The Denver Broncos seasonand 50th season overall. The 2009 Broncos hold the dubious distinction of being one of the only three NFL teams, in the Super Bowl era, to start 6–0 or better and miss the playoffs (the others being the 1978 Washington Redskins and the 2003 Minnesota Vikings), losing 8 of their next 10 games after coming off bye week. They matched their 8–8 regular season record from 2008 and missed the playoffs for the fourth straight season. The Broncos welcomed many new defensive players signed during free agency, including veteran Eagles safety Brian Dawkins. This was their first season without head coach Mike Shanahan since , as he was fired on December 30, 2008. On January 12, 2009, Denver hired former New England Patriots' offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels as their new head coach. At the time of his hiring, McDaniels was the youngest head coach in any of the four major North American professional sports and the fifth-youngest NFL head coach ever, though less than a week later the Tampa Bay Buccaneers named the even-younger Raheem Morris as their head coach.
According to the 2012 Football Outsiders Almanac, the 2009 Broncos had the second-largest improvement in defensive efficiency from the previous season.Football Outsiders Almanac 2012 (), p.102
Roster changes
Free agents Position Player Free agencytag Date signed 2008 team S Brian Dawkins UFA February 28, 2009 Philadelphia Eagles LS Lonie Paxton UFA March 1, 2009 New England Patriots WR Jabar Gaffney UFA March 1, 2009 New England Patriots RB Correll Buckhalter UFA March 1, 2009 Philadelphia Eagles OLB Darrell Reid UFA March 2, 2009 Indianapolis Colts S Renaldo Hill UFA March 2, 2009 Miami Dolphins LB Andra Davis UFA March 2, 2009 Cleveland Browns CB Andre Goodman UFA March 3, 2009 Miami Dolphins DE Ronald Fields UFA March 3, 2009 San Francisco 49ers RB LaMont Jordan UFA March 4, 2009 New England Patriots QB Chris Simms UFA March 5, 2009 Tennessee Titans RB J.J. Arrington UFA March 5, 2009 Arizona Cardinals DE Kenny Peterson UFA March 10, 2009 Denver Broncos G Scott Young UFA March 13, 2009 Cleveland Browns
Signings TE Adam Bergen – Future contract QB Kyle Orton
Departures WR Cliff Russell (released) RB P.J. Pope (waived) TE Chad Mustard (released) RB Alex Haynes (released) RB Anthony Alridge (released) Played 2009 on Washington's Practice Squad DT Josh Shaw (released) LB Jamie Winborn (released) Played in 2 games during 2009 season for Tennessee DT Dewayne Robertson (released) S Marquand Manuel (released) Played in 9 games starting 6 during 2009 for Detroit, injured reserve after game 9 LB Niko Koutouvides (released) Played in 16 gamed during 2009 for Tampa Bay TE Nate Jackson (released) Signed on in 2009 with Cleveland for a short time and was subsequently cut DE John Engelberger (released) CB Dré Bly (released) Played in 16 games starting 6 during 2009 for San Francisco LS Mike Leach (released) Played in 16 games during 2009 for Arizona RB Cory Boyd (waived) QB Darrell Hackney (waived) QB Jay Cutler (traded) Started 16 games during 2009 for Chicago OLB Tim Crowder (waived) played in 15 games starting 4 during 2009 for Tampa Bay RB Selvin Young (waived) S Herana-Daze Jones (released) Signed on in 2009 with New Orleans for a short time and was subsequently cut TE Jeb Putzier (released) C Kory Lichtensteiger (waived) Signed on with Minnesota for three games and was subsequently cut WR Chad Jackson (waived) DE Matthias Askew (waived) Signed on in 2009 with Detroit for a short time and was subsequently cut DE Nic Clemons (waived) P Brett Kern (waived) waived by Denver after playing in 6 games, was signed by Tennessee and played 10 games with the Titans CB Jack Williams (waived) waived by Denver after playing in 7 games, was signed by Detroit and played in 1 game and was injured CB Joshua Bell (waived/injured) Signed by Green Bay in Week 10, played in 4 games with the Packers
Jay Cutler controversy After head coach Josh McDaniels was hired, rumors eventually surfaced that there was a three-way trade involving McDaniels' former team, the New England Patriots, and a third potential team (Detroit Lions or Tampa Bay Buccaneers) that would have sent quarterback Jay Cutler to the Lions or Buccaneers and the Broncos would receive Matt Cassel, who worked with McDaniels during the previous season, from the Patriots. After the trade talks surfaced, Cutler was angered and infuriated by the rumors because he didn't think he was going to be traded, and he refused to talk with either McDaniels or general manager Brian Xanders after both had denied the rumors.
Several teams became interested in trading for Cutler after it was apparent he was upset about this situation, though McDaniels had stated, "We are not trading Jay Cutler-Period." McDaniels insisted that Cutler is their quarterback.
On March 11, 2009, Cutler and McDaniels agreed to meet for the first time since the incident. After having a conference call between them, sources said that the two sides drifted further apart, although the team refused to comment. Cutler eventually requested to be traded some time afterward, feeling that the "trust" between the organization and himself were all but gone, and missed one of Denver's voluntary training camps.
On April 2, the Broncos traded Cutler, along with one of their two fifth-round selections (No. 140 overall) in the 2009 NFL draft, to the Chicago Bears in exchange for quarterback Kyle Orton, the Bears' first- (No. 18 overall) and third (No. 84th overall) picks in 2009, and their 2010 first-round selection.
On June 12, the Broncos named Orton as their starting quarterback. This ended speculation of a competition between Orton and Chris Simms.
