Broncos 2025 schedule analysis: Circle the date, easiest, toughest stretches

Circle the date: Sept. 29 vs. Cincinnati Bengals (Week 4)| Last season, the Broncos lost to the Bengals 30-24 in overtime on the road in Week 17. Denver will aim to get revenge in the rematch at home on "Monday Night Football." 

One key reason Denver couldn't beat the Bengals was its inability to stop wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase when cornerback Patrick Surtain II wasn't covering him. 

According to Next Gen Stats, Surtain shadowed Chase on 43 of 56 coverage snaps, allowing just three receptions for 27 yards on six targets (h/t ESPN's Ben Solak). However, Chase finished with nine receptions for 102 yards. 

With pick No. 20 in the 2025 NFL Draft, Denver selected Texas' Jahdae Barron, who won the 2024 Jim Thorpe Award as college football's best defensive back. Monitor whether he helps the Broncos shut down Chase. 

Toughest stretch: Weeks 3-6 | This early stretch could reveal whether the Broncos are a contender or a pretender. 

In a Week 3 road game, they will face the Los Angeles Chargers, who swept Denver last season. L.A. upgraded its backfield this offseason, signing running back Najee Harris (one year, $5.25M) in free agency and taking North Carolina RB Omarion Hampton (pick No. 22) in the draft.

Harris rushed for 1,043 yards in 17 games with the Pittsburgh Steelers last season, while Hampton ran for 1,660 yards in his final season with the Tar Heels.

After the home matchup versus the Bengals, the Broncos will face the Philadelphia Eagles — the reigning Super Bowl champions — on the road. 

Although the New York Jets went 5-12 last season, Denver shouldn't overlook them in their Week 6 matchup in London. Jets WR Garrett Wilson — who had 1,104 receiving yards in 17 games last season — could test Denver's secondary. 

Easiest stretch: Weeks 7-10 | If the Broncos struggle during Weeks 3-6, they might rebound during a much easier stretch. 

In Week 7, they host the New York Giants, who went 3-14 in 2024 and missed the playoffs for a second consecutive season. New York QB Russell Wilson may struggle if he starts in Denver for the first time since the Broncos released him in March 2024. Over his past three seasons with the Broncos and Steelers, he has a 17-24 regular-season starting record. 

The following week, the Broncos will host the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys recently traded for former Steelers WR George Pickens, but that move may not solve Dallas' problems. The Cowboys went 7-10 last season. More importantly, rookie HC Brian Schottenheimer is unproven. 

In Weeks 9 and 10, the Broncos will play the Houston Texans on the road and the Las Vegas Raiders at home. Both team have offensive line issues. Last season, Houston tied for third in the league in sacks allowed (54). Vegas, meanwhile, tied for seventh in sacks allowed (50). Denver's pass-rush should give it an edge in both matchups, as it had a league-leading 63 sacks last season. 

Main takeaway: The NFL thinks the Broncos could be an up-and-coming team | Broncos QB Bo Nix shattered expectations during his rookie season. He had the league's sixth-most touchdown passes (29 in 17 games) and carried Denver to the playoffs for the first time since the 2015 season. 

If Nix vaults to the next level, the Broncos could be a team to watch in the AFC. Thus, the league wants to feature them in bigger matchups. Denver has four prime-time games scheduled this season.