1986 Denver Broncos Game-by-Game Results
Team Record: 11-5
Finishing 1st in the NFL's West Division of the American Football Conference
Postseason: 2-1 Lost Super Bowl
Coach: Dan Reeves (11-5)
Location: Denver, Colorado
1986 Denver Broncos Roster
The Denver Broncos of the National Football League ended the 1986 season with a record of 11 wins and 5 losses, finishing first in the NFL's West Division of the American Football Conference. The team compiled a postseason mark of 2-1.
Denver kept the scoreboard humming with 378 points, while the defensive unit conceded 327. John Elway triggered the aerial attack, passing for 3,485 yards. Gerald Willhite hauled in 64 passes, while Mark Jackson accumulated 738 receiving yards. Steve Watson provided receiving help, too.
Sammy Winder ran for a team-best 789 yards for the Broncos.
Mike Harden picked off 6 errant tosses from the opposition. Rulon Jones topped the defensive unit with 13.5 quarterback sacks, helping propel the defense to an overall total of 48 sacks.
Dan Reeves coached the team. The 1986 Denver Broncos lost in the Super Bowl.
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Regular Season Points For: 378
Regular Season Points Against: 327
| Date | Game | Res | Home | Road | Record | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 7, 1986 | Los Angeles Raiders 36 at Denver Broncos 38 | W | 1-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 1-0-0 | ||
| September 15, 1986 | Denver Broncos 21 at Pittsburgh Steelers 10 | W | 1-0-0 | 1-0-0 | 2-0-0 | ||
| September 21, 1986 | Denver Broncos 33 at Philadelphia Eagles 7 | W | 1-0-0 | 2-0-0 | 3-0-0 | ||
| September 28, 1986 | New England Patriots 20 at Denver Broncos 27 | W | 2-0-0 | 2-0-0 | 4-0-0 | ||
| October 5, 1986 | Dallas Cowboys 14 at Denver Broncos 29 | W | 3-0-0 | 2-0-0 | 5-0-0 | ||
| October 12, 1986 | Denver Broncos 31 at San Diego Chargers 14 | W | 3-0-0 | 3-0-0 | 6-0-0 | ||
| October 20, 1986 | Denver Broncos 10 at New York Jets 22 | L | 3-0-0 | 3-1-0 | 6-1-0 | ||
| October 26, 1986 | Seattle Seahawks 13 at Denver Broncos 20 | W | 4-0-0 | 3-1-0 | 7-1-0 | ||
| November 2, 1986 | Denver Broncos 21 at Los Angeles Raiders 10 | W | 4-0-0 | 4-1-0 | 8-1-0 | ||
| November 9, 1986 | San Diego Chargers 9 at Denver Broncos 3 | L | 4-1-0 | 4-1-0 | 8-2-0 | ||
| November 16, 1986 | Kansas City Chiefs 17 at Denver Broncos 38 | W | 5-1-0 | 4-1-0 | 9-2-0 | ||
| November 23, 1986 | Denver Broncos 16 at New York Giants 19 | L | 5-1-0 | 4-2-0 | 9-3-0 | ||
| November 30, 1986 | Cincinnati Bengals 28 at Denver Broncos 34 | W | 6-1-0 | 4-2-0 | 10-3-0 | ||
| December 7, 1986 | Denver Broncos 10 at Kansas City Chiefs 37 | L | 6-1-0 | 4-3-0 | 10-4-0 | ||
| December 13, 1986 | Washington Redskins 30 at Denver Broncos 31 | W | 7-1-0 | 4-3-0 | 11-4-0 | ||
| December 20, 1986 | Denver Broncos 16 at Seattle Seahawks 41 | L | 7-1-0 | 4-4-0 | 11-5-0 | ||
| January 4, 1987 | New England Patriots 17 at Denver Broncos 22 | W | 1-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 1-0-0 | AFC Divisional Playoff | |
| January 11, 1987 | Denver Broncos 23 at Cleveland Browns 20 | W | 1-0-0 | 1-0-0 | 2-0-0 | OT | AFC Championship |
| January 25, 1987 | New York Giants 39 at Denver Broncos 20 | L | 1-1-0 | 1-0-0 | 2-1-0 | Super Bowl 21 Pasadena, CA |
