Yeah the Orange Crush thing of '77 is a little over-romaticisized.
The fact is the moniker Orange Crush was first used in late 1975. I remember the nationally televised season finale at the Orange Bowl, against the Dolphins, and the announcers said Orange Crush a few times that day. I was 10, about to turn 11 and I remember it like it was yesterday. "Orange Crush" was also thrown around most of the 1976 season as well. So the miniker was there well before that game in Oakland in '77.
And Meck is right, the idea that we could not compete with Oakland until that October '77 game is wrong too.
Throughout the early '70's, we played Oakland tough for the most part, especially out in their park.
Charlie Johnson had a monster game in his first ever start for the Broncos as we beat Oakland 30-23, after taking a 30-6 lead. That game was in 1972.
We also discussed this recently with Bell and MA going over 100 yards in the same regular season game, as the last time it had been done was in 1976. That time involved Norris Weese, a QB,and Otis Armstrong.
The last time it was truly done by two RB's was in 1974, in Oakland, when Otis Armstrong and Jon Keyworth both went over 100 yards and killed the Raiders to the tune of 300 yards rushing. Broncos won 20-17 that day.
And most of the other games between Denver and Oakland in the early to mid 70's were very competitive football games. They were not the mercy killings that most would have you believe.
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