The Denver Broncos had made several notable changes as
they opened their AFL season against the Boston Patriots on September 3, 1967.
The perennially losing franchise was coming off a second straight 4-10 record
in ’66 and had hired a new head coach/GM, Lou Saban, who had won back-to-back
AFL titles in Buffalo. HB Floyd Little was drafted in the first round out of
Syracuse and became the first top draft pick in the team’s short history to
sign with the club (no doubt helped by 1967 being the first year that the AFL
wasn’t competing with the NFL for draft picks). Quarterback had been a major
issue for the Broncos in recent seasons, and a trade was swung with San Diego
to obtain the strong-armed Steve Tensi to take over the position for ’67.
The visiting Patriots were coached by Mike Holovak (who
had replaced Saban when he was fired from that job during the 1961 season) and
were coming off an 8-4-2 year in ’66. FB Jim Nance had blossomed into a star,
setting an AFL record with 1458 rushing yards. 37-year-old QB Babe Parilli was
coming off of a good season and OE/PK Gino Cappelletti was the league’s top
scorer.
There was a record crowd of 35,488 in attendance at Bears
Stadium ready to get a look at the refurbished club that had won its last three
preseason games. The Broncos got the first break of the game when a deflected
pass by Parilli was intercepted by DB Gene Sykes and returned 29 yards to the
Boston 13. Two plays later Steve Tensi completed a 12-yard touchdown pass to
flanker Al Denson and Gary Kroner added the extra point.
The teams traded punts until the Patriots came through
with a big play. Parilli threw to split end Art Graham on a play that covered
79 yards for a TD. Gino Cappelletti’s PAT evened the score at 7-7.
Neither team was able to move the ball effectively for
the remainder of the opening quarter. On the last play of the period Jim Nance
fumbled and DT Dave Costa recovered for the Broncos at the Patriots’ 28. However,
after advancing to the seven yard line Denver came up empty when FB Cookie
Gilchrist, returning to the team after a sojourn with the expansion Dolphins in
1966, was stopped for no gain on a fourth-and-one play.
The teams again traded punts until Sykes again picked off
a Parilli pass to give Denver the ball at the Boston 29. Floyd Little ran four
straight times to pick up a total of 16 yards and the series ended with Kroner
kicking a 20-yard field goal. The Broncos were back in front by 10-7, which
remained the score at the half.
The Broncos extended their lead on the first series of
the third quarter that was helped along when, initially forced to punt, the
Patriots were penalized for roughing the kicker. Two plays later Tensi
connected with Denson for a 55-yard touchdown. Kroner’s extra point try was
blocked, however, and the score remained 16-7.
The Patriots wasted no time in coming back, driving 64
yards in five plays. After Boston ran the ball twice, Parilli threw to TE Jim
Whalen for a 27-yard gain to the Denver 24. A pass interference call gained
another 14 yards before Parilli threw to Nance for a 10-yard touchdown.
Cappelletti added the extra point to make it a two-point game.
The Patriots got the ball back on the next series when DT
Jim Hunt stripped Tensi at the Denver 37. Five plays later, Parilli passed to
HB Larry Garron for a 20-yard touchdown and, with the successful conversion,
Boston was in front by 21-16.
Heading into the fourth quarter, the Broncos got a big
play on offense when Tensi connected with Denson for a 58-yard gain to the
Boston 9. Little and Gilchrist were unable to pound the ball into the end zone
but Denver came away with a 9-yard Kroner field goal to narrow the tally to
21-19.
Now midway through the fourth quarter the Patriots had
the ball back after the ensuing kickoff but, on the second play, CB Goldie
Sellers (pictured at left) intercepted a Parilli throw and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown.
Kroner’s extra point gave the Broncos a five-point lead, but there were still
over eight minutes to play.
Parilli immediately went to the air and connected with
Cappelletti for a 30-yard gain to midfield, but his next pass was intercepted,
this time by CB Nemiah Wilson. The Broncos couldn’t move the ball and, on a
third-and-14 play, Tensi was sacked by LB Doug Satcher for an 11-yard loss to
his own 10 yard line. HB Joe Bellino returned Bob Scarpitto’s punt 17 yards to
the Denver 37 to give the Patriots excellent starting field position.
Garron took off for 15 yards on the first play of the
series but Parilli was picked off for the sixth time, once again by Sellers.
The Broncos had possession at their five yard line, went three-and-out, and
Scarpitto boomed a punt that gave the Patriots the ball at their own 20 with
less than two minutes remaining on the clock. They managed to reach the Denver
43 before Costa sacked Parilli for a 13-yard loss and a long desperation pass
fell incomplete. The Broncos were winners by a score of 26-21.
Boston had more total yards (302 to 209) and first downs
(14 to 11) than the Broncos, but the Patriots also turned the ball over seven
times, to one suffered by Denver.
Al Denson was the offensive star for the Broncos as he
caught four passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns. Steve Tensi completed 8 of
19 passes for 145 yards and the two TDs with none intercepted. Floyd Little, playing
in his first regular season game, rushed for 66 yards on 25 carries, while
Cookie Gilchrist, appearing in his last, gained 21 yards on 10 attempts (the
talented and mercurial Gilchrist underwent knee surgery the next week and ultimately
retired). Gene Sykes, Goldie Sellers, and Nemiah Wilson each intercepted two
passes apiece.
For the Patriots, Babe Parilli was successful on 16 of 30
throws for 234 yards and three TDs but also gave up the six costly
interceptions. Gino Cappelletti had 6 catches for 54 yards and, thanks to the
long scoring reception, Art Graham gained 84 yards on his two receptions. Jim
Nance ran the ball 15 times for 53 yards and Larry Garron contributed 37 yards
on 6 carries while also gaining 53 yards on four catches that included a
touchdown.
Tragedy dimmed Al Denson’s fine performance. He left
immediately after the game for his home in Jacksonville, Florida due to the
untimely death of his three-year-old son.
The exciting win did not herald a winning season in
Denver. The Broncos lost their next nine games and finished at the bottom of
the Western Division with a 3-11 record. The Patriots ended up at the bottom of
the Eastern Division at 3-10-1.
Al Denson, a converted tight end, went on to catch 46
passes for 899 yards (19.5 avg.) and 11 touchdowns, received consensus
second-team All-AFL honors (and was a first-team choice of the NEA), and was
chosen to the AFL All-Star Game.
Steve Tensi had a decidedly uneven year, completing just
40.3 percent of his passes for 1915 yards and 16 touchdowns as well as 17
interceptions. Floyd Little led the club in rushing as a rookie, but with only
381 yards and averaging 2.9 yards per carry as opposing defenses focused on
stopping him. However, he did lead the AFL in punt returning with a 16.9-yard
average. While Tensi would ultimately not pan out as a starting quarterback,
Little went on to an outstanding career worthy of his high draft status.
