Alright, so I found myself diving back into some football history the other day, specifically the Denver Broncos 2013 roster. It wasn’t for any big project, just one of those afternoons where nostalgia hits, you know? I was watching some highlights reel, and it got me thinking about that specific year, Peyton Manning’s ridiculous season.
How I Went About It
First, I tried doing it from memory. Just sat back and thought, okay, who was on that powerhouse offense? Easy ones came quick:
- Peyton Manning, duh.
- Demaryius Thomas (man, miss that guy).
- Eric Decker.
- Wes Welker – that was his first year in Denver, right? Big deal at the time.
- Julius Thomas, the touchdown machine tight end.
- Knowshon Moreno had that career year running the ball.
Defense was a bit fuzzier for me initially. Von Miller, of course. Terrance Knighton, “Pot Roast,” big presence in the middle. Champ Bailey was still around, though nearing the end. Chris Harris Jr. was really starting to emerge. But I knew I was missing key guys, especially in the secondary and linebacker corps.
So, memory wasn’t cutting it for the full picture. I hopped onto my computer. Didn’t go anywhere fancy, just did a basic search, something like “Denver Broncos roster 2013”. I skipped past the first few flashy results and looked for a simple, straightforward list. Found a couple that seemed decent.
Sorting Through the Names
I started scrolling through the list I found. It really brought that season back. Seeing names like Orlando Franklin and Louis Vasquez on the O-line – they were crucial for Peyton that year. Then on defense, names like Danny Trevathan popped out – he was flying around making plays. And Shaun Phillips had a really productive year rushing the passer opposite Von (or filling in when Von was out).
It took a few minutes to cross-reference a couple of lists, just to make sure I wasn’t looking at an incomplete one. You know how sometimes fan sites or older pages might miss guys who were only there for a bit, or practice squad players. I wanted the main guys, the ones who really defined that team.
Looking at the specialists too – Matt Prater had that record-breaking field goal that year! 64 yards. Crazy. Britton Colquitt was the punter.
Final Thoughts
Spending that time just going through the names, position by position, was actually pretty cool. It wasn’t just about finding a list; it was about remembering the feel of that team, the expectations, the absolute dominance of the offense during the regular season. That 2013 squad was truly something special, even with the disappointing finish. Just a little trip down memory lane, documented. It’s funny what sticks with you and what fades until you intentionally look it up again.
