Sports Authority Field during the game between the Denver Broncos against the Baltimore Ravens during the AFC divisional round playoff game. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
The long wait is over. The NFL has released all 32 schedules for the 2013 season. We’ve known who the Denver Broncos will face and where they will be playing each game for months, but now we know when they will be playing those games.
Things kickoff for the Broncos (and the rest of the league) when the NFL converges on Denver September 5 for a rematch of the 2012 AFC divisional playoff game. That’s right! The Baltimore Ravens head to Denver in week one. It will be like Elvis (Dumervil) never left the building. Because of a scheduling conflict with the Baltimore Orioles, the defending Super Bowl champions will be forced to open their season on the road, which is a first since 2003.
The Broncos are scheduled for five primetime games, which is the most allowed for any one team. They also had five primetime games in 2012. Here’s the full schedule courtesy of DenverBroncos.com:
| Week 1: vs. Baltimore Ravens | |
| • DATE: Thursday, September 5 • TIME: 6:30 p.m. MDT • LOCATION: Sports Authority Field at Mile High • TELEVISION: NBC (NTL) • OPP. 2012 RECORD: 10-6 (won Super Bowl XLVII) • ALL-TIME VS. OPP. (REG. SEASON): 3-5 |
| Week 2: at New York Giants | |
| • DATE: Sunday, September 15 • TIME: 2:25 p.m. MDT • LOCATION: MetLife Stadium • TELEVISION: CBS • OPP. 2012 RECORD: 9-7 • ALL-TIME VS. OPP. (REG. SEASON): 5-5 |
| Week 3: vs. Oakland Raiders | |
| • DATE: Monday, September 23 • TIME: 6:40 p.m. MDT • LOCATION: Sports Authority Field at Mile High • TELEVISION: ESPN (NTL) • OPP. 2012 RECORD: 4-12 • ALL-TIME HOME VS. OPP. (REG. SEASON): 22-28-2 |
| Week 4: vs. Philadelphia Eagles | |
| • DATE: Sunday, September 29 • TIME: 2:25 p.m. MDT • LOCATION: Sports Authority Field at Mile High • TELEVISION: FOX • OPP. 2012 RECORD: 4-12 • ALL-TIME VS. OPP. (REG. SEASON): 4-7 |
| Week 5: at Dallas Cowboys | |
| • DATE: Sunday, October 6 • TIME: 2:25 p.m. MDT • LOCATION: Cowboys Stadium • TELEVISION: CBS • OPP. 2012 RECORD: 8-8 • ALL-TIME VS. OPP. (REG. SEASON): 6-4 |
| Week 6: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars | |
| • DATE: Sunday, October 13 • TIME: 2:05 p.m. MDT • LOCATION: Sports Authority Field at Mile High • TELEVISION: CBS • OPP. 2012 RECORD: 2-14 • ALL-TIME VS. OPP. (REG. SEASON): 3-5 |
| Week 7: at Indianapolis Colts | |
| • DATE: Sunday, October 20 • TIME: 6:30 p.m. MDT • LOCATION: Lucas Oil Stadium • TELEVISION: NBC (NTL) • OPP. 2012 RECORD: 11-5 (made playoffs) • ALL-TIME VS. OPP. (REG. SEASON): 11-8 |
| Week 8: vs. Washington Redskins | |
| • DATE: Sunday, October 27 • TIME: 2:25 p.m. MDT • LOCATION: Sports Authority Field at Mile High • TELEVISION: FOX • OPP. 2012 RECORD: 10-6 (made playoffs) • ALL-TIME VS. OPP. (REG. SEASON): 6-5 |
| Week 9: BYE |
| Week 10: at San Diego Chargers | |
| • DATE: Sunday, November 10 • TIME: 2:25 p.m. MST • LOCATION: Qualcomm Stadium • TELEVISION: CBS • OPP. 2012 RECORD: 7-9 • ALL-TIME AWAY VS. OPP. (REG. SEASON): 21-32 |
| Week 11: vs. Kansas City Chiefs | |
| • DATE: Sunday, November 17 • TIME: 2:05 p.m. MST • LOCATION: Sports Authority Field at Mile High • TELEVISION: CBS* • OPP. 2012 RECORD: 2-14 • ALL-TIME HOME VS. OPP. (REG. SEASON): 33-20 |
| Week 12: at New England Patriots | |
| • DATE: Sunday, November 24 • TIME: 6:30 p.m. MST • LOCATION: Gillette Stadium • TELEVISION: NBC (NTL)* • OPP. 2012 RECORD: 12-4 (made playoffs) • ALL-TIME VS. OPP. (REG. SEASON): 25-18 |
| Week 13: at Kansas City Chiefs | |
| • DATE: Sunday, December 1 • TIME: 11 a.m. MST • LOCATION: Arrowhead Stadium • TELEVISION: CBS* • OPP. 2012 RECORD: 2-14 • ALL-TIME AWAY VS. OPP. (REG. SEASON): 16-36 |
| Week 14: vs. Tennessee Titans | |
| • DATE: Sunday, December 8 • TIME: 2:05 p.m. MST • LOCATION: Sports Authority Field at Mile High • TELEVISION: CBS* • OPP. 2012 RECORD: 6-10 • ALL-TIME VS. OPP. (REG. SEASON): 14-21-1 |
| Week 15: vs. San Diego Chargers | |
| • DATE: Thursday, December 12 • TIME: 6:25 p.m. MST • LOCATION: Sports Authority Field at Mile High • TELEVISION: NFL Network (NTL) • OPP. 2012 RECORD: 7-9 • ALL-TIME HOME VS. OPP. (REG. SEASON): 36-16-1 |
| Week 16: at Houston Texans | |
| • DATE: Sunday, December 22 • TIME: 11 a.m. MST • LOCATION: Reliant Stadium • TELEVISION: CBS* • OPP. 2012 RECORD: 12-4 (made playoffs) • ALL-TIME VS. OPP. (REG. SEASON): 2-2 |
| Week 17: at Oakland Raiders |
| • DATE: Sunday, December 29 • TIME: 2:25 p.m. MST • LOCATION: O.co Coliseum • TELEVISION: CBS* • OPP. 2012 RECORD: 4-12 • ALL-TIME AWAY VS. OPP. (REG. SEASON): 22-32 |
Games of note include the Manning Bowl when Peyton and Eli play at the Meadowlands in week 2. Peyton will also get to head back to the house that he built when the Broncos take on the Indianapolis Colts on October 20. Forget the Peyton Manning v. Tom Brady rivalry for a moment. Wes Welker will be going back to New England to visit his former team on November 24. Of course, there’s also Mike Shanahan’s return to Denver as the head coach of the Washington Redskins on October 27.
This is one of the most exciting regular seasons that I can remember. The Broncos have the opportunity to win the very first NFL game of the season, and with hard work and solid play, they have the chance to win the very last game of the NFL season as well.
Which game(s) do you plan on attending?
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