The Denver Broncos missed out on Joe Namath due to an idiotic trade, and to add insult to injury they used their second round pick on middle linebacker Dick Butkus -- who chose to sign with his hometown Chicago Bears, but at least they doubled their win total from the previous two seasons in 1965. That was largely due to a spike in offensive production, but 4-10 was still not a sign of major momentum.
Both Lionel Taylor and Cookie Gilchrist were the major components of that offensive resurgence. After starting the season 3-3, the offensive production continued but like previous years the franchise could not get both units to gel simultaneously.