NFL Monday Nights - The Show Comes to Denver

NFL MONDAY NIGHTS

A FIRST FOR DENVER

The NFL began Monday night telecasts in 1970.  Today, Monday night Football is an American tradition.  In the early years, Monday night football was a happening.  The ABC crew brought more than football to the home cities.  It brought legitimacy to your football bloodlines.  This was especially true for the old AFL teams.

On October 22, 1973, The ABC broadcast team rolled into Denver for the first time.  The Broncos were an original AFL team that began play in 1960.  The Broncos had never experienced a winning season through the 1972 season.  Thus, the first Monday night game was a coming out party of sorts.  It was a chance for the rabid Denver Bronco fans to introduce the rest of the country to the beloved, though mediocre Broncos.  Frank Gifford, Dandy Don Meredith and Howard Cosell called the game for ABC.

The Broncos played the Oakland Raiders that night.  The Raiders at the time were one of the NFL’s dominant teams.  The Broncos were looking for respectability.  The Raiders expected to handle the Broncos as they did every year.

The Fans at Mile High stadium were rabid.  The atmosphere electric.  The teams played a close, compelling game.  Jim Turner kicked a field goal with less than a minute to play to give the Broncos a 23-23 tie.

The Broncos and Raiders finished the 1973 regular season in Oakland.  The winner would claim the AFC Western Division crown. This time the Raiders prevailed 21-17.  The Broncos finished the season 7-5-2.  Though they failed to make the playoffs, The Broncos had earned their first winning season.

October 22, 1973.  The night the Broncos served notice they could compete in the NFL.

According to Wikipedia, Raiders vs Broncos is the most frequent Monday Night Football matchup – seventeen occurrences.