The NFL officially dropped the full 2026 schedule, and Broncos Country is already circling dates on the calendar. After claiming the AFC West crown last season, Denver is staring down a first-place slate that’s packed with heavyweight showdowns. While the Broncos remain among the top Super Bowl favorites, the path to the big game is anything but smooth. Here are the five toughest tests awaiting Sean Payton’s squad this year.
It all kicks off under the bright lights of Monday Night Football, with a trip to Arrowhead Stadium to face the Kansas City Chiefs. This is as hostile as it gets for a season opener. Patrick Mahomes is working his way back from a torn ACL, but expecting anything less than a motivated, healthy Mahomes would be a mistake. After watching Denver snatch the division crown, the Chiefs and Andy Reid are hungry to prove their dynasty is far from finished. Opening the season in that environment is a brutal ask for any team.
Following that emotional road battle, the Broncos return home to face the Jacksonville Jaguars—a team that walked into Denver and won by 14 points last season. Trevor Lawrence and company are eager to show that victory was no fluke. With the crowd behind them, Denver will need to shake off any Week 1 hangover fast.
Notice a theme yet? The schedule makers didn't give the Broncos any favors. After Jacksonville, Denver hits the road for back-to-back games against the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Chargers. The 49ers are loaded on both sides of the ball and will test every inch of Denver’s defense. Then, a divisional clash with the Chargers, who are always dangerous at home, adds another layer of difficulty. That three-game stretch to start the season is a gauntlet.
Later in the year, the Los Angeles Rams come to town for a Sunday Night Football showdown. The Rams came within a whisker of reaching the Super Bowl last season, just like the Broncos. Matthew Stafford and that offense are explosive, and the primetime atmosphere will only amplify the pressure. This is the kind of game that could define Denver’s playoff seeding.
This Broncos schedule is built for contenders. Every tough matchup is a chance to prove they belong among the NFL’s elite. Gear up, Broncos fans—it’s going to be a thrilling ride.