HEADLINES

As rivals Broncos, Raiders clash Sunday, say a thanks to Red Miller

Sep 27, 2017, 9:44 PM | Updated: Sep 28, 2017, 3:58 am

The significance that Wednesday happened to fall smack dab in the middle Raiders Week for the Denver Broncos wasn’t lost on Sandy Clough.

Nearly 40 years ago to the day, the Broncos went into Oakland and upended the defending Super Bowl champion Raiders for just the third time in the previous 29 games.

It’s the game most likely know for linebacker Tom Jackson shouting at then-Raiders head coach John Madden, “It’s all over, fat man.”

“The Broncos had gone some 15 years between wins in Denver,” Clough said on Wednesday. “When Red Miller and first led the Broncos to a glorious Oct. 16, 1977, 30-7 win out in Oakland against the Raiders … Red Miller gave the Broncos team that inspiration.

“You’ve been getting your cans kicks for years by the Raiders. My teams have had success against the Raiders. That’s exactly what Red Miller told the Broncos when he first took the job.”

According to Clough, the Monday before that game in October. 1977, Miller sat down his team, switched on the reel-to-reel, and showed his players clips of Raiders cheap shots over the years.

“He turns off the project after about five or six minutes and simply instructs the players to break out into position groups and go to their meetings,” Clough said. “The Broncos were ready to play and beat the Raiders on Monday before that game.”

Denver would get its first win against Oakland in Denver since 1962 during the AFC Championship that season as the 12-2 orange and blue rolled to its first Super Bowl appearance.

A new era of the Denver Broncos was born, along with a new rivalry, which aims to be rekindled four decades later.

On Wednesday, Miller passed away due to complications from a stroke at Swedish Medical Center in Denver, his wife Nan at his side. He was 89.

“Our deepest sympathies go out to Red’s entire family, especially his wife, Nan,” said Broncos president and CEO Joe Ellis. “Red was a beloved member of the Broncos’ family. He left a great impact on this franchise by laying the foundation for our championship tradition and was so proud to be part of our first Super Bowl team 40 years ago.

“You could tell how much the Broncos meant to Red, and he’s meant so much to everyone here. Red was overjoyed to get that phone call in May notifying him of his Ring of Fame selection, and we’re all very saddened that he won’t be able to join us when we honor him in November.”

That 1977 Broncos team served as the first of three years Miller coached the Broncos. It would also be the first of three consecutive postseason berths for Denver, which hadn’t been to the playoffs previously.

Miller’s team would spark an impressive era of success for the Broncos organization, which has since been to eight Super Bowls (with three wins) and had only six sub-.500 seasons in 40 years.

The eighth coach in Denver history, Miller earned NFL Coach of the Year honors from the Associated Press after the 1977 season.

Miller’s teams also featured the infamous “Orange Crush” defense, which allowed an NFL-low 15.0 points per game from 1977-’80 and featured five future Broncos Ring of Famers: defensive end Paul Smith, linebackers Randy Gradishar and Tom Jackson, cornerback Louis Wright, and safety Billy Thompson.

He’ll join his former players in the Ring of Fame on Nov. 19 during the team’s alumni weekend corresponding with Denver’s Week 11 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.

It’s an honor far overdue, said Clough.

“Red Miller, with all due respect to Dan Reeves, should have been the first coach inducted into the Broncos Ring of Fame, not the second,” Clough said. “More than Mike Shanahan, more than Dan Reeves, Red Miller defined the Broncos, this era of success they’ve enjoyed over the last 40 years, and this rivalry we revel in once again this week between the Broncos and the Raiders.”

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @johnnyhart7.

Headlines

Kris Bryant...

Jake Shapiro

Rockies get destroyed in embarrassing fashion on Opening Day

Baseball is a long season but this year in Denver it's going to be extra long as evidenced by the Colorado Rockies stinker on Opening Day

11 hours ago

DU hockey...

Will Petersen

DU hockey moving on in NCAA Tournament after dramatic 2OT win

DU hockey forward Tristan Broz played hero, finding the back of the net on a slick wrist-shot with 7:33 to go in the second overtime session

15 hours ago

Drake Maye Broncos QB...

Andrew Mason

Broncos have George Paton, QB coach at Drake Maye Pro Day

QB prospect Drake Maye had his Pro Day workout on March 28, and Broncos GM George Paton was among those on hand.

19 hours ago

Bud Black...

Will Petersen

Bud Black says Rockies players aware no one gives them a chance

"They don't say much publicly, but internally the guys are not liking what they're hearing," Bud Black said on 104.3 The Fan on Thursday

20 hours ago

Elehuris Montero high fives Colorado Rockies teammate Brendan Rodgers...

Jake Shapiro and Andrew Mason

Rockies reveal Opening Day roster for 2024 season

The Colorado Rockies are ready for 2024 Opening Day, revealing their roster ahead of Thursday's season opener in Phoenix.

22 hours ago

Joe Sakic Stanley Cup documentary...

Will Petersen

The trailer for the new Joe Sakic documentary looks fascinating

The documentary "Saving Sakic" is about how the Avs found the cash to keep Joe after the Rangers signed him to a huge offer sheet

22 hours ago

As rivals Broncos, Raiders clash Sunday, say a thanks to Red Miller