The 2010s were a memorable decade for the Broncos and their fans. Relive some of the moments that defined the decade with these 40 photos.
For many years, Floyd Little's excellence in Denver went largely unappreciated. But "The Franchise" finally received his due in 2010 when he was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
The return of John Elway to the Broncos, this time in the front office, ushered in a new era for the franchise. Enough said.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Von Miller pose for a photo after the Broncos drafted Miller with the second-overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall on April 28, 2011 in New York, NY. (Ben Liebenberg/NFL)
A year after Floyd Little was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Broncos faithful watched as one of their favorites, Shannon Sharpe, gave his enshrinement speech. (AP Photo/Ben Liebenberg)
Kicker Matt Prater is held up by teammates after kicking the game-winning field goal in overtime against the Miami Dolphins to give the Broncos an 18-15 win. After starting the season 1-4, the Broncos went on a 7-1 run with Tim Tebow coming in at quarterback, beginning with this game. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
The Broncos were unable to score a single point for almost 58 minutes to start their Week 14 game against the Bears, but as was the case for the prior seven weeks, Denver was dangerous with Tim Tebow if they even had the smallest chance. That was all they needed against the Bears, as Tebow helped drive the Broncos to two scores in the final three minutes. Then, in overtime, the Broncos forced a turnover and kicked a game-winning field goal to continue their miracle run.
To say the Broncos limped into the 2011 playoffs is an understatement. The Broncos finished the season by going 0-3, losing by a combined score of 88-40 and looking as if all the magic from their 7-1 midseason run had run out. And against the top-rated defense, the 8-8 Broncos appeared to be overmatched against the 12-4 Steelers. But the Broncos managed to give Pittsburgh everything they could handle and take them to overtime. Once they got to overtime, all it took was one play. Tim Tebow connected with Demaryius Thomas over the middle, and Thomas took off for an 80-yard touchdown to bring the crowd to its feet.
As Peyton Manning put pen to paper and signed with the Broncos as a free agent in 2012, he would change the course of the franchise and bring about their most successful years since John Elway was the team's quarterback.
The NFL missed Peyton Manning. After he was sidelined for the entire 2011 season as he recovered from a neck injury, there was no guarantee that he would be the same player. But Manning put in the work to ensure he could be, and in his first game back, he showed the league he had more in the tank, throwing for two touchdowns in a 31-19 win over the Steelers.
The Manning era didn't get off to the hottest start. The Broncos stumbled out to a 2-3 start and as they began their "Monday Night Football" game against the Chargers, it appeared as though their record would drop to 2-4. But a 24-0 deficit would not prove to be enough to doom the Broncos. Manning led Denver to three touchdowns in their first three possessions of the second half, including this go-ahead score to Brandon Stokley. The win was the first of 11 straight.
The Broncos began the 2013 season with a bang against the team that ended their 2012 season. Peyton Manning tied an NFL record with seven passing touchdowns to kick-start a season that would include many more NFL records.
Who could forget the Broncos' 51-48 win over the Cowboys? Denver's offense scored on nine of their 11 drives, including the most memorable play of the day — Peyton Manning's fake handoff and touchdown run. (AP Photo/James D. Smith)
Interim Head Coach Jack Del Rio presents Broncos Owner & CEO Pat Bowlen a game ball for his 300th win as an owner after Denver defeated the San Diego Chargers 28-20.
After throwing a 25-yard touchdown to Julius Thomas against the Texans, Peyton Manning rewrote the record books with his 51st passing touchdown of the season.
Eight years after the Broncos had last played in an AFC Championship Game and 15 years after the Broncos had won one, Peyton Manning helped lead the Broncos to a win over the Patriots to get to Super Bowl XLVIII.
After coming up short in Super Bowl XLVIII, the Broncos reshaped their team through free agency, making huge splashes headlined by the signings of former Cowboy DeMarcus Ware and star cornerback Aqib Talib of the Patriots. Along with safety T.J. Ward and wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, the Broncos' 2014 class of free agents helped return the Broncos to the Super Bowl in 2015.
Aided by this 86-yard touchdown catch, Demaryius Thomas set a new franchise mark for receiving yards in a single game with 226. The Broncos' total offensive output also set a franchise record for total yards.
