The NFL released their 2016 regular season schedule this evening and it is, well … it is what it is: A reason for football fiends to get excited in the middle of April and nothing more.
Does it have any meaning today? Not really. Are any of the predictions we make going to be right? Almost definitely not? Is it fun? Absolutely!
If you haven’t seen the schedule yet, then you’re already falling behind the rest of us who have gone down the list and checked each game off as a victory — 16-0, baby!!
And while the Broncos currently have zero idea who’s going to be their starting quarterback when they face off against the Panthers on September 8, I’m still going to do my best to break down the key points and takeaways from the schedule. Why? Because it’s fun, and I miss football.
Here goes:
The Opener: Carolina Panthers vs. Denver Broncos (6:30 on NBC)
This will be the first time since 1970 that the NFL will begin its season with a Super Bowl rematch, and I hope it ends up being well worth the wait.
The worry for me, as I’m sure it is with everyone, is: Who’s our quarterback?? Because I can tell you right now that I won’t feel very comfortable heading into a matchup against Cam Newton and the Panthers with Mark Sanchez behind center — then again, he can’t be much worse than Peyton Manning.
Either way, Newton will be looking for revenge, and you can bet the Panthers will give Denver everything they’ve got.
Overall, though, a tough Week 1 opponent.
Strength of Schedule:
If you’ve ever partaken in some good ol’ friendly wagering on a football Sunday, you know how difficult it can be to predict the outcome of a game, even when you have every available resource in front of you. So attempting to do the same five months in advance — before the draft, training camp or the inevitable injuries — is nearly impossible.
Still, there are at least some generalizations we can glean from this early look.
The first thing I notice is that from Weeks 4 through 14, the Broncos only play two playoff teams, the Texans and Chiefs. I’d expect the rest, teams like the Jaguars and Buccaneers, to be closer to playoff-caliber than before, but it’s a favorable stretch for sure. If the Broncos can come out the other side 8-2 or 7-3, they should be in good shape.
Aside from that, the only games that truly scare me our the Panthers and Patriots. Getting stacked up against the AFC and NFC South divisions is definitely an advantage for Denver.
The Most-Important Stretch: Weeks 15-17
Much like last season, I expect the Broncos to still be fighting for playoff positioning down the stretch, and their final three games already look to carry a lot of weight. Starting with the Patriots in Week 15, the Broncos then finish off with the Chiefs and Raiders, both of whom could be vying for the AFC West crown.
Personally, if there’s one team in the division that scares me the most, it’s the Raiders. They’ve built themselves up into a very dangerous team, and I would not be surprised if that Week 17 matchup comes with serious playoff implications.
Most-Fun Game
Along the lines of what I just said, the Sunday Night Football matchup in Oakland versus the Raiders on November 6 could end up being one of the biggest games of the year. Plus — and I say this with orange and blue in my heart — it’s fun to have the Raiders be interesting again. One of the best things about Broncos football is our rivalry with the Oakland Raiders. When they’re abysmal, that rivalry dims to the point that it’s nonexistent.
If a revived Raiders franchise means that Raider Week means something again, I’m in.
Christmas?
After a long day of opening presents and shuttling back and forth from the in-laws, you can settle in for a real Christmas treat as the Broncos are in Kansas City to face the Chiefs on Sunday Night Football.
Why? Well, because the NFL knows everyone will be at home eating food and looking for something to do, and they love money!
Predictions
16-0, duh!