Orange Crush Defense

[1][2] It was one of the top defenses of its time with linebackers Tom Jackson and Hall of Famer Randy Gradishar.

[3] Other key players were defensive linemen Paul Smith (a two-time Pro Bowl selection), Barney Chavous, Lyle Alzado, and Rubin Carter, linebackers Bob Swenson and Joe Rizzo, and defensive backs Billy Thompson, Louis Wright, Steve Foley, and Bernard Jackson.

The defense was led by coordinator Joe Collier, defensive line coach Stan Jones (inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991), and first-year head coach Red Miller.

Denver was 12–2 in the regular season, made its first post-season appearance,[7] and advanced to Super Bowl XII in New Orleans after home playoff wins over Pittsburgh and Oakland, winners of the previous three Super Bowls.

The use of the term has resurfaced in recent years, most notably in reference to the Broncos' 2015 season.