Denver Broncos Schedule 2011: New England, New York and Chicago Come to Town

The Denver Broncos really want the season to start on time. They will get their first taste of national television treatment against the Oakland Raiders on ESPN's Monday Night Football. The Broncos will likely not see national coverage again until they meet the New York Jets in week 11 on November 17th which figures to be a much more important game for the Jets than the Broncos. 

There is however reason for optimism as the Broncos are going to have the opportunity to get off to nice start to their season with two very winnable games before they get to measure themselves against the Green Bay Packers in week 4. The last thing the Broncos was to see is a lockout extend through the first three weeks and force them to start their 2011 campaign on the road at Lambeau Field. 

This schedule gets tougher as the season goes on and the Broncos will likely not have the talent and the depth nor experience to finish out the season very strong. However, this season will see improvement from the Broncos and based on the schedule laid out before them this writer believes that the Denver Broncos will go.... 

6-10

Week 1: Oakland Raiders

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OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 19: Darren McFadden #20 of the Oakland Raiders runs with the ball during their game against the Denver Broncos at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 19, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The Season opener finds the rivalry renewed and new coaches on each sideline. The emotion and energy of the event should give the Broncos a jolt but at the end of the day it looks like this; Hue Jackson inherited a team that should have won the AFC West last year and John Fox did not. One of these coaches is going to have their debut spoiled and unfortunately it will probably be Fox. Hue Jackson will find a way to get the consistency out of the Raiders that Tom Cable couldn't and it will begin immediately.

BRONCOS LOSE

Season Record: 0-1

Week 2: Cincinnati Bengals

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CINCINNATI - DECEMBER 26: Cedric Benson #32 of the Cincinnati Bengals runs with the ball during the NFL game against the San Diego Chargers at Paul Brown Stadium on December 26, 2010 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bengals 34-20. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Ima

If there is another franchise on the verge of falling into utter chaos like the Broncos seemed to be, then the Bengals are that team. It will be a huge benefit if Carson Palmer does not come back because then the Broncos will be facing a new quarterback in a new system early on and that is always favorable. Bronco faithful will not have to wait long for their first win under John Fox as they should outlast the listless Bengals.

BRONCOS WIN

Season Record: 1-1

Week 3: at Tennessee Titans

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INDIANAPOLIS - JANUARY 02: Chris Johnson #28 of the Tennessee Titans runs for a touchdown during NFL game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

The Broncos will head to Nashville for their first road game of the season and again will catch a team that seems to be moving down the NFL food chain. The Titans like the new coach that they have because he is familiar with the team and is not starting from scratch, but there are a lot of holes in Tennessee and with the Broncos coming off a victory they should be able to keep the non-existant Tennessee passing attack at bay and focus all their energy on Chris Johnson.

BRONCOS WIN

Season Record: 2-1

Week 4: at Green Bay Packers

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ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: Ryan Pickett #79, Matt Wilhelm #57, Aaron Rodgers #12 and T.J. Lang #70 of the Green Bay Packers runs out of the tunnel to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers during Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arling

The only good thing about this trip is that it shouldn't be too cold in Green Bay in week 4 but that has no impact on the outcome of this game. The defending Super Bowl Champions will be anxious to get home and face the Broncos after having to go against the Saints and Bears prior to that. The Broncos are completely overmatched on both sides of the ball here and just have to hope to escape without major injury.

BRONCOS LOSE

Season Record: 2-2 

Week 5: San Diego Chargers

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DENVER - JANUARY 02: Running back Ryan Mathews #24 of the San Diego Chargers steps into the endzone as he rushes for a 31 yard touchdown on fourth down and one yard to go in the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos at INVESCO Field at Mile High on J

This gets said every year but I will say it again, it doesn’t seem like the Chargers get any better in the offseason and the same is true here. The Chargers may find themselves at 2-2 just like the Broncos and this could be a big swing game going into both teams bye weeks. This game more then others might spell out the rest of the Broncos season because the ability to stop the Chargers offense would bode very well for the rest of the season for the Broncos. It is very tempting to say that this is the year that the Chargers fall off the map completely and that may be true, but it won't be a loss to the Broncos this week that does it.

BRONCOS LOSE

Season Record 2-3

Week 7: at Miami Dolphins

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OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 28: Yeremiah Bell #37, Quentin Moses #93, Randy Starks #94, Channing Crowder #52 and Paul Soliai #96 of the Miami Dolphins get ready for a play against the Oakland Raiders at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on November 28, 2010 in O

Traveling to Miami is always made easier when it comes after a bye week so the Broncos do have rest on their side. Compare that to the Dolphins who will be licking their wounds from a beating handed to them by the Jets the week before and you may have the recipe for a win. Consider also that the Broncos will match the Dolphins ball control if John Fox sticks to the running game and assume that Champ Bailey will relish the opportunity lock down Brandon Marshall and I think the Broncos are celebrating on the way back from South Beach.

BRONCOS WIN

Season Record: 3-3

Week 8: Detroit Lions

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MIAMI - DECEMBER 26: Coach Jim Schwartz of the Detroit Lions celebrates a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium on December 26, 2010 in Miami, Florida. The Lions defeated the Dolphins 34-27. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

The early season continues to be kind to the Broncos with the Detroit Lions coming to town in week 8. This isn't a trap game because everyone knows that the Lions can be very dangerous and competitive when they boast a healthy roster. This game will hinge on whether or not Matt Stafford is still healthy and in a rhythm with the Lions offense. The Broncos can win this game if the running game is able to keep Ndamakong Suh at bay and allow Denver to pass, but former Bronco Alphonso Smith will be patrolling the backfield eager to make his former team pay. Still, the Broncos will know that the season will not bear many more opportunities to score wins and they use the home field advantage to take this game from Detroit.

