The Denver Broncos are facing a gauntlet when it comes to the 1st 6 weeks of the 2026 regular season after the NFL released schedules for all 32 teams on Thursday.
The Broncos open the season at the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football, then face 5 consecutive playoff teams, capped by hosting the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks in Week 6.
“If you consider the Chiefs a playoff team, then the Broncos are the first team in NFL history to have their first 6 games of the season against playoff teams from the year before,” DNVR’s Zac Stevens wrote on his official X account on Thursday. “Unbelievably tough start for Denver.”
The Broncos went 14-3 in 2025 and earned the No. 1 seed in the AFC Playoffs before losing at home to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.
The schedule also reflects the Broncos becoming 1 of the NFL’s premier teams once again with a whopping 5 primetime games. Here’s a look at the Broncos’ complete regular-season schedule:
- Week 1: at Kansas City Chiefs (MNF)
- Week 2: Jacksonville Jaguars
- Week 3: Los Angeles Rams (SNF)
- Week 4: at San Francisco 49ers
- Week 5: at Los Angeles Chargers
- Week 6: Seattle Seahawks (TNF)
- Week 7: at Arizona Cardinals
- Week 8: Kansas City Chiefs
- Week 9: at Carolina Panthers
- Week 10: BYE
- Week 11: Las Vegas Raiders
- Week 12: at Pittsburgh Steelers (Black Friday)
- Week 13: Miami Dolphins
- Week 14: at New York Jets
- Week 15: at Las Vegas Raiders
- Week 16: Buffalo Bills (Christmas)
- Week 17: at New England Patriots
- Week 18: Los Angeles Chargers
Oddsmakers Have Broncos Going Backwards
When it comes to what the oddsmakers think the Broncos can do in 2026, the answer is pretty simple: Not Much.
DraftKings put the Broncos on notice with the release of its first over/under win total projections for 2026, tabbing the Broncos at 9.5 wins (-110).
Even more confusing? The Broncos return almost every significant starter on both sides of the ball.
Perhaps the final slap in the face came with 2 more projections in the AFC West Division — the Chiefs and Chargers both at 10.5 wins.
The Chiefs went 6-11 in 2025 while the Chargers went 11-6.
“I mean … the Chiefs will get back Patrick Mahomes after his injury, and the Chargers had some injuries they dealt with, as well,” ESPN’s Damien Woody said in February after the odds were released. “But that seems pretty low for the Broncos … the AFC West is going to be a battle.”
QB Bo Nix’s Ankle Biggest Question for Broncos
The Broncos didn’t try to make a lot of excuses following a 10-7 home loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, even though there was 1 readily available — they played without starting quarterback Bo Nix.
Nix missed his 1st game in 2 years — 37 consecutive starts — after he broke his ankle on the final drive of Denver’s overtime win over the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Divisional Round.
How he recovers from that injury will determine the trajectory of Denver’s season.
Originally projected to only miss 4-6 weeks following surgery at the end of January, Nix had to have a follow-up surgery on his ankle that could keep him out until the start of training camp in July.
Full Broncos Schedule Release: ‘Unbelievably Tough’ 1st 6 Weeks