The Denver Broncos two home preseason games this year feature a matchup against the longtime rivals from the AFC West, the Seattle Seahawks, and this week the Broncos will kick off preseason play against one of their oldest rivals, the Buffalo Bills.
Indeed, the Buffalo Bills were the second team the Broncos ever played in the entire history of Denver football.
Both teams started in the American Football League, and the Broncos were charter members whose “birthday” was celebrated earlier this week-August 14 was the exact date on which Denver’s pro football team came into being. Like any newborn, the name came along just a bit later.
The Buffalo franchise was added to the AFL later in the year, but that was not Buffalo’s first foray into pro football, as the Bills had initially played in the old All American Football Conference, which existed for four seasons in the late 1940′s.
The Broncos in 1960 began preseason play against the Boston Patriots in Providence, and then the following week played the Bills in Rochester before a curious gathering announced as 6,200.
The Bills won, 31-14.
Interestingly, the schedule was such that when regular season play began in 1960, the Patriots and Bills again were the first two Bronco opponents, again on the road. Denver’s first game in Buffalo was played before 15,229 at old (very, very old) War Memorial Stadium, with Broncos Ring of Famer Frank Tripucka engineering a 27-21 Denver win.
Now, 52 years later, the teams play again, and there is still one individual associated with the two teams who was there at the very beginning.
That would be Ralph Wilson, founder and still owner of the Bills and one of the game’s all-time greats.
A Detroit resident, Ralph Wilson has displayed his loyalty and devotion to pro football and the city of Buffalo innumerable times over the past five decades. Buffalo is not the largest market, and it would have been very easy for Mr. Wilson to move his team to a much larger city many times over-but his passion, loyalty and devotion is what helped make the AFL a success, and without the dedication of owners like Mr. Wilson, a lot of teams would not be here today, including the Denver Broncos.
A deserving member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Mr. Wilson was one of the original “Foolish Club”-that is how the eight men who owned AFL franchises were dubbed in the early 1960′s.
But since then, all eight original AFL franchises have gone to the Super Bowl, so who’s foolish now?
Most fans in attendance or watching on television won’t realize the early history of the Broncos and Bills, but this is a quick salute to what used to be, always the forerunner of what is today.
Thanks for the history lesson Jim,always glad to read your articles,and all of Broncos Country owe Mr.Wilson and men like him a Big Mile High Salute!!!
Well Thompson returned to practice today so a little bit of good news!!!
So will Marcel Darius attempt to get his revenge this week???
GO BRONCOS!!!
I am worried about RT Franklin and his Pass blocking skills,he was drafted to be a run blocker,I think we made a huge mistake letting Harris walk,I know he wanted out of Denver,but Hellfire we let his contract run out,and that was probably why he left,now one of the best RTs in football went to the Dream Team!!!!
I know he was injured but he is a great RT,and if Tebow ever does get to start in Denver,I would have rather seen Harris guarding his blindside,just me!
No sense crying over spilled milk tho!
Well if Orton starts the entire season hopefully Franklin will improve in his pass blocking ability before we give Tebow a chance.
“if”….if we give Tebow a chance.
Assuming Marcel can get past Our young OL. Franklin worries me in pass protection true, but we all knew his run blocking was his bread and butter. Was why I and Denver organization were hoping to keep him, but he chose the dream team over us. Cuz I guess he figured if he is gonna play 2nd fiddle it might as well be on a better team. Harris coulda really helped on passing Downs. Guess its a good thing that Tebow isn’t in there yet, (cant believe i said that) so that Franklin can adjust to pass blocking before he is tasked with protecting the QBs blind side.
Glad Syd is out there … I really can’t wait for Saturday. Franklin will get alot of work against Shawn Merriman and a Buffalo D that combined for 9 sacks agaisnt Bears. I think this will be a great test for our Oline and I think that means we should leave them out there longer. Plus franklin goes up against Miller and im sure he has gotten work with Doom and Ayers, if anyone can bring him up to speed I hope they can. I wasn’t a fan of the pick. Woulda preffered Paea but now that we got him im down. Cuz Ryan Harris was hampered by some injuries in the past but in the zone he is as good a Run Blocker and Pass Blocker as anyone out there. Later days, TRB…
Great Job Mr. Saccamono least we forget our history.
Well we got Pressley, the DT from Colts so that will help!!
The Broncos were assigned DT DeMario Pressley from Indianapolis today.
Plus Pressley is from NC State which will give Irving a very familiar face!! Apparently Pressley was a beast in college!! Hopefully he can be as a Bronco as well!
Another great read from one of our longtime greats… Our masterful communicator and historian, thanks again Mr. Saccamono. Looking forward to seeing how we fair against Buffalo and what we passed on in Marcel Darius. Go Broncos!
freak,Pressley has been cut from 3 teams the past 3 years,so I doubt he will make the roster!
If Warren is out the rest of the year,our Dline will be gutted every week,we need a good DT,not a DT reject,that nobody else wants,just saying.
Thanks for the history lesson Jim. Ralph Wilson has been courted of recent by their neighbors in Canada. They do love their Team in Western NY, and Mr. Wilson has been loyal to his fans. Mr. Wilson, a true patriarch of the old AFL.
I believe Mr. Wilson is the oldest owner in the league… (sorry Al).
Also nice photo of Karl Meckleburg going after QB Joe Ferguson with Center Jim Ritcher trying to hold off another Broncos defensive player.
oops….meant “Mecklenburg”.
You forgot one huge connection included here Mr. Saccomano, the Broncos and the Bills are also the only two teams, to come from the Foolish Club, and not change cities, or team names!!!
well said to all. lets give Franklin just as any other o-lineman a chance to gel. hes played 1 preseason game and your ready to throw him to the wolfs. and Pressley is coming in to be a role player not the key of the defense. the line needs to be a cohesive unit constantly interchanging with fresh guys. john fox likes his D-lines like his RBs,rotating and fresh.at this point we can afford a little quality for some quantity.