Broncos 2024 NFL Schedule Released for Bo Nix's 1st Year After Russell Wilson's Exit

Sean Payton couldn't have been expecting this.

A year after ending his retirement to become head coach of the Denver Broncos, he's being tasked with leading the team through a rebuilding season with a rookie quarterback.

The Broncos are a team in transition after the release of veteran quarterback Russell Wilson just two years after acquiring him and signing him to a five-year, $245 million contract extension. While Wilson signed a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver is still on the hook for his $37.8 million salary in 2024.

After parting ways with Wilson, the Broncos drafted Oregon quarterback Bo Nix with the No. 12 pick in the 2024 draft. The team also acquired Zach Wilson from the New York Jets. Denver is hoping that Payton's presence will help accelerate Nix's development and the team's timeline to return to contention.

Here's a look at the slate the Broncos will be facing as they embark on a rebuild.

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2024 Denver Broncos Schedule

Full schedule information available on the team's official website.

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Analysis

Luckily for the Broncos, their schedule isn't too tough this year, at least on paper. Denver's strength of schedule for the 2024 season ranks 20th in the NFL based on last season's winning percentage. The team will be facing just five squads that made the playoffs last season.

This can allow the Broncos to breathe a sigh of relief as they address some key questions remaining this offseason, the most important of which surround the team's starting quarterback position. Payton indicated after the first round of the 2024 draft that Nix and Wilson will be in an open competition along with sixth-year signal-caller Jarrett Stidham, who played three games last season and threw for 456 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

Nix isn't a typical rookie quarterback, as he was a five-year starter in college. He spent three years at Auburn before transferring to Oregon in 2022. He placed third in the voting for the Heisman Trophy in 2023 after throwing for 4,508 yards, 45 touchdowns and just three interceptions. His 77.4 completion percentage set a new NCAA record.

Unfortunately, parting ways with Russell Wilson wasn't the only loss for the Broncos this offseason. Denver also traded wide receiver Jerry Jeudy to the Cleveland Browns and released two-time Pro Bowl safety Justin Simmons as well as veteran linebacker Josey Jewell, who ranked second on the team in tackles in each of the last two seasons.

The Broncos didn't do much to replace those losses, opting for minor signings and building through the draft. To make matters worse, veteran wide receiver Courtland Sutton appears to be disgruntled with his contract after skipping the team's voluntary workouts.

All of this makes for a less-than-ideal situation for a rookie quarterback, but Nix has what it takes to lead the team to success under Payton's guidance.

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Pivotal Matchups

The football gods have incredible comedic timing, as the Steelers will be visiting the Broncos this season, putting Russell Wilson in front of the crowd at Mile High Stadium in an opposing uniform less than a year after he was unceremoniously benched and replaced by Stidham.

While the fans are sure to make their feelings heard, Wilson will also be motivated to put on a dominant performance against the team and coach that kicked him to the curb. If Nix wins the starting job, he will face immense pressure to outdo his predecessor.

Residing in the same division as the back-to-back Super Bowl champions presents a bit of a roadblock for Denver, but the rest of the AFC West isn't what it used to be.

The Broncos snapped a 16-game losing streak to the Kansas City Chiefs last season, so it can be expected that Patrick Mahomes and company will be out for revenge. The Chiefs kept their Super Bowl core together by signing star tight end Travis Kelce and defensive tackle Chris Jones to new deals, so they are in good shape to chase a historic three-peat.

However, the Los Angeles Chargers are also a team in transition under new head coach Jim Harbaugh. The team lost a slew of players to cap casualties this offseason, so the matchups against Denver could go either way. The same goes for the Las Vegas Raiders, who failed to land their quarterback of the future in the draft and are entering their first full year under head coach Antonio Pierce.

Outside of the AFC West, things get a little more difficult for the Broncos. They will be facing each of the teams that joined the Chiefs in the top four in total defense in 2023 with matchups against the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets and Carolina Panthers.

There will also be tough battles against the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals, both of whom are hungry after experiencing varying degrees of disappointment last season. A resurgent Atlanta Falcons team, led by the newly-signed Kirk Cousins, also will not be an easy out.

Payton will certainly have his hands full as he tries to lead the rebuilding Broncos through the upcoming season.