Denver Broncos 2012 Schedule: 5 Games That Will Trip Up Peyton Manning

How good will the Denver Broncos really be with Peyton Manning calling the shots next season? 

Which games will potentially trip up the legendary, audible-shouting gun-slinger? 

While the official schedule has yet to be released, we do know teams the Broncos will face in 2012, just not the order they'll play them. 

Let's take a glance.

San Diego Chargers—Away 

Last year, the Broncos went into San Diego and stunningly captured a 16-13 overtime win, but this is a game that'll be tough for Manning's crew this Fall. 

Although he's 4-3 in his career against the Chargers, Manning's thrown 12 touchdowns and 16 interceptions when playing the Bolts. 

We know what San Diego has done to him in the playoffs with Philip Rivers under center, too. 

It'll clearly be a slightly different Chargers team in 2012, but they'll implement the same vertical passing attack and defensive scheme to confuse Manning when he's attempting to win in this shootout. 

New Orleans Saints—Home 

The Saints lost Robert Meachem in free agency, but they still have Marques Colston, Lance Moore and utterly dominating tight end Jimmy Graham. 

We saw what Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez did to the Broncos defense in the divisional-round game this January, and it could be more of the same when the Saints come marching in. 

New Orleans is a far greater threat at home inside the Superdome, but the Saints aren't rendered incapable of scoring the football on the road. 

If this game's early in the year with nice weather, we could be in for another classic, high-scoring affair between two of the game's best quarterback minds. 

Cincinnati Bengals—Away 

The Bengals let Jonathan Fanene and Frostee Rucker bolt in free agency, but they still have one of the most assertive defensive units in the AFC. 

They should be able to apply pressure to Manning, and they have a quality secondary led by Leon Hall and Nate Clements. 

Andy Dalton and A.J. Green should take the next step in terms of offensive efficiency, and I'd be surprised if Cincinnati didn't use one of its two first-round picks on another receiver or a premier running back. 

A tough game with the Bengals. 

Pittsburgh Steelers—Home 

If the Steelers address their offensive line in the draft and bring back speedy wideout Mike Wallace, they'll once again be playoff contenders in the AFC. 

The boys from the Steel City will be looking to enact revenge on the Tim Tebow-led Broncos squad that dismissed them from the playoffs last season. 

This will be a hard-nosed, extremely physical battle that could go down to the final minutes. 

There's not much better than Peyton Manning against Ben Roethlisberger. 

New England Patriots—Away 

The Patriots handled the Broncos in both meetings last year, and Tom Brady, Gronkowski and Hernandez haven't gone anywhere. 

One would have to imagine that Bill Belichick will look to add pieces to his youthful and generally inexperienced defense. 

Don't forget about the acquisition of former Bengals high-motor defensive lineman Jonathan Fanene. A classic Brady vs. Manning battle should ensue inside Gillette Stadium whenever this game occurs. 

(Another game with "upset" potential is the Broncos' trip to Carolina to face Cam Newton's Panthers. We know what Newton's capable of, and this up-and-coming club could cause trouble for a lot of opponents in 2012.)

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