Playing in the AFC and AFC West, nothing is going to come "easy" for the Denver Broncos. But with 17 games and 14 different opponents on the 2024 Broncos schedule, we're going to try and peg which matchups may favor the Broncos a little bit and which ones are simply going to be brutally tough no matter what.
When the 2024 Broncos schedule is released, we'll know exactly what kind of gauntlet they are going to have to run. For now, let's take a look at each opponent on the slate and rank them from "easiest" to "hardest".
Denver Broncos 2024 opponents ranked easiest to hardest
14. Carolina Panthers (home)
It should come as no surprise, but the team with the worst record in the NFL last season is probably going to end up being the "easiest" opponent the Broncos face on paper this season, barring injury to other teams. The Panthers are hopeful of a rebound year from last year's #1 overall pick, QB Bryce Young, but that rebound remains to be seen. This team is clearly in rebuild mode and with a brand-new coach (Dave Canales).
13. Atlanta Falcons (home)
This might be a bit of a hot take but I view the Falcons as maybe one of the "easier" opponents on the Broncos' schedule this coming season. It might depend on when they play them. But the Broncos get the Falcons at home, and if they play them early on in the season, there may still be a few kinks to work out with Kirk Cousins and a brand-new coaching staff.
12. Seattle Seahawks (road)
I struggled putting the Seahawks above the two teams ahead of them. Pete Carroll is gone. The Seahawks have talent but what kind of QB is Geno Smith going to look like in 2024? Will he even win the job against Sam Howell? The Seahawks were terrible defensively last year but are obviously hopeful that new head coach Mike Macdonald can right the ship.
11. New Orleans Saints (road)
This is an opponent the Denver Broncos will be extremely familiar with thanks to Sean Payton's history there as well as so many other players and coaches on the Denver Broncos now. The Saints with Derek Carr won nine games last year but they strike me as a team that could be declining heading into this season.
10. Las Vegas Raiders
There's no doubt the Raiders have had the Broncos' number in recent years, but they are also going to be one of the teams the Broncos need to take care of business against this season. At quarterback, the Raiders are rolling with either Gardner Minshew or Aidan O'Connell, and they gave Antonio Pierce the full-time job at head coach. It's going to be tough for this team to match the eight wins they had a year ago.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers (home)
The Pittsburgh Steelers have one of the NFL's truly elite defenses, but what is this offense going to look like with Arthur Smith calling plays and Russell Wilson now at the quarterback position? Mike Tomlin is undoubtedly one of the best coaches in the game and always maximizes his players. His streak of non-losing seasons is the unstoppable force, and the decline of Russell Wilson is the immovable object.
8. Indianapolis Colts (home)
Shane Steichen did a really great job last year in his first season as head coach of the Colts. This team won nine games despite missing starting QB Anthony Richardson for most of the year. The Colts are a really exciting, athletic roster and if Richardson can stay healthy, this team could be more dangerous than anyone anticipates.
7. Los Angeles Chargers
The problems with the Los Angeles Chargers in recent years have been coaching and injuries. They certainly hope to have one of those issues solved in 2024 with Jim Harbaugh coming in. The Chargers now have one of the best coaches in the game, but can this roster stay healthy?
6. New York Jets (road)
Playing the New York Jets on the road is going to be tough, especially if it's in the cold. The Broncos will hope to draw the Jets early in the year. Aaron Rodgers' return from a major injury will make the Jets must-see TV every week and that defense is already championship-caliber. If Rodgers goes down again, the Jets are in big trouble.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (road)
The Bucs won a playoff game last season with the resurgence of Baker Mayfield. The Tampa Bay defense is really good, and Todd Bowles always has that unit well-prepared and flying around. If the offense can take another step forward under new coordinator Liam Coen, this team is going to be trouble all year.
4. Cleveland Browns (home)
All of the Jets, Buccaneers, and Browns are teams that look really good on paper overall, and they have defenses that should raise the floor all year long, but they all also have some question marks offensively. The Browns may have the biggest boom or bust situation with Deshaun Watson, who last played at a really high level back in 2019. It's hard to imagine the Browns being a legitimate contender with Watson, but that defense is unbelievable.
3. Cincinnati Bengals (road)
If Joe Burrow is healthy, a road game to Cincinnati is going to be extremely tough for the Denver Broncos. The Bengals have one of the more complete rosters in the league, and even though there is some tension between the organization and guys like Tee Higgins and Trey Hendrickson, the Bengals will field one of the better overall rosters in the NFL this coming season. And the Broncos face them on the road.
2. Baltimore Ravens (road)
Baltimore is historically one of the most brutal places to play in the NFL. It hasn't mattered what players the Ravens have, they are just one of the most dominant home teams in the entire NFL. Even if the Ravens were coming to Denver, this would be a really tough draw, but having to go to Baltimore is almost a guaranteed loss for any visiting team. The Broncos will have their hands full here with the reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and his new backfield pal Derrick H
1. Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are the reigning back-to-back Super Bowl champions. It's painful to even talk about. The Broncos have to play the Chiefs twice, and if they hope to do any damage in January any time soon, they'll probably have to play them three times. This team is elite in every possible way.