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Denver Broncos: Recalling the 5 best season-opening wins in team history

By Travis Wakeman

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 5: Peyton Manning #18 of the Denver Broncos drops back to pass during the third quarter of the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on September 5, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 5: Peyton Manning #18 of the Denver Broncos drops back to pass during the third quarter of the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on September 5, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
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Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers
DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 8: Quarterback Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers is hit in the head by Von Miller #58 as he is sacked by outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware #94 of the Denver Broncos in the third quarter of a game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on September 8, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

We are getting closer and closer to the Denver Broncos kicking off their 2021 season. But before we place all focus on the season opener against the New York Giants, let’s take a look back at some of the best opening day games in team history.

The Broncos have not won a season opener since 2018 and are 0-2 in Week 1 under head coach Vic Fangio. They would like to put an end to both of those skids on Sunday when they take on the Giants, who they are 6-7 against all-time.

The Broncos have had some great victories in season openers across their history and here, we are going to look back at their five best wins to kick off a new season. So sit back and enjoy some Denver Broncos history.

Honorable mentions

1987 vs. Seattle Seahawks: The Broncos needed to get off to a good start with the taste of Super Bowl XXI still in their mouths. They got off to that kind of start against a pretty good Seahawks squad.

On September 13, 1987, John Elway had one of his best opening day performances ever, throwing for 338 yards and four touchdown passes as the Broncos blew the Seahawks out 40-17.

1991 vs. Cincinnati Bengals: The Broncos suffered through a season-long Super Bowl hangover in 1990 and hobbled to a 5-11 season. They were a much better team in 1991, and that started with a thunderous performance against the Bengals.

The Broncos scored 45 points and pounded the Bengals 45-14 en route to a 1-0 start.

1995 vs. Buffalo Bills: The Broncos had a new guy running the show as this was the head coaching debut for Mike Shanahan and the Broncos were able to get a win over a Bills team that still had Jim Kelly and finished 10-6 that year.

1997 vs. Kansas City Chiefs: Coming off one of the worst losses in franchise history to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the divisional round the year before, the Broncos got the 1997 season off to a good start with a 19-3 win over their hated division rival.

That would be just one of three regular-season losses for the Chiefs that season and they would actually win the AFC West division, only to lose to the Broncos again in the playoffs.

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