Good morning, Broncos Country!
We may not have a season, but we do have a 2020 schedule, and that’s good enough right now to start talking about some Broncos football.
According to Draft Kings, Denver has the fifth toughest schedule in the NFL, while the Raiders have the third but the Chargers have the 23rd toughest and the Chiefs miraculously have the 26th toughest - or as I like to refer to it, the seventh easiest - schedule in the league.
The Week 8 bye is a nice perk so we’ll take what we can get. The London game was taken off the schedule (as all overseas games were halted due to covid-19), but the Broncos do start and end at Mile High and that’s never a bad thing.
Broncos 2020 schedule
| Wk | Date | Opponent | Time (MT) | TV | Score | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk | Date | Opponent | Time (MT) | TV | Score | Record |
| 1 | 9/14/2020 | vs. Tennessee Titans (MNF) | 8:10 PM | ESPN | 14-16 | 0-1 |
| 2 | 9/20/2020 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | 11:00 AM | CBS | 21-26 | 0-2 |
| 3 | 9/27/2020 | vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 2:25 PM | FOX | 10-28 | 0-3 |
| 4 | 10/1/2020 | at New York Jets (TNF) | 6:20 PM | FOX | 37-28 | 1-3 |
| 5 | 10/11/2020 | BYE | ||||
| 6 | 10/18/2020 | at New England Patriots | 11:00 AM | CBS | 18-12 | 2-3 |
| 7 | 10/25/2020 | vs. Kansas City Chiefs | 2:25 PM | CBS | 16-43 | 2-4 |
| 8 | 11/1/2020 | vs. Los Angeles Chargers | 2:05 PM | CBS | 31-30 | 3-4 |
| 9 | 11/8/2020 | at Atlanta Falcons | 11:00 AM | CBS | 27-34 | 3-5 |
| 10 | 11/15/2020 | at Las Vegas Raiders | 2:25 PM | CBS | 12-37 | 3-6 |
| 11 | 11/22/2020 | vs. Miami Dolphins | 2:05 PM | CBS | 20-13 | 4-6 |
| 12 | 11/29/2020 | vs. New Orleans Saints | 2:05 PM | CBS | 3-31 | 4-7 |
| 13 | 12/6/2020 | at Kansas City Chiefs (SNF) | 6:20 PM | NBC | 16-22 | 4-8 |
| 14 | 12/13/2020 | at Carolina Panthers | 11:00 AM | CBS | 32-27 | 5-8 |
| 15 | 12/19/2020 | vs. Buffalo Bills | 2:30 PM | NFLN | 19-48 | 5-9 |
| 16 | 12/27/2020 | at Los Angeles Chargers | 2:05 PM | CBS | 16-19 | 5-10 |
| 17 | 1/3/2021 | vs. Las Vegas Raiders | 2:25 PM | CBS |
The match-ups have been decided, and we know our enemies. Despite news to the contrary, it is not us - but it is a formidable opponent each week (well, most weeks), so let’s starting breaking this schedule down.
Best games to watch (in ranking order):
Week 3 (Sept. 27): Tom Brady at Broncos, errr...Buccaneers at Broncos
While there’s no real rivalry between the Broncos and Bucs, having Tom Brady and his favorite meathead tight end back on our turf is always cause for great fan fare. Although Brady’s record against the Broncos is 10-9 since 2000, but his record in Denver during the same time is just 5-12 when playing in Denver. With an aggressive front 7, and no Bill Bellichick to scheme Brady out of trouble, this will be a fun win early in the season.
Tom Brady & Rob Gronkowski’s return to Denver is certainly one to watch.
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) May 8, 2020
Week 7 (Oct. 25): Chiefs at Broncos:
Our favorite division rival will be on our turf first and will have just come back from a road trip to Buffalo. Regardless of the outcome, that will be a tough fight, and the travel back from the East Coast before flying to Denver will prove perfect conditions for the Broncos to test the AFC West waters for the first time in 2020.
Week 1: Titans at Broncos on Monday (Late) Night Football
Broncos-Titans isn’t a powerhouse matchup, but there will be some TV drama to build up based on Denver’s shutout of the Titans last season. However, it’s the first game of the new year, and it’s happening in prime time...what’s not to love?
“When you look at a schedule, it’s really not who you play and when you play it. It’s a matter of the teams — what kind of status are they when you play them?”
