Record: 11-5
Points Scored: 485 points (30.3)
Points Against: 369 points (23.1)
Highlight: The Broncos clinched a playoff spot with a win over the 49ers at home in Week 17 38-9. It was the last ever game played at Mile High Stadium. The stadium was the standard for homefield advantage, and it was an emotional game for the Broncos and their fans. Many old Broncos came back for the game, including John Elway, and the Broncos didn't disappoint by routing the Niners. After the game, Mike Shanahan and the rest of the team went back out of the locker room and walked around Mile High one last time to thank the fans.
Lowlight: The Broncos were 4-3 and facing the 0-6 Cincinnati Bengals in Cincy. The Broncos jumped out to a 14-3 lead, but could not hold it. Cincy came storming back, and running back Corey Dillion rushed for a then NFL record 278 yards. He capped off the game with a clinching 41 yard run as the Bengals embarrassed the Broncos 31-21 to put Denver at a disappointing 4-4 at the halfway point.
What If?: The Broncos finished 11-5 and earned a wild card. People forget that they actually swept the Raiders that year, who won the division at 12-4. Denver was 10-4 heading into KC to face the 6-8 Chiefs. The Broncos stubbed their toe on the road and lost 20-7. The loss paved the way for the Raiders to win the AFC West and gain a first round bye. Instead of traveling to Baltimore to take on the Ravens in the wild card round, Denver could have had a bye, and then hosted the Miami Dolphins in Mile High in the divisional round. There would have been a very good chance that they would have been in the 2000 AFC Championship if those events had transpired.
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