For four years after Brett Favre retired, Peyton Manning inched closer and closer to his all-time passing-touchdown record. Finally, seven weeks into the 2014 season, Manning eclipsed Favre's mark with a touchdown to Demaryius Thomas against the 49ers. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Arguably the best defensive player of his era — or at least the best cornerback of his generation — Champ Bailey ended his playing career in 2014 after 15 seasons in the NFL, including 10 with the Broncos. Five years later, Bailey would be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
As the Broncos hoped to revive their championship hopes, they turned to an old friend in Gary Kubiak. Kubiak had played quarterback for the Broncos and been their offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach during their Super Bowl XXXII and XXXIII victories — and now he was being given the reins as the team's head coach to get them over the hump.
It was hard enough for the Broncos to come back to tie the game after falling behind by two touchdowns in the first half. After tying the game with 36 seconds left in regulation, the Broncos figured themselves lucky to just head into overtime at Arrowhead. When the Chiefs opted to run the ball instead of take a knee, though, the Broncos found a window to victory, as Brandon Marshall forced a fumble and Bradley Roby returned it for the game-winning score. At that moment, the 2015 Broncos began to feel like a team of destiny. (Photo: © Earl Richardson)
With this touchdown run in overtime against New England, C.J. Anderson proved the Broncos still were among the league's top teams as they adjusted to life without Peyton Manning, who was replaced by Brock Osweiler after Manning suffered a foot injury. The win would prove key in the Broncos' chase for home-field advantage in the postseason. (Ric Tapia via AP)
After missing six games while he recovered from a foot injury, Peyton Manning returned midway through the Broncos' final game of the season as they hoped to clinch home-field advantage through the playoffs. After the offense had turned the ball over five times, Manning's return helped power the Broncos to a comeback victory. Photo by Ben Hays.
Behind Von Miller's 2.5-sack and one-interception day, the Broncos edged out the Patriots once again in the AFC Championship to reach the Super Bowl. With the 20-18 win, the Broncos once again proved their defense was one of the best in recent history. Photo by Gabriel Christus
After powering the Broncos to their win in the AFC Championship Game, Von Miller dominated the Panthers in the biggest game of his life. With 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles, Miller earned Super Bowl 50 MVP honors. (Photo by Trevor Brown, Jr./ Denver Broncos)
If there was anyone the Broncos strived to win Super Bowl 50 for, it was their veteran leaders on offense and defense, Peyton Manning and DeMarcus Ware. As they rode on top of one of the front fire trucks in the team's parade through downtown Denver, they got to revel in their accomplishment. (Photo by Eric Lars Bakke/ Denver Broncos)
A month after hoisting the Lombardi Trophy at Levi's Stadium, Peyton Manning left the NFL on top and announced his retirement. His speech was one fro the ages. (Photo by Eric Lars Bakke/ Denver Broncos)
The Broncos made their way to the White House in June to celebrate their Super Bowl 50 championship and found themselves in stitches during President Barack Obama's introductory speech. (Photo by Ben Swanson)
In a Super Bowl rematch to kick off the 2016 season, the Broncos just narrowly escaped with a win after Panthers kicker Graham Gano's last-second field goal drifted wide left. Photo by Gabriel Christus
In a 2016 game against the Saints, the Broncos scored 13 fourth-quarter points to take a 23-17 lead with 2:50 to play. But it appeared that wasn't enough. Drew Brees led the Saints down the field for a touchdown that tied the game at 23. But as the Saints attempted the extra point, rookie safety Justin Simmons hurdled the line of scrimmage and blocked the kick. His fellow rookie, Will Parks, scooped the ball up and ran it all the way back for a 25-23 win. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
In Gary Kubiak's final game as the Broncos' head coach, the Broncos downed the Raiders 24-6. It was an emotional postgame scene in the locker room as players said goodbye to the man who led them to Super Bowl 50 a year earlier. Kubiak would announce he was stepping down as head coach a day later.
On Aug. 5, 2017, Terrell Davis became the first Bronco enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame since Shannon Sharpe in 2011. (AP Photo/David Richard)
During Aqib Talib's four seasons as a Bronco, he established himself as one of the most dangerous cornerbacks in the NFL. In his final season in Denver, he recorded his 10th pick six with a 103-yard return against the Cowboys. The interception moved Talib past his idol, Deion Sanders, on the all-time leaderboard for pick-sixes.
