncos / 7th / 186th pick / 1984 |
| 71 | Greg Kragen | 24 | NT-DT | 16 | 14 | 263 | 6-3 | Utah State | 3/4/1962 | 1 | |
| 8 | Gary Kubiak | 25 | QB | 16 | 0 | 192 | 6-0 | Texas A&M | 8/15/1961 | 3 | Denver Broncos / 8th / 197th pick / 1983 |
| 33 | Gene Lang | 24 | RB | 15 | 2 | 196 | 5-10 | LSU | 3/15/1962 | 2 | Denver Broncos / 11th / 298th pick / 1984 |
| 76 | Ken Lanier | 27 | T | 16 | 16 | 281 | 6-3 | Florida State | 7/8/1959 | 5 | Denver Broncos / 5th / 125th pick / 1981 |
| 22 | Tony Lilly | 24 | DB | 16 | 1 | 199 | 6-0 | Florida | 2/16/1962 | 2 | Denver Broncos / 3rd / 78th pick / 1984 |
| 77 | Karl Mecklenburg*+ | 26 | LB-DE | 16 | 16 | 240 | 6-3 | Augustana (SD),Minnesota | 9/1/1960 | 3 | Denver Broncos / 12th / 310th pick / 1983 |
| 87 | Bobby Micho | 24 | TE-FB | 5 | 0 | 236 | 6-3 | Texas | 3/7/1962 | 2 | Denver Broncos / 10th / 272nd pick / 1984 |
| 89 | Orson Mobley | 23 | TE | 14 | 3 | 256 | 6-5 | Florida State,Salem | 3/4/1963 | Rook | Denver Broncos / 6th / 151st pick / 1986 |
| 4 | Chris Norman | 24 | P | 6 | 0 | 198 | 6-2 | South Carolina | 5/25/1962 | 2 | |
| 74 | Dan Remsberg | 24 | T | 16 | 1 | 275 | 6-6 | Abilene Christian | 4/7/1962 | Rook | San Diego Chargers / 9th / 252nd pick / 1985 |
| 48 | Randy Robbins | 24 | DB | 16 | 2 | 189 | 6-2 | Arizona | 9/14/1962 | 2 | Denver Broncos / 4th / 89th pick / 1984 |
| 50 | Jim Ryan | 29 | LB | 16 | 14 | 217 | 6-1 | William & Mary | 5/18/1957 | 7 | |
| 84 | Clint Sampson | 25 | WR | 15 | 5 | 183 | 5-11 | San Diego State | 1/4/1961 | 3 | Denver Broncos / 3rd / 60th pick / 1983 |
| 30 | Steve Sewell | 23 | RB-WR | 11 | 2 | 210 | 6-3 | Oklahoma | 4/2/1963 | 1 | Denver Broncos / 1st / 26th pick / 1985 |
| 49 | Dennis Smith* | 27 | DB | 14 | 14 | 200 | 6-3 | USC | 2/3/1959 | 5 | Denver Broncos / 1st / 15th pick / 1981 |
| 70 | Dave Studdard | 31 | T-G-TE | 15 | 15 | 260 | 6-4 | Texas | 11/22/1955 | 7 | Baltimore Colts / 9th / 245th pick / 1978 |
| 61 | Andre Townsend | 24 | DE-NT | 16 | 16 | 265 | 6-3 | Mississippi | 10/8/1962 | 2 | Denver Broncos / 2nd / 46th pick / 1984 |
| 81 | Steve Watson | 29 | WR | 16 | 16 | 195 | 6-4 | Temple | 5/28/1957 | 7 | |
| 13 | Jack Weil | 24 | P | 6 | 0 | 175 | 5-11 | Wyoming | 3/16/1962 | Rook | |
| 47 | Gerald Willhite | 27 | RB | 16 | 12 | 200 | 5-10 | San Jose State | 5/30/1959 | 4 | Denver Broncos / 1st / 21st pick / 1982 |
| 45 | Steve Wilson | 29 | DB-WR | 16 | 0 | 195 | 5-10 | Howard | 8/24/1957 | 7 | |
| 23 | Sammy Winder* | 27 | RB | 16 | 15 | 203 | 5-11 | Southern Miss | 7/15/1959 | 4 | Denver Broncos / 5th / 131st pick / 1982 |
| 52 | Ken Woodard | 26 | LB | 16 | 1 | 218 | 6-1 | Tuskegee | 1/22/1960 | 4 | Denver Broncos / 10th / 274th pick / 1982 |
| 20 | Louis Wright | 33 | DB | 16 | 16 | 200 | 6-2 | Arizona State,San Jose State | 1/31/1953 | 11 | Denver Broncos / 1st / 17th pick / 1975 |
| Team Total | 26.5 | 16 | 223.1 | 6-1.7 | 3.8 |