Throwback Thursday: Denver Broncos beat up on Seattle Seahawks for years

Memory can be an odd thing, especially in sports.

For most sports fans – and even analysts – the latest game sticks out. Of course, with so much in flux from week to week in the NFL, evaluating the most recent matchup is the best way to determine the possible outcome of the next game.

But when it comes to understanding a rivalry, history must be brought in.

While the sting of Super Bowl XLVIII may still be present in the hearts and minds of Broncomaniacs, die-hards will tell you Denver used and abused Seattle for many years.

Rewind to 1976 and the Seattle Seahawks were in the NFC as the franchise began. In 1977, they jumped conferences and joined the AFC West with the Broncos, Oakland Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs and San Diego Chargers.

Denver won the first for meetings between the teams, and then the divisional rivalry evened up a bit. Until the 1990s. John Elway‘s Broncos seemingly always beat the Seahawks, leading residents in the Northwest to loath the Duke of Denver.

In fact, from 1989-2000, the Broncos went 18-6 against the Seahawks; that’s a .750 winning percentage and utter domination. All-time Denver holds a 34-19 advantage in the regular season, though Seattle has won each time (twice) they’ve met in the postseason.

Of course, recent beatings in the pre, regular and postseason by the Seahawks helps Broncos fans loathe the team from Seattle. Just don’t forget how Denver owned Seattle for many years.

On Friday, Brock Osweiler will lead the Broncos against the Seahawks in each team’s 2015 preseason kickoff. The game is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. MT.