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5 best seasons for first-year head coaches in Broncos history

By Travis Wakeman

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 5: Head Coach Wade Phillips of the Denver Broncos looks on during pregame warmups prior to the start of NFL football game against the New York Jets September 5, 1993 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Phillips was the head coach of the Broncos from 1993-94. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 5: Head Coach Wade Phillips of the Denver Broncos looks on during pregame warmups prior to the start of NFL football game against the New York Jets September 5, 1993 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Phillips was the head coach of the Broncos from 1993-94. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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Denver Broncos
SAN FRANCISCO – SEPTEMBER 10: (L-R) Defensive tackle Lyle Alzado #77, defensive line coach Stan Jones and head coach Red Miller of the Denver Broncos watch from the sideline during a preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on September 10, 1977, in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Getty Images) /

Red Miller, 1977

Prior to 1977, the Broncos had never even been in the playoffs. Red Miller came in to succeed John Ralston, who was with the team for five years and was able to achieve winning seasons, but never reach the playoffs.

Miller was able to break through in his first year at the helm.

The Broncos were one of the best teams in 1977 and started 6-0 before a loss to the Raiders. They then rattled off seven straight wins before a tough loss to the Dallas Cowboys, a team they would get another crack at.

The Broncos still won the AFC West by one game over the Raiders and in the first playoff game in team history, they defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers, the best team of the entire 1970s, 34-21.

Then came a rematch with the Raiders in the AFC Championship Game. In what still ranks as one of the best wins in team history, the Broncos were able to defeat the Raiders 20-17.

That led to Super Bowl XII and another rematch… against the Cowboys.

The Broncos’ miracle run came to an end in the Louisiana Superdome as Roger Staubach and the Cowboys cruised to a 27-10 win over Denver. Still, it was an incredible first year for Miller and one has to wonder how much success he would have had with the team if Kaiser didn’t want someone else in the position.

In four years with the Broncos, Miller posted a 40-22 regular-season record and took the team to the playoffs in three of those four seasons.

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