Well, let's face it...it was a very dark and dreary Super Bowl history from the birth of the big game in January of 1967 until the January of 1998 when John Elway hoisted the franchise's first Lombardi Trophy.

Prior to Super Bowl 32 in San Diego when the Broncos knocked off the Packers, Denver had appeared in 5 Super Bowls (which is great) but managed to lose each and every time...and in blowout fashion. In fact, the Broncos are saddled with the two biggest blowout losses in Super Bowl history (vs 49'ers Jan.1990 and Seahawks Feb. 2014) Up until the Broncos won their first title, John Elway's career (albeit still a very successful and Hall of Fame worthy) had something missing...winning the BIG game.

From that first win in Super Bowl 32, the Broncos managed to get to three more Super Bowls winning two, including the following year and claiming the title with Payton Manning leading the squad in Super Bowl 50.

Here's a look back at all 8 Denver Broncos Super Bowl appearances, while some of these may invoke wonderful memories, fair warning...some of these videos are STILL ugly to watch.

Super Bowl 12

This was the Broncos first ever appearance in the Super Bowl. 1977 season was so good for Denver with all of the excitement around the team playing so well and then knocking off the defending champion Oakland Raiders in the AFC Champion game. The Orange Crush defense, as great as they were...was facing a very hungry Dallas Cowboys team who was fighting their own championship demons after losing 2 of their 3 Super Bowl appearances at this point in time. Broncos QB Craig Morton was already banged up before the game and it showed plus...he got even more battered and left the game early. The Broncos were never really in this turnover filled game and the Cowboys overwhelmed them on this day in New Orleans, a city that would prove to bring more championship nightmares in years to come.

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Super Bowl 21

The Broncos were coming off a historic comeback victory over the Cleveland Browns in the AFC title game in "The Drive" game and were poised to strike the New York Giants, after getting out to an early lead and holding a slim lead at halftime...the roof caved in during the second half and the Giants took out the Broncos 39-20.

youtube/ 80's football cards

Super Bowl 22

Back at it again the following year and once again, coming off the excitement of a thrilling and historic AFC title game win over the Cleveland Browns "The Fumble" game only THIS year...the game was pretty much over before it started. RB Timmie Smith (WHO???) ran for a then Super Bowl record 204 yards with 2 touchdowns and Washington ran all over the Broncos to score one of the most lopsided wins in Super Bowl history with a 42-10 win.

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Super Bowl 24

After taking a year off from Super Bowl madness, the Broncos were back in the big game and this time they were facing one of the most dynamic teams in NFL history in the 1989 San Francisco 49'ers featuring the likes of Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Roger Craig, Ronnie Lott etc.... While most people didn't really give the Broncos much of a chance in this one, I don't think anyone expected the route that took place in the Superdome in New Orleans on that January day...a 55-10 blowout loss. It still stands as the most lopsided game in Super Bowl history.

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Super Bowl 32

After 4 appearances and 4 not so pretty outcomes, the Denver Broncos were back in the big game but this time, there was a different feel about this team. Not only was this the first year for the new uniforms and new logo, John Elway was surrounded by a LOT more weapons and wasn't being relied upon so heavily. Denver had one of the most dangerous running backs in the league with "TD" Terrell Davis and a much better defense than those previous teams in the 80's. Led by Coach Mike Shanahan, the Denver Broncos rallied to defeat the defending champion Green Bay Packers in a game that should also be remembered as the game that Terrell Davis (who earned MVP honors in the game) played most of the time with an excruciating migraine headache. THAT would suck since as a running back, you're getting drilled in the head a lot. Of course the postgame moment was one that will FOREVER be etched in the minds of Broncos fans when owner (the late) and great Pat Bowlen hoisted the Lombardi and shouted out the words "This one's for John". What a moment, what a game, what a day.

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Super Bowl 33

The Broncos were back in the big game and this time they were taking on their old coach Dan Reeves and the Atlanta Falcons down in Miami. This was also John Elway's final game...and what a way to go out with not only a win, but with a Super Bowl MVP award. The Broncos took care of the Falcons pretty easily that day with a 34-19 win. John Elway later talked about how much he hated throwing the football in the rain and less than 20 minutes after the game ended, there was a downpour, that's when he REALLY knew somebody was trying to tell him that it truly was time to retire...and he did, as a back to back Super Bowl champion.

youtube/AllHighlights

Super Bowl 48

If you thought Super Bowl 24 against the Niners was bad...THIS one was even worse for Broncos fans. Even though the margin of defeat wasn't as large, the game itself was pretty much over after the first play of the game set the tone when the snap flew over Peyton Manning's head and through the endzone for a safety. The Seahawks jumped on the Broncos early and never let up completely dominating the game both physically and on the scoreboard in a 43-8 loss. I was actually living in Seattle at the time and I'm not gonna lie...that was a crazy and fun night downtown...at least for me. Sorry Bronco nation.

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Super Bowl 50

Two years later, Payton Manning and the Denver Broncos returned to the big game to take on the Carolina Panthers who only lost 1 game the entire year. This was the latest the Super Bowl was ever played (February 7th) which will be exactly 5 years to the day for this year's Super Bowl but more important than the date, was the outcome. The Broncos put together a stellar defensive game plan to smother Cam Newton and the Panthers offense and took a 24-10 win and another Lombardi trophy (their 3rd) back home to the Mile High City.  Von MIller's dominating defensive performance earned him Super Bowl MVP.

 

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