1989 Denver Broncos season

1989 Denver Broncos season
Head coach	Dan Reeves
General manager	John Beake
Owner	Pat Bowlen
Home field	Mile High Stadium
Results
Record	11–5
Division place	1st AFC West
Playoff finish	Won Divisional Playoff (Steelers) 24–23 Won AFC Championship (Browns) 37–21 Lost Super Bowl XXIV (49ers) 10–55
← 1988 Broncos seasons 1990 →

1 2 3 4 Total • Broncos 5 13 3 7 28 Bills 0 0 7 7 14 Date: September 18 Location: Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York Game start: 9:00 p.m. Game attendance: 78,176 Game weather: 57°F; wind 5 Television network: ABC

Scoring summary Q1 DEN Mueller tackled by Brooks in end zone DEN 2–0 Q1 DEN Treadwell 22 yard field goal DEN 5–0 Q2 DEN Treadwell 33 yard field goal DEN 8–0 Q2 DEN Johnson 19 yard pass from Elway (Treadwell kick) DEN 15–0 Q2 DEN Treadwell 46 yard field goal DEN 18–0 Q3 DEN Treadwell 24 yard field goal DEN 21–0 Q3 BUF Kinnebrew 1 yard run (Norwood kick) DEN 21–7 Q4 BUF Harmon 20 yard pass from Kelly (Norwood kick) DEN 21–14 Q4 DEN Humphrey 5 yard run (Treadwell kick) DEN 28–14

Scoring summary
Q1		DEN	Mueller tackled by Brooks in end zone	DEN 2–0
Q1		DEN	Treadwell 22 yard field goal	DEN 5–0
Q2		DEN	Treadwell 33 yard field goal	DEN 8–0
Q2		DEN	Johnson 19 yard pass from Elway (Treadwell kick)	DEN 15–0
Q2		DEN	Treadwell 46 yard field goal	DEN 18–0
Q3		DEN	Treadwell 24 yard field goal	DEN 21–0
Q3		BUF	Kinnebrew 1 yard run (Norwood kick)	DEN 21–7
Q4		BUF	Harmon 20 yard pass from Kelly (Norwood kick)	DEN 21–14
Q4		DEN	Humphrey 5 yard run (Treadwell kick)	DEN 28–14

1 2 3 4 Total Raiders 0 0 7 14 21 • Broncos 21 7 0 3 31 Date: September 24 Location: Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado Game start: 2:00 p.m. Game weather: 62°F, wind 11 mph

Scoring summary 1 DEN John Elway 29 yard run (David Treadwell kick) Broncos 7–0 1 DEN Jeff Alexander 1 yard run (David Treadwell kick) Broncos 14–0 1 DEN Mark Jackson 46 yard pass from John Elway (David Treadwell kick) Broncos 21–0 2 DEN Mark Jackson 11 yard pass from John Elway (David Treadwell kick) Broncos 28–0 3 LA Lionel Washington 22 yard interception return (Jeff Jaeger kick) Broncos 28–7 4 LA Mervyn Fernandez 75 yard pass from Jay Schroeder (Jeff Jaeger kick) Broncos 28–14 4 LA Linden King 15 yard fumble return (Jeff Jaeger kick) Broncos 28–21 4 DEN David Treadwell 38 yard field goal Broncos 31–21

Scoring summary
1		DEN	John Elway 29 yard run (David Treadwell kick)	Broncos 7–0
1		DEN	Jeff Alexander 1 yard run (David Treadwell kick)	Broncos 14–0
1		DEN	Mark Jackson 46 yard pass from John Elway (David Treadwell kick)	Broncos 21–0
2		DEN	Mark Jackson 11 yard pass from John Elway (David Treadwell kick)	Broncos 28–0
3		LA	Lionel Washington 22 yard interception return (Jeff Jaeger kick)	Broncos 28–7
4		LA	Mervyn Fernandez 75 yard pass from Jay Schroeder (Jeff Jaeger kick)	Broncos 28–14
4		LA	Linden King 15 yard fumble return (Jeff Jaeger kick)	Broncos 28–21
4		DEN	David Treadwell 38 yard field goal	Broncos 31–21

The 1989 Denver Broncos season was the team's 30th year in professional football and its 20th with the National Football League (NFL). The head coach was Dan Reeves while Chan Gailey was the offensive coordinator and Wade Phillips was the defensive coordinator.

One of Denver's new major additions was rookie running back Bobby Humphrey, who rushed for 1,151 yards, caught 22 passes for 156 yards, and scored 8 touchdowns. Humphrey gave the Broncos a powerful running attack that they lacked in their previous Super Bowl seasons. The defense had a new weapon as well: rookie free safety Steve Atwater. Together with veteran defensive backs Dennis Smith, Wymon Henderson and Tyrone Braxton, the Broncos secondary combined for 14 interceptions. Braxton lead the team with 6, which he returned for 103 yards and a touchdown, while also recovering 2 fumbles. Another new addition was defensive end Ron Holmes, who recorded 9 sacks. Holmes, along with veteran linebackers Karl Mecklenburg (7.5 sacks and 4 fumble recoveries) and Simon Fletcher (12 sacks) gave Denver one of the top defensive lines in the AFC.

Veteran receiver Vance Johnson had the best season of his career, catching 76 passes for 1,095 yards and 7 touchdowns, while also returning 12 punts for 118 yards. However, quarterback John Elway played inconsistently during the regular season, throwing just as many interceptions as touchdowns (18) and recording only a 73.7 passer rating.

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