On September 10th in sports history, one significant event took place in 1960 when the Denver Broncos played their first-ever regular-season game in the American Football League (AFL). The Broncos, who were one of the eight original teams in the AFL, faced off against the Boston Patriots at Boston University Field in front of a crowd of 21,597 fans.
The game was a defensive battle, with both teams struggling to move the ball effectively. The Broncos, led by head coach Frank Filchock and quarterback Frank Tripucka, managed to score the game's only touchdown in the fourth quarter when Tripucka connected with Al Carmichael on a 59-yard pass play. Gene Mingo added the extra point, giving the Broncos a 7-0 lead.
The Patriots, coached by Lou Saban and featuring future Hall of Fame quarterback Vito "Babe" Parilli, tried to mount a comeback but were unsuccessful. The Broncos' defense held strong, and Denver secured a 7-0 victory in their inaugural AFL game.
This game marked the beginning of the Broncos' storied history in professional football. The team would go on to become a charter member of the NFL when the AFL merged with the NFL in 1970. Throughout their history, the Broncos have won three Super Bowl championships (1997, 1998, and 2015) and have featured numerous legendary players, including John Elway, Floyd Little, and Terrell Davis.
The significance of this first game extends beyond just the Broncos' history, as it also represents the early days of the AFL, which would eventually merge with the NFL and help shape the landscape of professional football as we know it today.
