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Denver Broncos: Which devastating playoff loss was the worst?

By Travis Wakeman

DENVER, CO - JANUARY 12: Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates with Jacoby Jones #12 against the Denver Broncos during the AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on January 12, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - JANUARY 12: Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates with Jacoby Jones #12 against the Denver Broncos during the AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on January 12, 2013 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /
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22 Sep 1996: Offensive lineman Gary Zimmerman of the Denver Broncos (right) blocks Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman John Browning during a game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs won the game, 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Stephen
22 Sep 1996: Offensive lineman Gary Zimmerman of the Denver Broncos (right) blocks Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman John Browning during a game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs won the game, 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Stephen /

Broncos roll to 13-3 record

The Broncos finished the 1995 season, Mike Shanahan’s first as head coach, at 8-8, but concluded that season with a 31-28 victory over the Oakland Raiders on the road on Christmas Eve. That gave the team some momentum going into the next year.

The 1996 season was a special one. The team had Terrell Davis in his second year, an incredible find in the sixth round from the year before. That season, he ran for 1,538 yards and 13 touchdowns, propelling an offense that also included Rod Smith, Ed McCaffrey and Shannon Sharpe.

The defense had Steve Atwater, Bill Romanowski and first-round pick John Mobley.

The Broncos jumped out to a 3-0 start that season with wins over the New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In Week 4, they dropped a tough road game to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Following that loss, the Broncos rattled off nine straight victories, including a 34-7 thrashing of the Chiefs. The win streak ended with a loss to the Green Bay Packers and though they lost two of their last three games that year, they finished at 13-3 and won the AFC West by four games.

Everything was going so well for the Broncos. Davis was named the AP Offensive Player of the Year, reaching 1,000 yards rushing faster than any player in Broncos history. The team also had nine players selected to the Pro Bowl.

The Broncos would enter the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the AFC, having home-field advantage throughout.

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