Editing Denver Broncos (section)

====Mike Shanahan years (1995–2008)====
In [[1995 Denver Broncos season|1995]], [[Mike Shanahan]], who had formerly served under Reeves as the Broncos' offensive coordinator, returned as head coach.<ref name="l030">{{cite web | last=Swanson | first=Ben | title=How Mike Shanahan drew on Broncos history to leave his own lasting impact | website=Denver Broncos | date=October 15, 2021 | url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/how-mike-shanahan-drew-on-broncos-history-to-leave-his-own-lasting-impact | access-date=August 24, 2024}}</ref> The team went 8–8 in 1995.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1995 Denver Broncos Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/den/1995.htm |access-date=August 24, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Shanahan drafted rookie [[running back]] [[Terrell Davis]]. In [[1996 Denver Broncos season|1996]], the Broncos were the top seed in the AFC with a 13–3 record, dominating most of the teams that year. The fifth-seeded [[1996 Jacksonville Jaguars season|Jacksonville Jaguars]], however, upset the Broncos 30–27 in the divisional round of the playoffs, ending the Broncos' 1996 run.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1996 Denver Broncos Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/den/1996.htm |access-date=August 24, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round – Jacksonville Jaguars at Denver Broncos – January 4th, 1997 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199701040den.htm |access-date=August 24, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

=====Super Bowl XXXII champions (1997)=====
During the [[1997 Denver Broncos season|1997 season]], Elway and Davis helped guide the Broncos to their first Super Bowl victory, a 31–24 win over the defending champion [[1997 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]] in [[Super Bowl XXXII]]. Though Elway completed only 13 of 22 passes, throwing one interception and no touchdowns (he did, however, have a rushing touchdown), Davis rushed for 157 yards and a Super Bowl-record three touchdowns to earn the [[Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award]]—this while overcoming a severe migraine headache that caused him blurred vision.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl XXXII – Green Bay Packers vs. Denver Broncos – January 25th, 1998 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199801250den.htm |access-date=August 24, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name="w888">{{cite web | title=Davis Glad MVP Went To Elway | website=CBS News | date=January 31, 1999 | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/davis-glad-mvp-went-to-elway/ | access-date=August 24, 2024}}</ref>

=====Super Bowl XXXIII champions (1998)=====
The Broncos repeated as Super Bowl champions the following season, defeating the [[1998 Atlanta Falcons season|Atlanta Falcons]] (led by Elway's longtime head coach [[Dan Reeves]]) in [[Super Bowl XXXIII]], 34–19. Elway was named Super Bowl MVP, completing 18 of 29 passes for 336 yards, with an 80-yard touchdown to wide receiver [[Rod Smith (wide receiver)|Rod Smith]] and one interception.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Super Bowl XXXIII – Denver Broncos vs. Atlanta Falcons – January 31st, 1999 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199901310atl.htm |access-date=August 24, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>[[File:Jaycutler.JPG|thumb|200px|Broncos' quarterback [[Jay Cutler]] in 2007.]]
John Elway retired following the [[1998 Denver Broncos season|1998 season]], and [[Brian Griese]] started at [[List of Denver Broncos starting quarterbacks|quarterback]] for the next four seasons. After a 6–10 record in [[1999 Denver Broncos season|1999]], mostly due to a season-ending injury to Terrell Davis, the Broncos recovered in [[2000 Denver Broncos season|2000]], earning a Wild Card playoff berth, but losing to the eventual [[Super Bowl XXXV|Super Bowl]] champion [[2000 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore Ravens]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1999 Denver Broncos Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/den/1999.htm |access-date=August 24, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2000 Denver Broncos Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/den/2000.htm |access-date=August 24, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> After missing the playoffs the following two seasons,<ref>{{Cite web |title=2001 Denver Broncos Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/den/2001.htm |access-date=August 24, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2002 Denver Broncos Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/den/2002.htm |access-date=August 24, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> former [[Arizona Cardinals]]' quarterback [[Jake Plummer]] replaced Griese in [[2003 Denver Broncos season|2003]], and led the Broncos to two straight 10–6 seasons, earning Wild Card playoff berths both years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2003 Denver Broncos Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/den/2003.htm |access-date=August 24, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2004 Denver Broncos Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/den/2004.htm |access-date=August 24, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> However, the Broncos went on the road to face the [[Indianapolis Colts]] in back-to-back seasons and were blown out by more than 20 points in each game, allowing a combined 90 points.<ref name="BroncosSportsE-Cyclopedia"/>

