1998 Denver Broncos season

Infobox NFL_season
team = Denver Broncos
year = 1998
record = 14-2
division_place = 1st AFC West
coach = Mike Shanahan
stadium = Mile High Stadium
playoffs = Super Bowl XXXIII

In 1998 the Denver Broncos had a record of 14-2, second best in the NFL, and won Super Bowl XXXIII. It was John Elway's final season and the season 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 "".

Offseason

NFL Draft

Regular Season

eason Standings

Season Summary

The Broncos won their first 13 games of the season. There was much speculation that they might go undefeated and were featured on the cover of "Sports Illustrated" for just that reason. However, they were upset by the New York Giants in week 15 by a score of 20-16. They finished the regular season 14-2.

They finished first in the AFC West and won their divisional playoff game against the Miami Dolphins 38-3. They then won the AFC Championship over the Bill Parcells coached New York Jets 23-10. Many had expected Denver to play the Minnesota Vikings, the team with the number one record that year at 15-1, in the Super Bowl that year but the Vikings lost the NFC Championship 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 as well as Denver's last Super Bowl.

tatistics

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 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. Steve Atwater, Davis, Elway, Tony Jones, Mark Schlereth, McCaffrey, Tom Nalen, Bill Romanowski, and Sharpe made the Pro Bowl.

Awards and Records

* Terrell Davis, Franchise Record, Most Rushing Yards in One Season, 2,008 Yards [ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York,NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 44 ]
* Terrell Davis, Franchise Record, Most Touchdowns in One Season, 23 Touchdowns Yards [ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York,NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 44 ]
*John Elway, Super Bowl MVP

Milestones

* Terrell Davis, 1st 2000 yard rushing season, 2,008 Yards

References

[http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/den1998.htm Pro Football Reference.com 1998 Denver Broncos] Accessed 15 November 2005