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Shortly after the 2026 schedule was released for the Denver Broncos, fans and analysts alike marked a specific point in the schedule where the team could see some relief. That relief point started this past week.
The Broncos faced a rough six-game stretch to open the season, including a Monday Night Football game against the Kansas City Chiefs and a returning Patrick Mahomes at Arrowhead Stadium. From there, they played their first home game against a solid Jacksonville Jaguars team that beat them in Denver last season, then invited the Los Angeles Rams to town. A road game against San Francisco followed and then it was a divisional opponent in the Los Angeles Chargers before having to face the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks on a short week.
For the Broncos to get out of that at 4-2 was a huge accomplishment, and the predicted relief started last Sunday with a 14-point victory over the Arizona Cardinals. But now, it could get even better.
If you put stock in things like this, the Broncos' remaining strength of schedule ranks as one of the easiest, at least according to data from Ben Baldwin. Only the Cincinnati Bengals have an easier road.
Here's how the rest of the Broncos' schedule shapes up.
Week |
Opponent |
Home/Away |
8 |
Kansas City |
Home |
9 |
Carolina |
Away |
10 |
BYE |
---------- |
11 |
Las Vegas |
Home |
12 |
Pittsburgh |
Away |
13 |
Miami |
Home |
14 |
N.Y. Jets |
Away |
15 |
Las Vegas |
Away |
16 |
Buffalo |
Home |
17 |
New England |
Away |
18 |
L.A. Chargers |
Home |
The Broncos play five games at home and five on the road, but outside of the New England game, the Broncos will likely be favored in every one of those road games and perhaps even that one. This is a favorable schedule for the team, where they could conceivably get to 12 or 13 wins and be up near the top of the AFC pecking order again.
Things won't get any easier in Week 8, however, when the Chiefs come to town. Kansas City beat the Broncos by 21 points in Week 1 and would be in the driver's seat in the AFC West for the rest of the season if they earn the sweep this Sunday. But a Broncos win would totally change the complexion of the division race and could make them the favorite the rest of the way, considering this schedule.
The Broncos have a well-paved road in front of them, but it will be much smoother with a win on Sunday.