The full 2025 Denver Broncos schedule was released on Wednesday night, and the road map to the fall and winter is finally here.
Coming off a 10-7 season in which the Broncos made the playoffs for the first time since 2015, expectations are high. There’s real belief that one day, hopefully soon, head coach Sean Payton and QB Bo Nix can help lead Denver to its fourth Lombardi Trophy.
And it doesn’t hurt that a great defense from a year ago became even more loaded this offseason through free agency and the NFL Draft. Now, it’s about stacking wins, making the postseason again and seeing just how far the Broncos can go.
With that said, let’s dive into Denver’s five most intriguing games and the juiciest storylines from each as we start to prepare for the regular season.
No. 5: Week 7 vs. Giants (Sunday, 2:05 p.m. MT, CBS)
Russell Wilson will be back in Denver playing against a Broncos fanbase he tortured for two seasons. We think. That was supposed to happen last year with the Steelers, until Wilson got hurt in training camp and it was Justin Fields at QB for Pittsburgh. Wilson will likely get booed by the fans at Empower Field at Mile High — loudly — even though he departed before last season. And you know Payton wants revenge on a quarterback he never liked. The Giants will stink, but this is still a game to circle.
No. 4: Week 13 at Commanders (Sunday, 6:20 p.m. MT, NBC)
Right now, the only QB from the 2024 draft that’s better than Nix is Jayden Daniels. He led Washington to the NFC Championship game a season ago and also took home Offensive Rookie of the year, ahead of Nix amongst other guys. This could be a Super Bowl preview in the next five years, and it will be a big test on the road for the Broncos late in the season. Both teams will have their eyes on the playoffs, perhaps even a great seed, and this showdown will likely be a critical one.
No. 3: Week 4 vs. Bengals (Monday, 6:15 p.m. MT, ESPN)
Last year, the Broncos and Bengals played a classic game. Nix found Marvin Mims Jr. for a touchdown in the closing seconds on fourth-down. After Nix held up two fingers to go for a two-point conversion and the win, Denver somehow changed its mind and went for an extra point. That was a mistake, as they couldn’t move the football in OT and eventually Joe Burrow, Tee Higgins and Cincinnati earned a big victory. Under the bright lights early in the season? You can bet the whole NFL world will be watching this enticing rematch.
No. 2: Week 5 at Eagles (Sunday, 1:00 p.m. MT, CBS)
To be a champ, you’ve got to beat the champs. Sure, a trophy won’t be on the line this game, but it’ll be a great test against Philadelphia to see where they stack up against one of the best teams in the league. We all know what the Eagles did to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl last year, so will the Broncos be up for a competitive contest, or get blown out like their AFC West rivals? This should give us a great idea of just where Denver stacks up. And if we can start dreaming of a parade in February of 2026.
No. 1: Week 17 at Chiefs (Thursday, 6:15 p.m. MT, Prime Video)
Christmas at Arrowhead Stadium. What could go wrong? The division might very well be at stake when Denver and Kansas City do battle. Everyone remembers how this game, on the road, went last year for the Broncos. They had a 35-yard field goal blocked at the buzzer after Nix led the offense down the field and had them in a golden position to win the game. And let’s say both teams are 11-4 at this juncture of the season. Silly mistakes can’t happen with a possible AFC West crown there for the taking. Circle this one right now — it’s almost certainly going to be massive.