Draft
2009 Denver Broncos Draft Round Selection Player Position College 1 12 Knowshon Moreno RB Georgia 18 Robert Ayers DE Tennessee 2 37 Alphonso Smith CB Wake Forest 48 Darcel McBath S Texas Tech 64 Richard Quinn TE North Carolina 3 None 4 114 David Bruton S Notre Dame 132 Seth Olsen G Iowa 5 141 Kenny McKinley WR South Carolina 6 174 Tom Brandstater QB Fresno State 7 225 Blake Schlueter C TCU
Schedule
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 August 14 at San Francisco 49ers L 16–17 0–1 Candlestick Park Recap 2 August 22 at Seattle Seahawks L 13–27 0–2 Qwest Field Recap 3 August 30 Chicago Bears L 17–27 0–3 Invesco Field at Mile High Recap 4 September 3 Arizona Cardinals W 19–0 1–3 Invesco Field at Mile High Recap
Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 September 13 at Cincinnati Bengals W 12–7 1–0 Paul Brown Stadium Recap 2 September 20 Cleveland Browns W 27–6 2–0 Invesco Field at Mile High Recap 3 September 27 at Oakland Raiders W 23–3 3–0 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap 4 October 4 Dallas Cowboys W 17–10 4–0 Invesco Field at Mile High Recap 5 October 11 New England Patriots W 20–17 5–0 Invesco Field at Mile High Recap 6 at San Diego Chargers W 34–23 6–0 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 7 Bye 8 November 1 at Baltimore Ravens L 7–30 6–1 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 9 Pittsburgh Steelers L 10–28 6–2 Invesco Field at Mile High Recap 10 November 15 at Washington Redskins L 17–27 6–3 FedExField Recap 11 November 22 San Diego Chargers L 3–32 6–4 Invesco Field at Mile High Recap 12 November 26 New York Giants W 26–6 7–4 Invesco Field at Mile High Recap 13 December 6 at Kansas City Chiefs W 44–13 8–4 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 14 December 13 at Indianapolis Colts L 16–28 8–5 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 15 December 20 Oakland Raiders L 19–20 8–6 Invesco Field at Mile High Recap 16 December 27 at Philadelphia Eagles L 27–30 8–7 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 17 January 3 Kansas City Chiefs L 24–44 8–8 Invesco Field at Mile High Recap Note: Intra-division games are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: at Cincinnati Bengals
The game began with little action. Denver and Cincinnati both traded possessions to begin the game. However, on the Bengals' second possession they were able to drive deep into Denver territory, reaching the 11-yard line before setting up for a short field goal. However, the field goal snap was fumbled. After the flubbed field goal, both teams entered a period of offensive ineptness – Denver had four consecutive one-and-done drives, while Cincinnati was forced to punt, then had a promising drive end with a Carson Palmer interception after Denver cornerback Champ Bailey tipped the ball into the air and Wesley Woodyard recovered the interception. Denver was finally able to put together a drive at the end of the first half that finished with a Matt Prater 48-yard field goal as time ran out. Despite being out-gained in all offensive indicators, Denver took a 3–0 lead into halftime due to Cincinnati mistakes, including the fumbled field goal, interception, and multiple dropped passes.
During the third quarter, neither team was able to sustain an offensive drive – Cincinnati punted 3 times, while Denver punted 2 times. However, Denver's defense showed improvement, including one Cincinnati drive that ended after two consecutive sacks of Carson Palmer. Denver was able to put together another field goal drive at the end of the third quarter, with Matt Prater this time kicking a 50-yard field goal to put the Broncos on top 6–0.
The fourth quarter continued in much the same vein. Denver made it into field goal range again before a 5-yard penalty and 7-yard sack forced them to punt it away again. However, Cincinnati was able to put together their first sustained drive of the entire game during the second half of the quarter – the Bengals gained 90 yards on 11 plays over 5:40. This culminated with a 1-yard Cedric Benson touchdown run that avoided a Bengals shutout and put them on top for the first time.
Denver regained control of the ball at their own 13-yard line with 38 seconds remaining. After an incomplete pass, Kyle Orton attempted a pass to Brandon Marshall with 28 seconds remaining. The ball was tipped into the air by Bengals cornerback Leon Hall and into the hands of Denver wide receiver Brandon Stokley, who then took it untouched 87 yards to the end zone with 11 seconds remaining. Records showed that this was the longest play from scrimmage in NFL history with less than 1 minute remaining in the game. The play was referred to by some as "The Immaculate Deflection" after The Immaculate Reception. Denver took a 12–7 lead but failed a two-point conversion. A desperation hail mary pass by Carson Palmer was intercepted in the end zone with 5 seconds to play by Denver tight end Tony Scheffler.
Week 2: vs. Cleveland Browns
Coming off their last-second victory over the Bengals, the Broncos would play their Week 2 home opener against the Cleveland Browns. In the first quarter, Denver would trail early as Browns kicker Phil Dawson got a 22-yard field goal. Afterwards, the Broncos took the lead as quarterback Kyle Orton completed a 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tony Scheffler. Cleveland would creep close as Dawson made a 47-yard field goal, but Denver would answer as kicker Matt Prater got a 23-yard field goal in the second quarter and a 38-yard field goal in the third quarter. In the fourth, the Broncos pulled away as fullback Peyton Hillis got a 2-yard touchdown run and running back Correll Buckhalter got a 45-yard touchdown run.
With the win, Denver improved to 2–0.
Week 3: at Oakland Raiders