Reviewing The Decade: Year 2001

The 2001 Denver Broncos season is one they wish they could forget. The club finished 8-8 and second to last in the AFC West, missing out on the playoffs. Fans became frustrated with Brian Griese who tossed 23 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. Terrell Davis had arthroscopic surgery on both knees, which was the beginning of the end of his career. Both Ed McCaffrey and Rod Smith were coming off 100 catch, 1,000 yards seasons, but in 2001 McCaffrey broke his leg in the season opener. The best NFL Wide Receiver duo would never be the same after that. The season was not all ugly, Bill Romanowski and Al Wilson led a defense that racked up 39 sacks. Jason Elam scored 124 points. The Broncos also had another successful draft class, Reggie Hayward and Ben Hamilton would prove to be good draft picks. In 4 years in Denver Hayward recorded 22 sacks, and Hamilton would start 6 straight seasons. The 2001 season was a heart-breaking one, but the next year would see the end of one brilliant running backs career, and the start of another.