1982 Denver Broncos season

1982 Denver Broncos season
OwnerEdgar Kaiser
General managerGrady Alderman
Head coachDan Reeves
Home stadiumMile High Stadium
Results
Record2–7
Division place12th AFC
PlayoffsDid not qualify

The 1982Denver Broncos season was the team's 23rd year in professional football and its 13th with the National Football League (NFL). The Broncos played only nine games this season, owing to the strike imposed by the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA). The Broncos were looking to improve on their 10–6 record from 1981. But due to many injuries plus the strike, the Broncos only won two games and lost seven. This was their worst record since 1971, their first losing season since 1975, and their first with fewer than three wins since 1964. Both of the Broncos’ wins came against interconference teams, and the team only won one home game the entire season, against the reigning Super Bowl championSan Francisco 49ers. Their only other win was against the Los Angeles Rams. The Broncos went winless against AFC foes in 1982, although all their non-division AFC games[i] were cancelled by the strike.

NFL draft

1982 Denver Broncos draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 21 Gerald Willhite RBSan Jose State
2 50 Orlando McDaniel WRLSU
4 106 Dan Plater WRBYU
5 131 Sammy Winder * RBSouthern Mississippi
7 189 Alvin Ruben DEHouston
9 243 Keith Uecker OTAuburn
10 274 Ken Woodard LBTuskegee
11 300 Stuart Yatsko GOregon
12 327 Brian Clark GClemson
      Made roster    †   Pro Football Hall of Fame    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Personnel

Staff

1982 Denver Broncos staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

[2]

Roster

1982 Denver Broncos roster
Quarterbacks(QB)

Running backs(RB)

Wide receivers(WR)

Tight ends(TE)

Offensive linemen(OL)

Defensive linemen(DL)

Linebackers(LB)

Defensive backs(DB)

Special teams(ST)

Reserve

Rookies in italics

Preseason

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 August 14at Los Angeles RamsW 33–20 1–0 Anaheim Stadium57,482
2 August 21Miami DolphinsW 17–14 2–0 Mile High Stadium77,465
3 August 28Minnesota VikingsW 27–17 3–0 Mile High Stadium73,371
4 September 4at New York JetsW 20–13 4–0 Giants Stadium43,820

Regular season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1September 12 San Diego ChargersL 3–23 0–1 Mile High Stadium73,564
2September 19 San Francisco 49ersW 24–21 1–1 Mile High Stadium73,899
N/aSeptember 26at New Orleans SaintsCancelled due to the NFLPA Players' strike †
N/aOctober 3Pittsburgh Steelers
N/aOctober 10at New York Jets
N/aOctober 17at Houston Oilers
N/aOctober 24Los Angeles Raiders
N/aOctober 31Buffalo Bills
N/aNovember 7at Seattle SeahawksPostponed until January 2, 1983 due to the NFLPA Players' strike
N/aNovember 14at Kansas City ChiefsCancelled due to the NFLPA Players' strike †
10November 21 Seattle SeahawksL 10–17 1–2 Mile High Stadium73,996
11November 28 at San Diego ChargersL 20–30 1–3 Jack Murphy Stadium47,629
12December 5Atlanta FalconsL 27–34 1–4 Mile High Stadium73,984
13December 12 at Los Angeles RamsW 27–24 2–4 Anaheim Stadium48,112
14December 19 Kansas City ChiefsL 16–37 2–5 Mile High Stadium74,192
15December 26 at Los Angeles RaidersL 10–27 2–6 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum44,160
16January 2, 1983 at Seattle SeahawksL 11–13 2–7 Kingdome43,145
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1 (Sunday, September 12, 1982): vs. San Diego Chargers

Week 1: San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Chargers3310723
Broncos03003

at Mile High StadiumDenver, Colorado

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
SD Passing
Rushing
Receiving
DEN Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Chargers Game statistics Broncos
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession

Individual stats

Week 2 (Sunday, September 19, 1982): vs. San Francisco 49ers

Week 2: San Francisco 49ers at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
49ers1470021
Broncos7701024

at Mile High StadiumDenver, Colorado

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
SF Passing
Rushing
Receiving
DEN Passing
Rushing
Receiving
49ers Game statistics Broncos
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession

Individual stats

Week 10 (Sunday, November 21, 1982): vs. Seattle Seahawks

Week 10: Seattle Seahawks at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Seahawks0071017
Broncos073010

at Mile High StadiumDenver, Colorado

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
SEA Passing
Rushing
Receiving
DEN Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Seahawks Game statistics Broncos
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession

Individual stats

Week 11 (Sunday, November 28, 1982): at San Diego Chargers

Week 11: Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Broncos377320
Chargers01731030

at Jack Murphy StadiumSan Diego, California

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
DEN Passing
Rushing
Receiving
SD Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Broncos Game statistics Chargers
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession

Individual stats

Week 12 (Sunday, December 5, 1982): vs. Atlanta Falcons

Week 12: Atlanta Falcons at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Falcons (3–2)77101034
Broncos (1–4)1433727

at Mile High StadiumDenver, Colorado

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
ATL Passing
Rushing
Receiving
DEN Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Falcons Game statistics Broncos
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession

