The Broncos 2020 schedule is out and it’s an interesting journey
May 7, 2020, 6:01 PM
On Thursday night, the NFL released the schedule for all 32 teams, providing a road map for this fall’s sports calendar. How did things shake out for the Broncos? Here’s a look at the 2020 slate:
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Week 1 | vs. Tennessee Titans
Monday, Sept. 14 | 8:10 pm
Denver opens up in the final game of Week 1, taking on Tennessee in the late Monday night game. Last season, the Broncos beat the Titans 16-0 at Empower Field, but that was a different version of both teams. This time around, it won’t be Joe Flacco and Marcus Mariota at quarterback. Thankfully.
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Week 2 | at Pittsburgh Steelers
Sunday, Sept. 20 | 11:00 a.m.
This is the perfect time to make the trip to Heinz Field, as the weather shouldn’t be a factor. Ben Roethlisberger figures to be back in the lineup for the Steelers, making this a great early season test for Vic Fangio defense. It’ll also be a tough venue for Drew Lock to navigate.
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Week 3 | vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sunday, Sept. 27 | 2:25 p.m.
Tom Brady comes to Denver, but not with the Patriots. That’ll definitely take some getting used to, as the six-time Super Bowl champion has left New England and taken his talents to Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers are loaded on offense, so this could be a shootout at Empower Field.
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Week 4 | at New York Jets
Thursday, Oct. 1 | 6:20 p.m.
If the Broncos are going to have to play on a Thursday night in the Meadowlands, the first day of October is about the best time to do it. Adam Gase’s team is still one in transition, so maybe the Broncos can’t exact some revenge on their former offensive coordinator for running up the score when he was the head coach in Miami.
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Week 5 | at New England Patriots
Sunday, Oct. 11 | 11:00 a.m.
This game has certainly lost a lot of its luster. Not that long ago, this would’ve definitely been the Sunday nighter. Now, it’s relegated to the early Sunday slot. Without Tom Brady, nobody knows what the Patriots will be, so this is definitely a winnable road tilt for Denver.
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Week 6 | vs. Miami Dolphins
Sunday, Oct. 18 | 2:05 p.m.
Will it be Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback for the Dolphins when they make the trip to Denver? Getting a chance to see the much-ballyhooed rookie would certainly add some spice to a game that doesn’t contain much otherwise. This certainly isn’t Elway vs. Marino in the 1980s or ’90s.
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Week 7 | vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Sunday, Oct. 25 | 2:25 p.m.
The defending Super Bowl champs make their annual trip to Denver. Last year, the Broncos lost to the Chiefs at Empower Field despite the fact that Matt Moore was forced to replace Patrick Mahomes when Kansas City’s MVP-caliber quarterback dislocated his knee cap.
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Week 8 | Bye
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Week 9 | at Atlanta Falcons
Sunday, Nov. 8 | 11:00 a.m.
Originally, the Broncos were going to play the Falcons in London. But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the game has been moved back to the States. Atlanta is loaded on offense with Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley and Todd Gurley, so Drew Lock and company will have to be on their game that day to keep up.
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Week 10 | at Las Vegas Raiders
Sunday, Nov. 15 | 2:25 p.m.
It’s time to plan a road trip! The Broncos first-ever trip to play the Raiders in Las Vegas will see a lot of fans make the trip from Denver. Expect there to be a lot of orange in Allegiant Stadium that day. In the game, it’ll be the first time to see Henry Ruggs III and Jerry Jeudy on the field at the same time.
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Week 11 | vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Sunday, Nov. 22 | 2:05 p.m.
A year ago, the Chargers were a trendy pick to unseat the Chiefs in the AFC West. Now, they’re a bit of a mystery. One thing is certain, however; it won’t be near as much fun to watch Denver take on L.A. when Philip Rivers isn’t on the opposing sideline. He was a great villain for 16 years.
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Week 12 | vs. New Orleans Saints
Sunday, Nov. 29 | 2:05 p.m.
Getting a chance to see one of the best teams in the NFL will certainly be a treat. The fact that the quarterback who holds almost every NFL passing record will also be on the field makes this the must-attend game of the year. Drew Brees is worth the price of admission.
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Week 13 | at Kansas City Chiefs
Sunday, Dec. 6 | 6:20 p.m.
The Broncos haven’t beaten the Chiefs since Week 2 of the 2015 season, when Peyton Manning led a game-tying drive in the final two minutes at Arrowhead and then Bradley Roby scooped and scored on a Jamaal Charles fumble in the waning seconds. Last year, Denver lost 23-3 in Kansas City, Drew Lock’s only loss as a starter.
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Week 14 | at Carolina Panthers
Sunday, Dec. 13 | 11:00 a.m.
This game will provide Colorado sports fans the chance to get a good luck at Christian McCaffrey, arguably the best prep football player to ever come out of the state. The Panthers have a new head coach (Matt Rhule) and a new quarterback (Teddy Bridgewater), so who knows what the Broncos will get on this trip.
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Week 15 | vs. Buffalo Bills
Saturday/Sunday, Dec. 19-20 | TBD
The upstart Bills, a team that is picked by many to win the AFC East now that Tom Brady has left the division, make a rare trip to Denver. Their visit will give Broncos Country an up-close look at Josh Allen, the quarterback John Elway passed on to take Bradley Chubb in the 2018 NFL Draft.
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Week 16 | at Los Angeles Chargers
Saturday/Sunday, Dec. 26-27 | TBD
Speaking of a lot of orange in the stadium, it’ll be interesting to see how many Broncos fans are able to get tickets into SoFi Stadium during its inaugural year. By this point in the season, will the Chargers still be going with Tyrod Taylor at quarterback or will they have made the switch to rookie Justin Herbert?
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Week 17 | vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Sunday, Jan. 3 | 2:25 p.m.
Just like last year, the Broncos will finish the regular season by hosting the Raiders. Here’s hoping there’s more on the line, as the 2019 finale was meaningless for both teams. If it can have the same end-of-game drama as last season’s Week 17 match-up, however, that’d be fantastic.