Football fans in Colorado had long seen Phillip Lindsay overcome the odds, dating all the way back to his high school days at Denver South. As an undrafted rookie, Lindsay had his work cut out for him in climbing the ranks, but one touchdown and 102 all-purpose yards in his debut showed that his future in the NFL was bright. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
With a sack on Browns QB Baker Mayfield, Von Miller moved into first place in career sacks in Broncos record books. With the previous record holder, Simon Fletcher, in the building, it was a special moment for the franchise. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Pat Bowlen's children — Amie Bowlen Klemmer, Patrick Bowlen Jr., Annabel Bowlen, Brittany Bowlen, Beth Bowlen Wallace and Christianna Bowlen — FaceTime their father after Pro Football Hall of Fame President David Baker gave them the news that Pat Bowlen was elected for enshrinement in the Hall of Fame's Class of 2019 on February 2, 2019.
After Owner Pat Bowlen passed away on June 13 following a courageous battle with Alzheimer's, Broncos fans, current and former players, staff members, colleagues and admirers from around Denver, Colorado and the country traveled to his statue at the stadium to pay their respects. The Broncos would also hold a special tribute to Bowlen for fans at the stadium featuring many of his most prized keepsakes from his public life leading the Broncos and his private life as a devoted father and friend. Photo by Gabriel Christus
Members of the Bowlen family and Director of Sports Medicine Steve Antonopulos marveled at Pat Bowlen's Hall of Fame bust as he was enshrined in August. The recognition was a significant moment for the family and the team because of Bowlen's contributions to the franchise and the league. Photo by David Dermer
As a first-ballot Hall of Famer, Champ Bailey proved to be one of the best players of his time. Alongside the Bowlen family, Bailey made his enshrinement speech in August. Photo by Gabriel Christus
The Broncos found a spark at quarterback in rookie Drew Lock, who led the team to a 4-1 record in the final five games of the season. Lock energized the team with his personality and his play, which included a 309-yard, three-touchdown performance against the Texans. Photo by Gabriel Christus
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As the decade comes to an end, DenverBroncos.com is remembering some of the best players and moments from the last 10 years. In the final installment, we're handing out some superlatives that range from the best play to the best social-media moment.
Read on for a trip through a 10-year stretch in which the Broncos won five division titles, reached two Super Bowls and won a world championship.
Best offensive player: Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning is an easy choice. The Sheriff made three Pro Bowls in his four years in Denver and was twice named a first-team All-Pro. He earned MVP honors in 2013 as he set single-season records for passing yards and passing touchdowns. The Broncos went to a pair of Super Bowls and won Super Bowl 50 with Manning under center. He's a sure-fire Ring of Famer and Hall of Famer when he becomes eligible in 2021.
Best defensive player: Von Miller
After being drafted second-overall in 2011, Miller put together nine years of dominant football as he earned three first-team All-Pro nods, eight Pro Bowl appearances and Super Bowl 50 MVP honors. He tallied 106 regular-season sacks to become the franchise's all-time sack leader, and he's also recorded 26 forced fumbles. The Broncos have featured other impressive defensive players this decade, especially on the 2015 team. None, though, come close to challenging Miller for his spot.
Best offensive play: Shocking the Steelers
On the first play of overtime in the 2011 wild-card round, Tim Tebow and Demaryius Thomas shocked the Steelers. With the game knotted at 23, Tebow faked a handoff and threw a quick post route to Thomas. Then a second-year receiver, Thomas took off across the field, stiff-armed a defender and raced down the right sideline. Broncos fans went ballistic as Thomas burst into the south end zone to give Denver the quickest overtime win in NFL history.
Best defensive play: Miller begins a dominant day
The Broncos held a 3-0 lead with 6:32 to play in the first quarter of Super Bowl 50 when Cam Newton dropped back on third-and-10 from his own 15-yard line. Von Miller flew off the line of scrimmage, dipped underneath the Panthers' right tackle and met Newton in the backfield almost instantly. Instead of just sacking Newton, Miller had the presence of mind to rip the ball away. Malik Jackson recovered the fumble in the end zone to give Denver a two-score lead in a game they never trailed. The play became synonymous with the Broncos' win, and it was the most enduring moment of Miller's MVP performance.
Best special teams play: Simmons and Parks save the day
In a 2016 game against the Saints, the Broncos scored 13 fourth-quarter points to take a 23-17 lead with 2:50 to play. But it appeared that wasn't enough. Drew Brees led the Saints down the field for a touchdown that tied the game at 23, and the Saints appeared poised to take a one-point lead with 1:22 to play. But as the Saints attempted the extra point, rookie safety Justin Simmons hurdled the line of scrimmage and blocked the kick. His fellow rookie, Will Parks, scooped the ball up and ran it all the way back for a 25-23 win. Parks, whose white shoes along a white sideline helped ensure the call would not be overturned, stunned the New Orleans crowd.
