2018 Denver Broncos season | |
---|---|
Owner | The Pat Bowlen Trust |
General manager | John Elway |
Head coach | Vance Joseph |
Home field | Broncos Stadium at Mile High |
Results | |
Record | 6–10 |
Division place | 3rd AFC West |
Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Pro Bowlers | LB Von Miller RB Phillip Lindsay LS Casey Kreiter CB Chris Harris Jr. |
AP All-Pros | LB Von Miller |
Uniform | |
The 2018 Denver Broncos season was the franchise's 49th season in the National Football League (NFL) and their 59th overall.
After poor offensive statistics that resulted in a 5–11 record during the previous season, the Broncos hoped for improvement at the quarterback position, with the offseason signing of Case Keenum as well as the breakthrough of undrafted rookie running back Phillip Lindsay. Another rookie that made an impact was linebacker Bradley Chubb, who recorded 12 sacks following a slow start. However, for a third consecutive season, the Broncos scored 30 or more points only once, and midway through the season, longtime wide receiver Demaryius Thomas was traded to the Houston Texans.
Following a 3–6 start, the Broncos put together a three-game winning streak, with hopes of turning their season around and competing for a playoff spot. However, key late-season injuries to cornerback Chris Harris Jr. (fractured fibula) and wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (ruptured Achilles tendon) derailed those hopes, sending the Broncos to a season-ending four-game losing streak and a 6–10 record – only a one-win improvement from 2017.
For the first time since 2010, the Broncos did not play the New England Patriots during the regular season.
The Broncos missed the playoffs for a third consecutive season, suffered back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since 1971–1972 and back-to-back double-digit losses for the first time since 1966–1967, resulting in the firing of head coach Vance Joseph at the end of the season. Joseph posted an 11–21 record in his two seasons as the Broncos' head coach. This was the third consecutive season with one game involving the Broncos getting at least 30 points.
This was also the 35th and final season under the ownership of Pat Bowlen, who died on June 13, 2019.