1986 Denver Broncos season
| 1986 Denver Broncos season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Pat Bowlen |
| General manager | John Beake |
| Head coach | Dan Reeves |
| Home stadium | Mile High Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 11–5 |
| Division place | 1st AFC West |
| Playoffs | Won Divisional Playoffs (vs. Patriots) 22–17 Won AFC Championship (at Browns) 23–20 (OT) Lost Super Bowl XXI (vs. Giants) 20–39 |
| Pro Bowlers | QB John Elway RB Sammy Winder G Keith Bishop DE Rulon Jones LB Karl Mecklenburg S Dennis Smith |
The 1986 Denver Broncos season was the franchise's 27th year in professional football and its 17th with the National Football League (NFL). They finished the regular season with a record of 11–5, returned to the playoffs after a one-year absence. In the Divisional Playoffs the Broncos defeated the New England Patriots 22–17. Then won the AFC Championship over the Cleveland Browns 23–20. At Super Bowl XXI the New York Giants dominated the second half of the game and won 39–20. This would be the first of back to back Super Bowl losses for the team.
This season would be the final season for the remaining members of the Orange Crush Defense that had carried the Broncos to their first Super Bowl nine seasons earlier, as nose tackle Rubin Carter, linebacker Tom Jackson, cornerback Louis Wright and safety Steve Foley would all retire after the season.