2010 Denver Broncos Schedule Released: Immediate Analysis

It couldn't have ended up being worse than last year.

After an incredibly difficult schedule draw in his first year, Josh McDaniels better have learned how to hold a team together down the stretch.

In case you were wondering how the Denver Broncos 2010 schedule would pan out, I've listed the games for you with the away games italicized:

Sept 12. at Jacksonville

Sept 19. Seattle

Sept 26. Indianapolis

Oct 3. at Tennessee

Oct 10. at Baltimore

Oct 17. New York Jets

Oct 24. Oakland

Oct 31. at San Francisco

WEEK 9 BYE

Nov 14. Kansas City

Nov 22. at San Diego

Nov 28. St. Louis

Dec 5. at Kansas City

Dec 12. at Arizona

Dec 19. at Oakland

Dec 26. Houston

Jan 2. San Diego

Instant Analysis:

The Broncos schedule appears to be easier than last year as far as opponents are concerned, however their bye week is very poorly placed and December looks to be a brutal month with three out of four games (in a row) away.

There is some upside as having a bye in week nine divides the season straight down the middle.  It is unfortunate however that following the bye week, a week when Denver has a history of great success, the Broncos are taking on the presumably weak Kansas City Chiefs.

Of course, nothing can be written off in rivalry games.

On that note, the Broncos don't even play their biggest rival of recent, the San Diego Chargers, until the end of November; and in a game that could decide the division the Broncos will host the Chargers in the final game of the season.

Particularly difficult match-ups will be taking place during the first half of the season against the much improved (on paper) New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens, and Indianapolis Colts.

Based on performances from last season alone, the Broncos would likely be favored in all other matchups on the schedule aside from the games against San Diego.

Unfortunately it is difficult to predict just how much teams improve in the offseason, or in Denver's case, how much the loss of Brandon Marshall will hurt.

Before seeing draft results and preseason matchups, the Broncos should have a favorable schedule (easier than half of the teams in the league) going into next season.

On paper, which of course is all a schedule can be, this looks like a good preseason omen for the Mile High City.

Immediate projected season outcome:

Based on offseason changes the Denver Broncos and their opponents have made, my instant prediction is that the Broncos will finally break .500 after a series of disappointing season endings.

I have them dropping games to:

Indianapolis, New York Jets, Baltimore, San Diego (1), Oakland (1), Jacksonville, and San Francisco.

That yields a record of 9-7.

How Denver can capitalize:

When you subtract Kurt Warner from Arizona, the Broncos should be favored over every team on the second half of the schedule aside from San Diego.

The Chargers should have a tough time with the Bengals, Patriots, and Colts.  The Broncos will need those teams to beat the Chargers if they are going to have a chance at the division.

The first half of the season will likely appear ugly, but Denver fans shouldn't let that deter them from the Broncos prospects of reaching the playoffs.

Denver really needs to take advantage of home games against tough opponents, and this will likely be another season in which the final game (at home) against the Chargers is a deal-breaker.

Final points of interest:

The Broncos do not play Miami, Chicago, Detroit, or Washington in the regular season.  That should minimize potential former-Bronco drama.