The season is inching closer and the NFL provided more fuel to the fire when they released the schedules of all 32 teams Tuesday night.
The Denver Broncos will have a tough schedule once again but will benefit from a timely Sunday night game following a week seven bye. Also, the Broncos will once again play in several nationally televised games throughout the season and take on some very familiar foes, spread out across the 17-week gauntlet. Here’s a look at the team’s road ahead:
Week 1: Baltimore Ravens at the Denver Broncos (Sept. 13, 2:25 p.m. MDT)
Week 2: Denver Broncos at the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday Night Football (Sept. 17, 7:25 p.m. CDT)
Week 3: Denver Broncos at the Detroit Lions on NBC’s Sunday Night Football (Sept. 27, 8:30 p.m. EDT)
Week 4: Minnesota Vikings at the Denver Broncos (Oct. 4, 2:25 p.m. MDT).
Week 5: Denver Broncos at the Oakland Raiders (Oct. 11, 1:25 p.m. PDT)
Week 6: Denver Broncos at the Cleveland Browns (Oct. 18, 1 p.m. EDT)
Week 7: BYE
Week 8: Green Bay Packers at the Denver Broncos NBC’s Sunday Night Football (Nov. 1, 6:30 p.m. MST).
Week 9: Denver Broncos at the Indianapolis Colts (Nov. 8, 4:25 p.m. EST)
Week 10: Kansas City at the Denver Broncos (Nov. 15, 2:25 p.m. MST)
Week 11: Denver Broncos at the Chicago Bears (Nov. 22, 12 p.m. CST).
Week 12: New England Patriots at the Denver Broncos on NBC’s Sunday Night Football (Nov. 29, 6:30 p.m. MST)
Week 13: Denver Broncos at the San Diego Chargers (Dec. 6, 1:05 p.m. PST)
Week 14: Oakland Raiders at the Denver Broncos (Dec. 13, 2:05 p.m. MST).
Week 15: Denver Broncos at the Pittsburgh Steelers (Dec. 20, 4:25 p.m. EST)
Week 16: Cincinnati Bengals at the Denver Broncos (Dec. 28, 6:30 p.m. MST)
Week 17: San Diego Chargers at the Denver Broncos (Jan. 3, 2:25 p.m. MST).
The most notable games jump right off the page. There are several quarterback duels that will be fantastic games to watch including home, primetime games against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers (week 8) and the defending Super Bowl champions led by Tom Brady (week 12).
On the emotional side of things a rematch against the Indianapolis Colts in week nine will have some extra fire after the playoff loss and a visit to Chicago will be a mixed bag of emotions for ex-players and ex-coworkers of Bears head coach John Fox.
All told the Broncos opponents won 117 games, lost 90 and tied once in 2014. They will have their work cut out for them but after the bye week they will not have to hit the road for consecutive away games. In the Peyton Manning era the Broncos are nearly unstoppable at home therefore a losing streak will be unlikely.
With the schedule out, the win/loss speculation and anticipation can go into full swing.
Email Sam at sam@milehighsports.com and follow him on Twitter @SamCowhick.