BRONCOS WIN

Season Record: 4-3

Week 9: at Oakland Raiders

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OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 19: Tommy Kelly #93 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates after the Raiders scored a safety during their game against the Denver Broncos at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 19, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Sh

The Raiders will be ready and waiting in the Black Hole coming off their bye week. This is trouble again for the Broncos against their division foe. The Broncos will be in the middle of a promising start to the season considering where they have come from but the Raiders will be on their way to possibly sweeping the AFC West once again. The Broncos will be a casualty of the resurgence of Oakland as one of the toughest home field advantages in the league.

BRONCOS LOSE

Season Record: 4-4

Week 10: at Kansas City Chiefs

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KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 09: A general view of the stadium as the fans observe the national anthem as the Baltimore Ravens prepare to face the Kansas City Chiefs during their 2011 AFC wild card playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 9, 2011 in Kan

Why not follow up a tough road game with another? Arrowhead Stadium has been a house of horrors for the Broncos and their first matchup against the Chiefs in 2011 will be a crucial game for the Chiefs to keep pace with the Raiders. The Broncos don't have anything on the roster to combat the speed and athleticism of the Chiefs and that makes it hard to compete in Kansas City ion November.

BRONCOS LOSE

Season Record: 4-5

Week 11: New York Jets

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 23: Head coach Rex Ryan of the New York Jets reacts against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2011 AFC Championship game at Heinz Field on January 23, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Denver will be the center of the NFL universe on Thursday Night Football against the Jets but it probably won't be pretty. Either the Jets are riding high after a victory over the Patriots the week before and take it to the Broncos, or they are angry after a loss to the Patriots the week before and are looking to get back on track. Despite a good effort against the Jets last year the Broncos will be losing steam as the Jets look to gain steam and head towards the home stretch.

BRONCOS LOSE

Season Record: 4-5

Week 12: at San Diego Chargers

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DENVER, CO - JANUARY 2: Quarterback Philip Rivers #17 of the San Diego Chargers leads teammates center Scott Mruczkowski #63 and quarterback Billy Volek #7 out of the tunnel before a game against the Denver Broncos at INVESCO Field at Mile High on Januar

If this were any other year the Chargers would be coming back from the brink and playing great football to get themselves back into the playoff picture. This year might be a lot the same and Philip Rivers will be looking to keep his playoff hopes alive as the Broncos arrive in San Diego. The Broncos will sadly fall victim to the late season push that the Chargers are notorious for because they simply can't throw enough looks at Philip Rivers on defense to fool him, or at least fool him enough.

BRONCOS LOSE

Season Record: 4-7

Week 13: at Minnesota Vikings

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 28: Adrian Peterson #28 of the Minnesota Vikings runs against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 26, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

The Broncos will head into the Twin Cities reeling a little bit from a tough stretch in their schedule but they should find a rudderless team that will most likely be at the bottom of the NFC North. Leslie Frazier will be doing the best that he can but the mess left behind by No. 4 won't be cleaned up this season and that defense is not getting any younger. Much like the Titans game, the Broncos can focus on stopping Peterson due to a lack of a solid passing game and that should help them find a bright spot near the end of the season.

BRONCOS WIN

Season Record: 5-7

Week 14: Chicago Bears

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 23: Quarterback Jay Cutler #6 of the Chicago Bears reacts in the second quarter against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field on January 23, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty I

This is the day that angry Bronco fans will have circled for the whole season. The chance to take it to Jay Cutler. The Bears could be coming into the game in a precarious position, probably hanging on the edge of the playoff picture. There will no doubt be a lot of energy being fed to the team buy the fans and everyone knows that the wheels can fall off quickly for Cutler if things go wrong and he hears a lot of boos. However, the whole Bears team will be there and that means a defense that will most likely be used to bailing out their QB at that point in the season. It may be close but the Bears will prevail.

BRONCOS LOSE

Season Record: 5-8

Week 15: New England Patriots

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 16: Quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots throws a pass during their 2011 AFC divisional playoff game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on January 16, 2011 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Al Bello/G

Facing the Patriots late in the season when home field advantage may be on the line for them? That sounds like a loss for sure. The situation is made worse when you figure that their defense is almost a full season older and more experienced. Despite being at home the Broncos probably will fall victim to another AFC East teams march to the playoffs.

BRONCOS LOSE

Season Record: 5-9

Week 16: at Buffalo Bills

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MIAMI - DECEMBER 19: Running Back C.J. Spiller #21 of the Buffalo Bills runs against the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Miami, Florida.The Bills defeated the Dolphins 17-14. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)

The Broncos will yet again get a gift of a road game from the NFL when the head to up-state New York to face the Bills. Another team in a rebuilding process so it wouldn't be a surprise to see either team win here but the Broncos should have enough left in the tank to give the fans one more victory. Look for the Broncos to try and hammer the Bills defense with a ground attack in order to win this game and keep the ball out of the surprisingly potent Buffalo offensive attack.

BRONCOS WIN 

Season Record: 6-9

Week 17: Kansas City Chiefs

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KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 09: Quarterback Matt Cassel #7 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks to pass against the Baltimore Ravens as the Ravens defeated the Chiefs 30-7 in their 2011 AFC wild card playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 9, 2011 in Kansa

The Broncos will get a crack at ending their season at home with a win and possibly playing spoiler if the Raiders haven't run away with the division. The Chiefs will likely still be in the Wild Card hunt however and that should give them the extra motivation to take the game on the road from the improved 2011 Denver Broncos who will finish their season two games better then the last.

BRONCOS LOSE

Overall Season Record: 6-10