2012 Denver Broncos Schedule: Toughest Opponents Peyton Manning Will Face

The Denver Broncos have signed Peyton Manning, a move that many think catapults them to the top of the AFC West totem pole and puts them high in the running in the chase for the Super Bowl.

But how many people have actually bothered to notice that the Broncos have to play a very, very tough schedule in 2012?

We don't yet know what the Broncos' 2012 schedule is going to look like, but the NFL has already announced the opponents that each team will be facing in the upcoming season. The Broncos are slated to face some tough ones.

To give you an idea, here's a countdown of the five toughest teams Manning will have to face in 2012.

5. Cincinnati Bengals (Away)

Very quietly, the Bengals were one of the best defensive teams in the NFL in 2011, finishing ninth in scoring defense. Their ability to defend against the pass was a big part of their success.

All told, the Bengals allowed just 211.6 passing yards per game, ninth in the NFL. They were also pretty good at rushing the passer, piling up a grand total of 45 sacks. That was good for fifth-most in the league.

So this is a team that Manning, or any other quarterback for that matter, should not look forward to facing. Especially not on the road. The Bengals went 4-4 at home last season, but their four losses all came against great defensive teams in San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Houston and Baltimore.

If the Bengals are able to limit Manning and lure the Broncos into a defensive struggle, they'd win.

4. Houston Texans (Home)

The Texans have lost some key defensive pieces this offseason, most notably Mario Williams and DeMeco Ryans, but they are still a very good defensive team.

The Texans got a lot of attention last season for their much-improved pass defense, and it was well-deserved. The Texans went from allowing nearly 270 passing yards per game to allowing under 190 passing yards per game in 2011. In a year where passing records were dropping like flies, that's pretty good.

The loss of Williams is a concern, but it must be noted that the Texans got used to not having him last year, and they still played pretty well. Besides, the important part is that they still have good pieces in their secondary, and Wade Phillips is still around to tie it all together.

So despite the fact Manning and the Broncos will get to face the Texans at home, they're going to represent a pretty tough challenge.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (Home)

The last time we saw the Steelers play the Broncos, they allowed Tim Tebow to throw for over 300 yards, many of which came on his game-ending bomb to Demaryius Thomas.

Pittsburgh's struggle to contain Tebow in that game was puzzling. After all, the Steelers led the NFL in passing defense in 2011, allowing just 171.9 passing yards per game. That's pretty impressive considering that they didn't rush the passer as well in 2011 as they have in years past.

The Steelers defense features some aging players, but as a whole, it's still a very strong unit with some very dangerous individual pieces. Manning knows all about what the Steelers can do, as they've held him to a mere 84.3 QB rating in his career.

So when the Steelers visit Denver in 2012, they may just get their revenge.

2. Kansas City Chiefs (Away and Home)

A lot of people think the Broncos are the team to beat in 2012 now that they have Manning, but the Chiefs are not a team that should be underestimated. 

The Chiefs have some very good pieces on defense, chief among them (no pun intended) being Brandon Flowers, Tamba Hali and Eric Berry, who missed all of 2011 with a torn ACL. Despite Berry's injury, the Chiefs managed to stay very strong on defense, allowing just 21.1 points per game. They allowed 201.3 passing yards per game.

The Chiefs defense will be a problem, but the other problem in facing the Chiefs in 2012 will be their ability to dictate the tempo of the game. Jamaal Charles and Peyton Hillis will allow them to pound away with the run and control the clock, and their presence will allow Matt Cassel to settle back into a role as a game manager.

The Broncos may be able to beat the Chiefs once in 2012, but don't expect them to sweep. The Chiefs are a lot better than they're getting credit for.

1. Baltimore Ravens (Away)

Ho hum. The Ravens were one of the best defensive teams in the NFL once again in 2011.

All told, the Ravens finished third in the NFL in scoring defense and third in the NFL with an average of 288.9 yards allowed per game. They were deadly against the pass, allowing 196. passing yards per game.

The Ravens also got after the passer last season, racking up a grand total of 48 sacks. Most of those came courtesy of Terrell Suggs, who would go on to win the Defensive Player of the Year award.

Facing the Ravens is tough enough. Facing them at home will be even tougher. The Ravens went undefeated in their own backyard in 2011.

Good luck, Peyton. You're going to need it.