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Denver Broncos: 5 best bounce-back seasons in team history

By Travis Wakeman

PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 11: Quarterback John Elway #7 of the Denver Broncos looks to hand off the football during the 1997 season AFC Championship game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium on January 11, 1998 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Broncos defeated the Steelers 24-21. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 11: Quarterback John Elway #7 of the Denver Broncos looks to hand off the football during the 1997 season AFC Championship game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Three Rivers Stadium on January 11, 1998 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Broncos defeated the Steelers 24-21. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – DECEMBER 28: Denver Broncos players, including tackle Ryan Harris #68, celebrate with kicker Brandon McManus #8 after McManus kicked a go-ahead 37-yard field goal in the overtime period of a game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on December 28, 2015, in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /

2015 season

This is always going to be one of the most memorable seasons in Broncos history and it is one that is still fresh in our minds.

The Broncos brought in Peyton Manning for one reason, and that was to win a Super Bowl. Though he posted incredible numbers and had the Broncos as arguably the best team in the regular season during most of his tenure with the team, each season end with major disappointment.

In 2012, the Broncos lost to the Baltimore Ravens on one of the more fluky plays you’ll ever see. The following year the team reached the Super Bowl, only to be flat out embarrassed by the Seahawks.

The 2014 season was going to be different. Manning was in his third year with the team and the Broncos had all the weapons to get to the big game and win it. But the Indianapolis Colts had other ideas, coming into Denver in the divisional round and springing the upset.

It was a bitter defeat and one that would cost head coach John Fox his job.

Kubiak took over the following season but during the year, it started to become apparent that Manning was not the same player. This time, it would be Peyton who needed to be carried to a title and that is what happened.

Behind one of the best defenses the team has ever had and a great relief performance from Brock Osweiler, the team was able to get to the Super Bowl and, despite being huge underdogs much like it was in 1997, won it all.

What will 2020 bring?

The Broncos really need to bounce back and stop the skid this coming season. With an extra playoff spot being added, there is plenty of reason to believe the team will be one of the seven best in the AFC.

That’s something a talented, young team can build on in order to get back to being one of the league’s best franchises, as fans have come to expect.

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