Denver Broncos: Breaking Down 5 Toughest, 5 Easiest Games on 2015 Schedule
The 2015 NFL schedules have been released, and speculation for the 2015 season is already under way. That's what the NFL does—it keeps its fans talking even in the offseason.
We'll do some of the same here, as we'll delve into the Denver Broncos' 2015 schedule and try to pick out which games they should roll in, as well as which matchups present problems.
For a look at the Broncos' full schedule, click here.
You may have gone through the schedule already and tried to determine what kind of record the Broncos are going to finish with. So, what are the possible roadblocks that stand in the way of a Super Bowl run? Which matchups should be considered easy wins?
Here, we give you the five games that the Broncos will have to perform very well to win, as well as the five games they should win with relative ease.
Toughest: At Detroit Lions, Week 3
1 of 10
Remember the last time these two teams played? The Detroit Lions marched into Denver and dominated the Broncos, winning 45-10. In fact, the last two times these teams have met, Detroit has outscored Denver 89-17.
That's ugly.
These teams don't meet often, and the Lions won't have Ndamukong Suh or Nick Fairley on the defensive line. That should make a significant difference.
Still, the Denver defense will be challenged with shutting down the high-octane Detroit offense, led by quarterback Matthew Stafford, on the turf of Ford Field in Detroit.
With it being an early-season meeting in Week 3, both teams should come in relatively healthy. The Broncos will get all they can handle in this game.
Prediction: Broncos 27, Lions 24
Easiest: Vs. Minnesota Vikings, Week 4
2 of 10
This is the type of matchup the Broncos should really be able to capitalize on.
The Minnesota Vikings are another team Denver doesn't face often, but they are a young squad still learning how to win—particularly on the road.
It remains to be seen whether Adrian Peterson plays in Minnesota this season, but even if he does, the Broncos shouldn't have much trouble here.
Minnesota has not won a game against the Broncos since October 2003. That is a trend that will continue in Week 4 as the Broncos cruise to victory.
Prediction: Broncos 31, Vikings 10
Toughest: Vs. Green Bay Packers, Week 8
3 of 10
The Green Bay Packers are going to be tough for any team to deal with in 2015. They will be hungry for a trip to the Super Bowl after the way things ended last season.
For the Broncos, they will have to find a way to contain perhaps the best offense in the league, led by reigning NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers.
Looking at the schedule, both teams will be coming off bye weeks for this matchup on Sunday Night Football in Week 8. That means both teams will be rested and ready to put on a show.
Don't expect to see a lot of defense in this one, as Sports Authority Field at Mile High will likely be the site of one of the biggest shootouts of the 2015 season.
Denver gets the nod only because it has home-field advantage.
Prediction: Broncos 38, Packers 35
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Easiest: At Oakland Raiders, Week 5
4 of 10
Will the Oakland Raiders ever find a way to defeat the Broncos? It certainly doesn't seem that way when watching this rivalry over the last few seasons.
The Broncos have taken the last seven meetings against the Raiders, and with Peyton Manning at quarterback, the Broncos are 6-0 against them. The closest game in that span was a 13-point Denver victory.
Oakland now has former Denver defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio as its head coach, making the two games they play against each other this season much more interesting.
But the Raiders don't have enough weapons around second-year quarterback Derek Carr to make this one all that close.
Prediction: Broncos 30, Raiders 16
Toughest: At Indianapolis Colts, Week 9
5 of 10
One team that has found a way to get the best of the Broncos during the Manning era has been the Indianapolis Colts. In the three meetings between the teams since Andrew Luck was drafted by the Colts, Luck has arguably outplayed Manning.
Though the Broncos opened the 2014 season with a win over the Colts, we all remember how the season ended in the playoffs when the Colts defeated the Broncos with relative ease in the divisional round.
The Colts were one game away from the Super Bowl, and they have done nothing to slow down an attempt to get there this season. Frank Gore, Andre Johnson and Trent Cole joined what was already a solid roster this offseason.
This will be a tough game, especially coming off what could be a dogfight against Green Bay the week before.
Prediction: Colts 24, Broncos 20
Easiest: At Cleveland Browns, Week 6
6 of 10
This may very well be the easiest game on Denver's schedule. The Cleveland Browns are a team that can't get out of its own way.
The Broncos will have to travel to Cleveland for this matchup, but that shouldn't pose too much of a problem. Denver is just a far superior team.
The best part of this is that the Browns represent the third opponent in a three-game swing that includes game against the Vikings and Raiders. In other words, the Broncos could get on a roll heading into the bye week.
Prediction: Broncos 31, Browns 13
Toughest: Vs. New England Patriots, Week 12
7 of 10
In Week 12, the Broncos will welcome the defending Super Bowl champions to town. The New England Patriots are a team that the Broncos have struggled with in recent years, dropping five of the last six matchups.
This game could provide a true barometer to just how good the Broncos will be in 2015, since both of these teams could very likely figure into the race for the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
The difference between this game and many recent meetings is the fact that it will take place in Denver. These two teams have not played a regular season game in Denver since December 2011.
That has to be very refreshing for Denver fans, who will likely show up in droves to help ensure the Broncos win this critical game.
While all the talk will center around Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady, there are several players on both sides of the ball who will need to have big games in order for the Broncos to emerge victorious.
Prediction: Broncos 24, Patriots 23
Easiest: At Chicago Bears, Week 11
8 of 10
There will be a lot of hype surrounding this game, as former Denver head coach John Fox and former first-round pick Jay Cutler will get their crack at facing their former team.
But the talk won't translate into a good matchup because the Chicago Bears just aren't a very good team. Besides, the Broncos will have just as much motivation to deal a crushing defeat to Fox and Cutler.
The game will take place at Soldier Field in November, so there could be some tough weather to deal with. That could favor the Bears, but the Broncos should still be able to pick up a hard-fought victory.
Prediction: Broncos 23, Bears 14
Toughest: At Pittsburgh Steelers, Week 15
9 of 10
Going to Pittsburgh in December is never an easy task, and this game could carry serious playoff implications.
Behind Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le'Veon Bell, the Pittsburgh Steelers have developed one of the most prolific offenses in the NFL.
Denver has won four of the last five meetings between the teams, but coming up with a victory in this game will be difficult.
Pittsburgh went 6-2 at home last season, and the two games it lost were each by a field goal. That included a 51-34 thumping of the Colts.
Manning will have his work cut out for him in this one, but the defense will have to come up big if Denver is going to win this game.
Prediction: Steelers 27, Broncos 24
Easiest: Vs. Oakland Raiders, Week 14
10 of 10
The Raiders make this list twice for the simple fact that the Broncos have owned them in recent years. With this game being played in Denver, it won't be close. Or at least, it shouldn't be.
The Raiders will likely limp into Week 14 with three or four wins on the season, just looking for something to build on. Denver will be a team ready to make a deep playoff run.
The Raiders will do their best to keep it respectable, but Denver will make it nine in a row over its archrivals with a blowout victory.
Prediction: Broncos 41, Raiders 17
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
