The Denver Broncos 2022 regular season schedule has been released. Is this team going to make the playoffs and contend for a Super Bowl?
We already knew the opponents the Denver Broncos would be facing off against in the 2022 season. What we didn’t know is exactly what the path to Super Bowl 57 might look like.
The NFL schedule has been released and if the Denver Broncos are going to get back to the Super Bowl, they’re going to be going all over the United States as well as taking a trip across the pond to London.
Can Russell Wilson prove all of us right that felt the Denver Broncos were just a QB away?
Let’s find out. Let’s take a shot at predicting the Denver Broncos’ 2022 record with some obligatory losses thrown in there (17-0 until they ain’t, I say…).
Predicting the Denver Broncos schedule in 2022
Denver Broncos Week 1: @ Seattle Seahawks
WIN, 1-0
Anything can happen in Week 1 of the NFL season. In fact, crazy things often happen.
But let’s be real about this one. The Seattle Seahawks deserve respect when playing on their home field. The reality is, this Seahawks team has taken on just a completely different complexion in the last couple of months.
They are now, presumably, going to be led by Drew Lock, the former starting QB of the Denver Broncos.
The Broncos’ roster is simply better than Seattle’s at this point and if the Broncos go into this game fully healthy, I don’t see any way they’re coming home for Week 2 without a win.
Denver Broncos Week 2: vs. Houston Texans
WIN, 2-0
In the first two weeks of the 2022 season, the Denver Broncos play two quarterbacks that, depending on who you ask, might be among the five worst starting QBs in the league right now.
Obviously, my opinions about Drew Lock are well-documented at this point and I believe he’s in a good spot in Seattle, and I also quite liked what I saw from Davis Mills last year.
The Texans may not end up with a great record in 2022 but I think they’ll be interesting, at the very least.
I do, however, feel like this matchup heavily favors the Broncos.
Denver Broncos Week 3: vs. San Francisco 49ers
WIN, 3-0
Just like last season, the Denver Broncos start 3-0.
It feels weird to say that because it doesn’t feel like last year’s team was 3-0, but they were.
I think the 49ers present a tough challenge, of course, and that’s an undersell considering they were in the NFL’s final four last year.
Not that this potential victory depends on the quarterback, necessarily, but you can’t help but wonder if the 49ers will experience some early rough patches with Trey Lance under center.
Even if Jimmy Garoppolo is still the 49ers’ quarterback, I think we’re going to see a Broncos win at home here to get to 3-0.
Denver Broncos Week 4: @ Las Vegas Raiders
LOSS, 3-1
The Broncos haven’t done a few things since they won the Super Bowl.
They haven’t made the playoffs.
They haven’t beat the Chiefs.
They also haven’t beat the Raiders on the road. As shocking as that may be, it’s true. The last road win against the Raiders happened in Oakland and it happened in the 2015 season.
Unfortunately, I’m predicting that streak to continue here as the Raiders hand the Broncos their first loss of the 2022 season.
Denver Broncos Week 5: vs. Indianapolis Colts (TNF)
Loss, 3-2
Coming off of a tough loss on the road against the Raiders, the Broncos head back home for a Thursday night matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.
The fact that this game is coming on a short week is one thing, but the fact that the Colts are a team that can take advantage of you on a short week is another entirely.
Jonathan Taylor is going to wear you out. The Colts are physical, fast, and talented on defense.
In this prediction post, I’m saying the Broncos experience an unfortunate little slump here in a four-day period.
Denver Broncos Week 6: @ Los Angeles Chargers
WIN, 4-2
After losing back-to-back games, the Broncos go to their home away from home (wherever the Chargers play) and get back on the board with a big divisional victory.
Over the last six years, the Broncos have actually done somewhat well against the Chargers and after losing two games in a row, I think they galvanize for this stretch of games coming up before the bye week.
The Chargers are good but I think the Broncos make a statement with this win here coming off of those two losses.
Denver Broncos Week 7: vs. New York Jets
WIN, 5-2
There’s no such thing as a “gimme” on an NFL schedule but the Jets sure feel like one these days.
I’m intrigued by the Jets and I think they’re going to be much improved and well-coached, but the Broncos are just too talented.
Not only that, but they’re playing at home here.
Unless there’s a Herculean improvement from Zach Wilson, I think the Broncos are going to win this game easily.
Denver Broncos Week 8: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (in London)
WIN, 6-2
The Denver Broncos have not had the best of luck when playing in London.
This time around, I think that changes.
Although I think the Jaguars will be an improved team overall this year, I still just don’t think they have the kind of defense that can hold up over the course of a season.
Trevor Lawrence will be expected to take a massive leap but getting Jacksonville in a neutral environment where the Broncos have yet to notch a win I think is an advantage for Denver.
Ultimately, the Broncos’ talent wins out and they head into the bye week with a very strong 6-2 record.