Individual stats

Week 13 (Sunday, December 12, 1982): at Los Angeles Rams

Week 13: Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Rams – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Broncos01431027
Rams7140324

at Anaheim StadiumAnaheim, California

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
DEN Passing
Rushing
Receiving
RAM Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Broncos Game statistics Rams
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession

Individual stats

Week 14 (Sunday, December 19, 1982): vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Week 14: Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Chiefs37101737
Broncos0133016

at Mile High StadiumDenver, Colorado

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
KC Passing
Rushing
Receiving
DEN Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Chiefs Game statistics Broncos
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession

Individual stats

Week 15 (Sunday, December 26, 1982): at Los Angeles Raiders

Week 15: Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Raiders – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Broncos0001010
Raiders3240027

at Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumLos Angeles, California

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
DEN Passing
Rushing
Receiving
RAI Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Broncos Game statistics Raiders
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession

Individual stats

Week 16 (Sunday, January 2, 1983): at Seattle Seahawks

Week 16: Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Broncos207211
Seahawks3001013

at KingdomeSeattle, Washington

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
DEN Passing
Rushing
Receiving
SEA Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Broncos Game statistics Seahawks
First downs
Rushes–yards
Passing yards
Passes
Sacked–yards
Net passing yards
Total yards
Return yards
Punts
Fumbles–lost
Penalties–yards
Time of possession

Individual stats

Standings

AFC West
WLTPCTDIVCONFPFPASTK
Los Angeles Raiders(1)8 1 0 .889 5–0 5–1 260 200 W5
San Diego Chargers(5)6 3 0 .667 2–3 5–3 288 221 L1
Seattle Seahawks4 5 0 .444 2–1 3–5 127 147 W1
Kansas City Chiefs3 6 0 .333 2–1 3–3 176 184 W1
Denver Broncos2 7 0 .222 0–6 0–6 148 226 L3
# Team WLTPCTPFPASTK
Seeded postseason qualifiers
1 Los Angeles Raiders8 1 0 .889 260 200 W5
2[a]Miami Dolphins7 2 0 .778 198 131 W3
3[a]Cincinnati Bengals7 2 0 .778 232 177 W2
4[b][c]Pittsburgh Steelers6 3 0 .667 204 146 W2
5[b][c]San Diego Chargers6 3 0 .667 288 221 L1
6[c]New York Jets6 3 0 .667 245 166 L1
7 New England Patriots5 4 0 .556 143 157 W1
8[d]Cleveland Browns4 5 0 .444 140 182 L1
Did not qualify for the postseason
9[d]Buffalo Bills4 5 0 .444 150 154 L3
10[d]Seattle Seahawks4 5 0 .444 127 147 W1
11 Kansas City Chiefs3 6 0 .333 176 184 W1
12 Denver Broncos2 7 0 .222 148 226 L3
13 Houston Oilers1 8 0 .111 136 245 L7
14 Baltimore Colts0 8 1 .056 113 236 L2
Tiebreakers
  1. ^ abMiami finished ahead of Cincinnati based on better conference record (6–1 to Cincinnati’s 6–2).
  2. ^ abPittsburgh finished ahead of San Diego based on better record against common opponents (3–1 to Chargers' 2–1). Conference tiebreak was initially used to eliminate New York Jets.
  3. ^ abc Pittsburgh and San Diego finished ahead of New York Jets based on conference record (Pittsburgh and San Diego 5–3 against Jets’ 2–3)
  4. ^ abcCleveland finished ahead of Buffalo and Buffalo ahead of Seattle based on conference record (4–3 to Buffalo’s 3–3 to Seattle’s 3–5).

Notes

  1. ^The Broncos were scheduled to play the Steelers and Bills at home and the Jets and Oilers — who finished 1–8 — away.[1]

References

  1. ^Urena, Ivan (2014). Pro Football Schedules: A Complete Guide from 1933 to the Presen. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. pp. 98–103. ISBN 9780786473519.
  2. ^2010 Denver Broncos Media Guide. p. 363. Retrieved March 6, 2011.
  3. ^Pro Football Reference; San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos – September 12, 1982
  4. ^The Football Database; San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos – September 12, 1982
  5. ^Pro Football Reference; San Francisco 49ers at Denver Broncos – September 19, 1982
  6. ^The Football Database; San Francisco 49ers at Denver Broncos – September 19, 1982
  7. ^Pro Football Reference; Seattle Seahawks at Denver Broncos – November 21, 1982
  8. ^The Football Database; Seattle Seahawks at Denver Broncos – November 21, 1982
  9. ^Pro Football Reference; Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers – November 28, 1982
  10. ^The Football Database; Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers – November 28, 1982
  11. ^Pro Football Reference; Atlanta Falcons at Denver Broncos – December 5, 1982
  12. ^The Football Database; Atlanta Falcons at Denver Broncos – December 5, 1982
  13. ^Pro Football Reference; Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Rams – December 12, 1982
  14. ^The Football Database; Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Rams – December 12, 1982
  15. ^Pro Football Reference; Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos – December 19, 1982
  16. ^The Football Database; Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos – December 19, 1982
  17. ^Pro Football Reference; Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Raiders – December 26, 1982
  18. ^The Football Database; Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Raiders – December 26, 1982
  19. ^Pro Football Reference; Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks – January 2, 1983
  20. ^The Football Database; Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks – January 2, 1983