2015 Denver Broncos Schedule: Full Listing of Dates, Times and TV Info

It's not often that many teams can return virtually all of their starting lineup after winning 12 games with as many questions to answer as the Denver Broncos, but that's the case for the four-time defending AFC West champions in 2015. 

The first question is how the team will change under new head coach Gary Kubiak. Following a successful one-year stint as the Baltimore Ravens' offensive coordinator, Kubiak returned to the franchise he played for from 1983-91 and offensive coordinator from 1995-2005. 

After the hiring, Broncos general manager John Elway said in a statement, per Izzy Gould of USA Today, that Kubiak's extensive track record of success as a coach made him an easy choice to take over for John Fox:

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Having coached on three Super Bowl champions and 11 playoff teams, Gary knows what it will take to deliver another World Championship to Broncos fans. Coach Kubiak is all about winning and doing things the right way, which are values that have always been most important to the Broncos and Owner Pat Bowlen.

"

Of all the questions, though, none looms larger over the Broncos than Peyton Manning. The five-time NFL MVP posted terrific numbers with 4,727 passing yards and 39 touchdowns in 2014, yet the way he finished last year has everyone nervous. 

Manning's decline started in December with three touchdown passes and six interceptions in four games. It culminated in Denver's first playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts, in which the star quarterback went 26-of-46 for 211 yards and one touchdown. 

It was two days after that loss when ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Manning had played the final month of the year with a torn quad in his right leg. Given an offseason of rehab, the 39-year-old is ready to take another run at a Super Bowl after falling short in each of his three seasons with the Broncos. 

Fortunately, the Broncos were able to provide Manning with support this offseason by retaining All-Pro wide receiver Demaryius Thomas. They also added Owen Daniels to replace Julius Thomas, who left to sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

The team did lose big playmakers, especially on defense, such as Terrance Knighton and Rahim Moore, so this roster isn't as loaded as the one that started 2014. It's still the best in the AFC West, though the gap is closing with the other three teams all making upgrades. 

Here's a look at the Broncos' 2015 schedule as well as the key matchups that will define this team as it looks for a championship. 

Week	Date	Opponent	Time (ET)	Network
1	9/13	vs. Baltimore Ravens	4:25 p.m.	CBS
2	9/17	at Kansas City Chiefs	8:25 p.m.	CBS
3	9/27	at Detroit Lions	8:30 p.m.	NBC
4	10/04	vs. Minnesota Vikings	4:25 p.m.	FOX
5	10/11	at Oakland Raiders	4:25 p.m.	CBS
6	10/18	at Cleveland Browns	1 p.m.	CBS
7		BYE
8	11/01	vs. Green Bay Packers	8:30 p.m.	NBC
9	11/08	at Indianapolis Colts	4:25 p.m.	CBS
10	11/15	vs. Kansas City Chiefs	4:25 p.m.	CBS
11	11/22	at Chicago Bears	1 p.m.	CBS
12	11/29	vs. New England Patriots	8:30 p.m.	NBC
13	12/06	at San Diego Chargers	4:05 p.m.	CBS
14	12/13	vs. Oakland Raiders	4:05 p.m.	CBS
15	12/20	at Pittsburgh Steelers	4:25 p.m.	CBS
16	12/28	vs. Cincinnati Bengals	8:30 p.m.	ESPN
17	1/03	vs. San Diego Chargers	4:25 p.m.	CBS

Analysis

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Even though Oakland still has a long way to go before competing for a playoff spot, it's got the makings of a strong young nucleus with Derek Carr at quarterback, Khalil Mack at linebacker and the No. 4 overall pick in this year's draft. 

The San Diego Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs are in the playoff mix. The Chargers still have Philip Rivers and are working to get better protection around him to take advantage of his arm. The Chiefs aren't as explosive on offense with Alex Smith, but the ability of Jamaal Charles and a solid defensive group have made this team good for nine wins. 

The Broncos will enter 2015 as the favorites to win the division and one of the top choices in the AFC to play in the Super Bowl, but the stranglehold this franchise had on the top of the standings looks more tenuous than ever. 

In Manning's three years with the Broncos, they have gone 18-1 against the AFC West if you include the playoff win over San Diego two years ago. As a reigning division champion, they have the task of playing the AFC's other division winners from last season (vs. New England, at Pittsburgh and Indianapolis). 

Based on records from last season, per ESPN, Denver has the 10th most difficult strength of schedule in 2015. That will obviously change because teams are never the same year to year.

Top teams like the New England Patriots lost a lot of key players and might not be as good, while rising teams like the Minnesota Vikings figure to be tougher than they seemed when the league first announced the schedule. 

The key to Denver's season will be what happens in December because of the weather. Manning can explain falling apart at the end of last year due to an injury. Assuming he remains healthy this year, he will have to prove his arm strength can survive the rigors of a 16-week season and possible playoff run. 

Manning's arm has never been his calling card. He's used his mind and pinpoint accuracy to become one of the greatest quarterbacks in history, but there's a fine line between having enough arm strength to be great and suddenly looking like Chad Pennington. 

All will be right with the world in September if Manning is throwing four touchdowns in a game, but the story of Denver in 2015 will be told in the final month. 

Pivotal Matchups

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

It's hard to single out a rivalry in the AFC West for Denver. In order for a rivalry to happen, a competition between two teams has to exist. The Broncos really have no competition in the division or at least haven't for a long time. 

Teams that have given Denver problems since 2012 are the ones usually competing for a Super Bowl. New England, Indianapolis and the Seattle Seahawks are the three obvious standouts, with the Patriots and Colts on the schedule this season. 

The Colts game will have some additional weight to it because it's possible that's the final time Manning plays a game in Indianapolis. He's already had one game at home against his former team that was emotional, but no one thought it could be his final season. 

When the two were set to meet in the playoffs last year, Manning told Andrew Mason of Broncos.com any emotion in the moment went away after his return to Indianapolis the previous year:

"We've kind of covered that, right?" Manning said. "I've been here with Denver three years. It's the third time we've played them. Obviously, last year, when we want back (to Indianapolis) to play, I understand that was kind of a unique story. But we played them in this regular season."

It will be interesting to see how Manning handles the return trip in 2015, not only because he built that franchise from 1998-2010, but due to the fact Indianapolis looks like a better team on paper than the one that knocked off Denver in January. 

The Colts bolstered their running attack with the addition of Frank Gore, got a reliable veteran wide receiver in Andre Johnson and hope to catch lightning in a bottle with Trent Cole on defense. Andrew Luck at quarterback is pretty good too. 

Jim Rogash/Getty Images

As many storylines as the Colts game could have, Denver is going to measure itself against New England. The Patriots are the defending Super Bowl champions and have knocked off the Broncos in the regular season three straight years. 

The Manning vs. Tom Brady storyline has always been fun to discuss because they are the two greatest quarterbacks of their generation, but Manning's real challenge has been figuring out Bill Belichick's defense.

This season certainly looks like a better opportunity for Denver to get over that hump because of all the losses New England endured on defense. 

Going into the 2015 season, the Broncos will have to figure out what their identity is with a new head coach and aging quarterback. The pieces are still in place for another AFC West title and deep playoff run, but the championship window is closing rapidly after a shaky end to last season.