NFL Schedule Release: 5 most difficult games on Broncos' 2026 slate

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May 15, 2026 - 01:03

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NFL Schedule Release: 5 most difficult games on Broncos' 2026 slate originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The NFL has released the full schedule for the 2026 NFL season and fans are now able to start making preparations for which games to attend this season as well as predictions for how the season could shake out.

After winning the AFC West last season, the Broncos will now have to play a first-place schedule this year. While they remain one of the top favorites to reach the Super Bowl, it will not be an easy road.

Looking at the full schedule for the Broncos, these will be the team's five most difficult games in 2026.

Denver Broncos' 5 most difficult games in 2026

Week 1 at Kansas City

It was leaked a bit early that the Broncos would open the season on Monday Night Football against the hated Kansas City Chiefs. I discussed this game at length and for those reasons, the Broncos are facing one of the most difficult challenges they could have asked for to open the season.

It remains to be seen if Kansas City will have Patrick Mahomes for this game, as he is coming off a torn ACL, but we're going to assume that they will. After being humbled in a major way last season, Mahomes, Andy Reid and the Chiefs' franchise will be more motivated than ever to prove that their dynasty is not close to being done.

Week 2 vs. Jacksonville

After having to deal with playing at Arrowhead, the Broncos return home to face a Jacksonville team that beat them in Denver by 14 points last season. Jacksonville will be eager to prove that it was no fluke.

Week 3 vs. Los Angeles Rams

Can you sense a theme here? The Broncos have been given an incredibly difficult start to the season and it doesn't get much easier after this game with back-to-back road games against the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Chargers.

The Rams are expected to be one of the best teams in the league this coming season after coming about as close as the Broncos did to making the Super Bowl last year. Throw in the fact that this will be under the bright lights of Sunday Night Football and the Broncos will be greatly challenged.

Denver Broncos announce 2026 schedule: First six games are as tough as it gets | https://t.co/hx2N6FDsWd https://t.co/EZFfUzlRAM— MikeKlis9NEWS (@mikeklis9news) May 14, 2026

Week 6 vs. Seattle

The Broncos will host the defending Super Bowl champions in Week 6, but the fact that it's a home game is about the only positive thing to take from this matchup.

It will be played on Thursday Night Football, which will make for a short week after facing the Chargers on the road in what should be a tough, physical matchup, regardless of the result.

Week 16 vs. Buffalo

The Bills will likely still be seething nearly one year after losing to the Broncos in the divisional round of the playoffs. They'll get a chance to exact some revenge on Christmas Day.

SCHEDULE NEWS: Broncos Schedule: Team history in season openers vs. Chiefs, Monday Night Football

Any time you have to go against Josh Allen, it's a tough day. But this will be a late-season matchup with playoff implications likely on the line, so there will be a lot at stake in this game.