WEEK 9: BYE WEEK
This bye week is smack in the middle of the season, and I’m not sure you could ask for anything better. Thankfully for the Broncos, their overseas game is not in Week 5 like some other teams…
Denver Broncos Week 10: @ Tennessee Titans
WIN, 7-2
I don’t want to disrespect the Tennessee Titans, one of the most well-coached teams in the NFL, but this game felt like a pretty easy projection to me.
Perhaps I just don’t think highly enough of Ryan Tannehill to believe the Titans are markedly better than the Broncos, even with a home-field advantage as well as an early time window for the start of this game.
Ultimately, I think this game is probably tougher than my initial gut reaction to seeing it as the first game after the bye week, but I still like the Broncos here.
Denver Broncos Week 11: vs. Las Vegas Raiders
WIN, 8-2
The winning streak following the Thursday night loss to the Indianapolis Colts continues as the Broncos get on board against the Raiders for a second divisional victory.
Splitting with divisional opponents — at worst — is going to be crucial this season. I think if the Broncos want to have any shot at the postseason, they’ve really got to do some damage against the AFC West and if they lose that first matchup in Las Vegas, winning at home is essential.
The Broncos have lost seven of their last nine matchups with the Raiders.
It’s time to get back on the board here.
Denver Broncos Week 12: @ Carolina Panthers
WIN, 9-2
The Carolina Panthers may have the worst quarterback situation in the entire league and barring a trade for Baker Mayfield or Jimmy Garoppolo, I just don’t see this game going any direction other than in Denver’s favor.
Carolina could have a tough defense, sure. They could have a healthy Christian McCaffrey, which makes a big difference.
Ultimately, though, I think if Sam Darnold or even Matt Corral is their starter, the Broncos will feast in this game.
Denver Broncos Week 13: @ Baltimore Ravens
LOSS, 9-3
The winning streak following that Colts loss finally comes to an end as the Broncos are put in their place against the Baltimore Ravens.
The Ravens are historically one of the best NFL teams in their home stadium, winning nearly 70 percent of the games played in Baltimore.
You’ve got to tip your cap to them.
I think in this situation, home field matters and the Ravens will be much better in 2022 than they were last season.
Denver Broncos Week 14: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
LOSS, 9-4
Another two-game losing streak.
If the Broncos lose their first matchup to the Chiefs to drop to 9-4, I’m sure that will have some pretty significant implications in the short-term playoff picture that will send Broncos Country into a frenzy.
Over the long haul of this season, losing one game to the Chiefs might not matter a ton and sweeping them in the regular season would almost make me nervous because you might see them a third time in the playoffs.
I’d rather get the loss out of the way early on.
Denver Broncos Week 15: vs. Arizona Cardinals
WIN, 10-4
The Arizona Cardinals are a team that, to me, runs extremely hot and cold.
One week they might look like one of the best teams in the league. The next week, they look like they should be picking in the top 10 of the NFL Draft.
At this point, DeAndre Hopkins will be back from suspension but how good will the Cardinals be this season as a team?
They are an opponent this Denver defensive staff knows extremely well and I think they’ll have a great plan for containing Kyler Murray.
Denver Broncos Week 16: @ Los Angeles Rams
LOSS, 10-5
The reigning champs should be a well-oiled machine by this point in the season.
I really like to relax on Christmas and take it easy, so if the Broncos could go into Los Angeles and just dominate the Rams, it would be absolutely swell.
With that being the case, I’m going to give the defending Super Bowl champions their due respect and project them for a win on their home field late in the regular season.
Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals.
Denver Broncos Week 17: @ Kansas City Chiefs
WIN, 11-5
At long last. The Denver Broncos finally get a regular season win against the Kansas City Chiefs.
It hasn’t happened since 2015, and technically this game is being played on New Year’s day in 2023.
Eight years on the calendar before a win against the Chiefs.
Absolutely mind-boggling.
This game will undoubtedly have significant playoff implications but will the Chiefs have five losses at this point? Or would a loss here just affect their seeding elsewhere?
Denver Broncos Week 18: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
WIN, 12-5
There’s no time to celebrate beating the Chiefs because the Los Angeles Chargers await in Week 18.
The Broncos need to close out the season well unless, by some type of miracle, they are able to rest starters for this game without affecting seeding.
I think if there’s home field advantage to be playing for here, the Broncos will come out against the Chargers guns blazing.
Denver Broncos schedule 2022: 3 toughest games of the season
The Denver Broncos schedule for the 2022 NFL season is officially out. What three games will be the toughest for this new-look Denver Broncos squad?
Yes, I have the Broncos sweeping the Chargers in this prediction. That may not happen and we know the Chargers are going to be good, but I feel like coming off that win against the Chiefs, the Broncos will be going into the postseason with tremendous momentum and just like in 2015, a regular season finale against the Chargers propels this Denver team.