Jan 11, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; General view of the NFL divisional playoff game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium. The Colts defeated the Broncos 24-13. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The 2015 NFL schedule has been released and to the surprise to nobody, the Denver Broncos are front and center in the national spotlight. With 5 games on Monday nights, Sunday nights, and Thursday nights, the nation will get a good look at the Broncos in what we here in Broncos’ Country hope is a run to our 3rd Lombardi Trophy. These may also be the last opportunities to see Peyton Manning in a Broncos’ uniform on the national stage…but that’s another article for another day.
For the first time in 4 years, Denver will not be featured on the opening Sunday Night Football broadcast. Instead they will kickoff at 4:25 EST on Sunday, September 13th against the Baltimore Ravens. There’s nothing like getting thrown right into the fire in week one, eh?
Thursday, September 17th: The first primetime game, and second game of the year, takes place only four days later as the Broncos travel to what is sure to be a raucous Arrowhead Stadium for a Thursday night tilt against the Kansas City Chiefs. Since the Chiefs won’t be mathematically eliminated yet, the fan base will still think they have something for which to play. Thus, they will be loud in what is usually a tough road game at any point in the year. It will be especially tough coming off what should be a physical tilt against Baltimore.
Sunday, September 27th: For the second straight week, the Broncos will be in primetime. While there were only 4 days between weeks one and two, the Broncos will have to wait 10 days before their week 3 game at Ford Field against the Detroit Lions. I, for one, am glad that a guy named Suh has taken his talents to South Beach. That’s one less behemoth with which to deal. The Lions will be tough enough without him.
Sunday, November 1st: A week 7 bye is just what the doctor ordered. For one reason, they had a week 4 bye in 2014, which left a veteran Broncos’ squad a little gassed by week 17. Secondly, the bye week comes just before the Green Bay Packers, who very well could be the NFC representative in the Super Bowl, come into Sports Authority Field for the third of the five games in primetime; the first at Mile High.
Sunday November 29th: On Sunday Night Football, November comes in like a Bronco and goes out like…well, a Bronco as Denver bookends the month on SNF. For the first time in several years, the New England Patriots are scheduled to come to our house. The Patriots come in with the championship strap around their waists (excuse me, gag reflex). This will be, without question, the biggest litmus test of the season. Like The Nature Boy, Ric Flair says, “to be the man, you gotta beat the man! WHOOOOO!” Well, we’ll know how much closer the Broncos will be claiming the moniker of, “The Man”…or men!
Monday, December 28th: In the next to the last week of the season, Broncos Country gets a chance at a measure of revenge as the Red Rifle, Andy Dalton and his Cincinnati Bengals come into Mile High. So the Broncos can take advantage of an opportunity to do unto others as they did unto us in probably the ugliest game of 2014. Only three days after Christmas, maybe Santa will have a reason to leave AFC West Division Champs hats and shirts for us to wear for this one.
So that does it for the highest profile games of the Broncos’ schedule for 2015. Overall, I like the schedule for this year: the bye week is perfectly placed in the middle of the season, Three of the four toughest opponents on the schedule have to come to Denver, and I get five Broncos’ games to watch from the comfort of my couch here on the East Coast. Oh, in addition to the 5 scheduled nationally televised games, I hope we see three more in January and February.
Countdown to kickoff: 144 days. Life is good.
You’ll find more great perspective and breakdown of the 2015 Broncos’ Schedule, here on Predominantly Orange.
For the whole 2015 scchedule, check out the Denver Broncos website.