Best offensive performance: Manning tosses seven touchdowns
In the 2013 season opener, Manning exacted his revenge against a Ravens team that knocked Denver out of the 2012 playoffs. Manning tossed seven touchdown, tying an NFL record, in a 49-27 win over Baltimore. He also did not throw an interception as he posted a 141.1 quarterback rating. Manning didn't slow down from there, either, as he threw 55 total touchdowns that season.
Best defensive performance: Miller vs. Brady
Von Miller earned Super Bowl 50 MVP honors, but his performance in the 2015 AFC Championship may have been even more impressive. Facing Tom Brady, Miller recorded 2.5 sacks, an interception and four quarterback hits. The Broncos' would not have won that game without rattling Brady, and Miller played a big part.
Best offensive game-winner: Anderson gives the Broncos the win
Denver's win over the Steelers in the 2011 playoffs was impressive, but it's possible that C.J. Anderson's 49-yard game-winning run in the snow was ultimately more meaningful. The overtime winner would ultimately help the Broncos lock up homefield advantage throughout the playoffs, which proved crucial during the team's run to Super Bowl 50.
Best defensive game-winner: Roby runs it in
The 2015 Broncos began to look like a team of destiny as early as a Week 2 "Thursday Night Football" matchup with the Chiefs. After the Broncos tied the game with 36 seconds to play, it appeared the game was headed to overtime. But the Chiefs chose to run a play, and linebacker Brandon Marshall knocked the ball free from Jamaal Charles on a routine play. Second-year player Bradley Roby scooped up the loose ball and ran it 21 yards for a game-winning score. Arrowhead Stadium instantly fell silent as Denver walked away with a win.
Best offensive rookie: Phillip Lindsay
As a rookie — and an undrafted one, no less — Phillip Lindsay rushed for 1,037 yards and nine touchdowns in 2018. His performance earned him a spot in both the Pro Bowl and in NFL history, as he is the only undrafted offensive rookie to make the Pro Bowl.
Best defensive rookie: Von Miller
His name is popping up quite a bit on this list, but that's what happens when you record 11.5 sacks as a rookie and earn Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Bradley Chubb did best Miller's sack total in 2018, but the hardware earns Miller the nod.
Best touchdown celebration: Playing keep away
Manning threw a lot of touchdowns, but no celebration was better than the game of a keep-away between Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, Emmanuel Sanders and Julius Thomas after Manning tossed his then-record-setting 509th career touchdown pass.
Best sack dance: From Von to Superman
Years before Miller played Cam Newton in the Super Bowl — and dabbed after a key sack — the first-overall and second-overall picks faced off in 2012. Miller got to Newton that game, and he used Newton's Superman nickname against him during a sack dance.
Best storyline: From undrafted to All-Pro
Phillip Lindsay emerging as the hometown kid is heartwarming, but it doesn't quite beat Chris Harris Jr.'s journey from undrafted player to potential Broncos Ring of Famer. Harris joined the Broncos in 2011 after he went undrafted out of Kansas, and he carved out a role as the Broncos' best cornerback of the decade. The self-proclaimed underdog made four Pro Bowls and was named a first-team All-Pro in Denver, and he was a key member of the "No-Fly Zone." The story started to get good when Harris snagged two interceptions off Philip Rivers in a 24-point comeback on "Monday Night Football" in 2012, and Harris only got better from there.
Best one-liner: 'This one's for Pat!'
When the Broncos won their first Super Bowl at the end of the 1997 season, late Owner Pat Bowlen lifted the Lombardi Trophy into the air and declared, "This one's for John!" A year later, Bowlen was back up on the stage and said, "This one's for you!" Then, nearly two decades later, Elway had the chance to return the favor. After the Broncos won Super Bowl 50, Elway dedicated the win to Bowlen, who at the time was battling Alzheimer's. "This one's for Pat!" he shouted. It was an emotional ending to a dominant performance.
Best social media moment: 'Where yours at young fella?'
In the months after the Broncos beat the Panthers in the Super Bowl, former Panthers cornerback Josh Norman did an interview in which he dismissed Demaryius Thomas' performance against him. Thomas needed just five words to silence Norman.
