Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The 2013 Denver Broncos have reached the halfway point of the season with an impressive 7-1 record, the second best mark in the NFL. Due to the surprising 8-0 start by the Kansas City Chiefs, the Broncos find themselves in second place in their own division and slotted for a Wild Card spot under the “if the season ended today” scenario we all love to play. Since the Broncos are currently in their bye week, now would seem a good time to look back at the Broncos and their history of performance through the eight game mark of the season:
- The most common record through eight games for the Broncos has been 4-4, which has been accomplished eleven times.
- The next most common records through the first eight games for the Broncos are 5-3 (nine times) and 3-5 (eight times).
- The Broncos finished their first seventeen seasons at .500 or below through the first eight games of the season, finally breaking through in 1977 with a 7-1 start.
- Prior to the current season, only five Broncos teams have started with a 7-1 record. Three of those teams reached the Super Bowl that same season, while the other two squads were knocked out of the playoffs in the the AFC divisional round.
- During their six Super Bowl appearing seasons the Broncos finished their first eight games of the year with the following records: 7-1 (1977), 7-1 (1986), 4-3-1 (1987), 6-2 (1989), 7-1 (1997), and 8-0 (1998).
History would certainly support the 7-1 start by the 2013 Broncos as a sign of great things to come. As the team heads into a difficult four game stretch that could have major playoff seeding implications, their strong start has them well positioned for the playoffs and a run at a spot representing the AFC in Super Bowl XLVIII.
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