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) May 8, 2020
Coach Fangio breaks down our 2020 schedule: pic.twitter.com/SdcxKT5tuI
Week 12: Saints at Broncos
The Saints have been one of the best teams in the NFC of late, and that makes this contest an extra fun one to watch - especially since it will pit one of the game’s best quarterbacks in Drew Brees against two of the game’s best edge rushers in Von Miller and Bradley Chubb.
Week 11: Chargers at Broncos
Chris Harris Jr. will be coming home and even though he’ll be wearing the wrong color uniform, Mile High fans will love it. But they’ll love it even more when CHJ can’t beat Jerry Jeudy or KJ Hamler or Courtland Sutton or Noah Fant for the big play.
Week 17: Raiders at Broncos
It’s always nice to finish the season with a home game victory.
@Raiders Vegas, baby. pic.twitter.com/cqYYpjWgtS
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) May 8, 2020
Hardest games to win (in ranking order)
Week 13 (Dec. 6) Broncos at Chiefs
Oh gee, what a surprise, Broncos got Arrowhead in December! Oh well...I guess Denver will just have to beat them home AND away this year.
Week 15 (Dec. 19 or 20) Bills at Broncos
Luckily this game is at Mile High because Denver will need all it can get to beat a steadily-improving Buffalo team. And let’s face it, Denver never really seems to play well against the Bills.
Toughest stretch
Easily this is Weeks 12-15.
The Broncos face the Saints at home in Week 12 - arguably one of their toughest matchups - and then go on the road two weeks in a row, starting with the Chiefs on Sunday Night Football followed by the Panthers in Carolina the next Sunday. Broncos finish the stretch at home but facing a tough-to-beat Bills. It’s one of those stretches that the Broncos could be 0-4, 3-1, 2-2 ...but also...maybe even 4-0.
Ohhhh, Sunday night.
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) May 8, 2020
Broncos/AFCW News
Las Vegas Raiders 2020 regular-season schedule released - Silver And Black Pride
NFL schedule release, Las Vegas Raiders have a tough slate
Chargers Schedule: Bolts announce 2020 regular season slate - Bolts From The Blue
Bolts can finally start circling games on their calendars.
NFL strength of schedule 2020: Using Super Bowl odds, win totals, win percentage for sorting difficulty - DraftKings Nation
We use three different numbers to look at strength of schedule for the 2020 NFL season.
Chiefs schedule 2020: Dates, game times, opponents, and more - Arrowhead Pride
The day has come. Let’s talk about the Chiefs’ 2020 schedule.
The best and worst games of the 2020 Chiefs schedule - Arrowhead Pride
After a long wait, we finally know the team’s schedule. Let’s see what the best (and worst) games of the season might be.
Broncos to face Chiefs on 'Sunday Night Football,' appear in three prime-time games in 2020
For the first time since 2017, Denver will be featured in a "Sunday Night Football" matchup, as they travel to Arrowhead Stadium to play the Chiefs in Week 13.
Mile High Morning: How many wins analysts are projecting for the Broncos in 2020
ESPN analyst Mike Clay and NFL.com's Cynthia Frelund's win-total projections for the Broncos would put Denver in place to contend for a postseason berth.
'The Match' featuring Brady, Manning set for May 24 - NFL.com
Can. Not. Wait.
Sorry not sorry... pic.twitter.com/qSbYVsHXVz
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) May 7, 2020
NFL News
NFL releases complete 2020 regular-season schedule - NFL.com
The 2020 NFL season will kick off with a rematch of one of the most memorable playoff games from last season. The Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs begin their title defense against Deshaun Watson and the Houston Texans on Thursday, Sept. 10.
NFL players react on Twitter to 2020 schedule release - NFL.com
Thursday's release of the 2020 NFL schedule prompted players form across the league to react on Twitter. Here are some of the best entries.
Commissioner Roger Goodell releases memo outlining guidelines to safely reopen NFL team facilities
UCHealth Training Center and the remaining 31 training facilities across the league have been closed since late March.
Free-agent QB Joe Flacco underwent neck procedure - NFL.com
Former Broncos QB Joe Flacco is still looking for a new team. But his more pressing issue is getting healthy. Flacco recently underwent a disc repair and won't be cleared until late summer.
Redskins QB Alex Smith working out in birthday video - NFL.com
Alex Smith isn't done with football. In honor of his 36th birthday, his wife posted an inspiring video on her Instagram account showing the Redskins quarterback working out.
Roundup: Ex-Broncos RB Booker to sign with Raiders - NFL.com
Former Broncos running back Devontae Booker has agreed to terms with the Las Vegas Raiders, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Thursday.