1971 Denver Broncos season

1971 Denver Broncos season
1971 Denver Broncos season
Owner	Gerald Phipps
General manager	Lou Saban
Head coach	Lou Saban (first 9 games, 2–6–1); Jerry Smith (last 5 games, 2–3)
Home stadium	Mile High Stadium
Results
Record	4–9–1
Division place	4th AFC West
Playoffs	Did not qualify
	← 1970; Broncos seasons; 1972 →;

The 1971 Denver Broncos season was the team's twelfth season in professional football and second in the National Football League (NFL). Led by fifth-year head coach and general manager Lou Saban, the Broncos finished the season with four wins, nine losses, and one tie, again fourth in the AFC West. Fifth-year running back Floyd Little became the thirteenth in professional football history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season;^[1] the future Hall of Famer ran for 1,133 yards, averaging four yards per carry.

OwnerGerald Phipps

General managerLou Saban

Head coachLou Saban (first 9 games, 2–6–1)
Jerry Smith (last 5 games, 2–3)

Home stadiumMile High Stadium

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On Wednesday, November 17, Saban stepped down as head coach but remained as general manager; offensive line coach Jerry Smith led the team for the final five games, with two wins.^[2]^[3] Several days after the season finale, Saban was hired as head coach of the Buffalo Bills, who had just one victory in 1971.^[4]^[5] The Bills improved to 9–5 in 1973 and made the playoffs in 1974.

In early January 1972, the Broncos hired John Ralston as head coach and general manager; he was previously the head coach for nine years at Stanford University, upset winners of the last two Rose Bowls.^[6]^[7]

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Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Notes
1971 Denver Broncos draft
1	12	Marv Montgomery	OT	USC	From Green Bay
2	35	Dwight Harrison	WR	Texas A&I
4	79	Lyle Alzado *	DE	Yankton
4	87	Cleo Johnson	DB	Alcorn A&M
6	139	Harold Phillips	DB	Michigan State
7	165	Doug Adams	LB	Ohio State
8	187	Tom Beard	C	Michigan State
9	217	John Handy	LB	Purdue
10	243	Carlis Harris	WR	Idaho State
11	269	Roger Roitsch	DT	Rice
12	295	Floyd Franks	WR	Ole Miss
13	321	Craig Blackford	QB	Evansville
14	350	Tommy Lyons	C	Georgia
15	373	Larry James	RB	Norfork State
16	399	Steve Thompson	DT	Minnesota
17	425	Jack Simcsak	K	Virginia Tech
Made roster † Pro Football Hall of Fame * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance
1	September 19	Miami Dolphins	T 10–10	0–0–1	Mile High Stadium	51,228
2	September 26	at Green Bay Packers	L 13–34	0–1–1	Milwaukee County Stadium	47,957
3	October 3	Kansas City Chiefs	L 3–16	0–2–1	Mile High Stadium	51,200
4	October 10	Oakland Raiders	L 16–27	0–3–1	Mile High Stadium	51,200
5	October 17	San Diego Chargers	W 20–16	1–3–1	Mile High Stadium	51,200
6	October 24	at Cleveland Browns	W 27–0	2–3–1	Cleveland Stadium	75,674
7	October 31	at Philadelphia Eagles	L 16–17	2–4–1	Veterans Stadium	65,358
8	November 7	Detroit Lions	L 20–24	2–5–1	Mile High Stadium	51,200
9	November 14	Cincinnati Bengals	L 10–24	2–6–1	Mile High Stadium	51,200
10	November 21	at Kansas City Chiefs	L 10–28	2–7–1	Municipal Stadium	49,945
11	November 28	at Pittsburgh Steelers	W 22–10	3–7–1	Three Rivers Stadium	39,710
12	December 5	Chicago Bears	W 6–3	4–7–1	Mile High Stadium	51,200
13	December 12	at San Diego Chargers	L 17–45	4–8–1	San Diego Stadium	44,347
14	December 19	at Oakland Raiders	L 13–21	4–9–1	Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum	54,651
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

AFC West
view talk edit	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Kansas City Chiefs	10	3	1	.769	4–1–1	8–2–1	302	208	W3
Oakland Raiders	8	4	2	.667	4–1–1	7–3–1	344	278	W1
San Diego Chargers	6	8	0	.429	2–4	4–7	311	341	L1
Denver Broncos	4	9	1	.308	1–5	3–6–1	203	275	L2

1971 Denver Broncos season

Offseason

NFL draft

Personnel

Staff / Coaches

Roster

Regular season

Schedule

Standings

References

External links

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