In the years following the back-to-back championships, a league investigation found that the team had circumvented the salary cap in both seasons and the 1996 season by deferring additional money to Elway and Davis outside of the salary cap. In addition, they purposefully avoided waiving certain players before a certain date. Denver claimed the moves did not give them additional competitive advantage. The NFL gave no formal statement, although between two separate punishments stripped the team of their third-round picks in the [[2002 NFL draft|2002]] and [[2005 NFL draft|2005]] drafts and fined them nearly $2&nbsp;million combined.<ref name="e469">{{cite web | title=Revisiting Denver's cap penalties from the 1990s | website=NBC Sports | date=February 14, 2016 | url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/revisiting-denvers-cap-penalties-from-the-1990s | access-date=August 24, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=September 16, 2004 |title=Cap zap: Broncos pay with fine, pick |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=1883127 |access-date=March 19, 2023 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press |language=en}}</ref>

Plummer led the Broncos to a 13–3 record in [[2005 Denver Broncos season|2005]] and their first [[AFC West]] division title since 1998.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2005 Denver Broncos Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/den/2005.htm |access-date=August 24, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> After a first-round [[Bye (sports)|bye]], the Broncos defeated the defending Super Bowl champion [[2005 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]], 27–13, denying New England from becoming the first [[National Football League|NFL]] team ever to win three consecutive Super Bowl championships.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round – New England Patriots at Denver Broncos – January 14th, 2006 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200601140den.htm |access-date=August 24, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> They were the first team to beat the Patriots in the playoffs during the Tom Brady era. The Broncos' playoff run came to an end the next week, after losing at home to the [[2005 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] in the AFC Championship game, 34–17.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFC Championship – Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos – January 22nd, 2006 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200601220den.htm |access-date=August 24, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

The Broncos' defense began the first five games of the [[2006 Denver Broncos season|2006 season]] allowing only one touchdown&nbsp;— an NFL record that still stands. ESPN commentator and Super Bowl-winning quarterback Joe Theismann gave the 2006 defense the name "Bad Blue" on ''[[Monday Night Football]]'' as they played the Ravens. However, the team struggled down the season stretch. Plummer led the team to a 7–2 record, but struggled individually with inconsistent performance and more interceptions than touchdown passes. As a result, he would be replaced by rookie quarterback [[Jay Cutler]]. Cutler went 2–3 as a starter, and the Broncos finished with a 9–7 record, losing the tiebreaker to the [[2006 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] for the final playoff spot.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2006 Denver Broncos Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/den/2006.htm |access-date=August 24, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Cutler's first full season as a starter in [[2007 Denver Broncos season|2007]] became the Broncos' first losing season since 1999, with a 7–9 record.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2007 Denver Broncos Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/den/2007.htm |access-date=August 24, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

The [[2008 Denver Broncos season|2008 season]] ended in a 52–21 loss at the [[2008 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers]], giving the Broncos an 8–8 record and their third straight season out of the playoffs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2008 Denver Broncos Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/den/2008.htm |access-date=August 24, 2024 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> [[Mike Shanahan]], the longest-tenured and most successful [[List of Denver Broncos head coaches|head coach]] in Broncos' franchise history, was fired after 14 seasons.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 30, 2008 |title=Broncos fire Shanahan after season falls apart |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=3800768 |access-date=August 24, 2024 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press |language=en}}</ref>