Denver Broncos 2010 Schedule

One of my favorite days on the NFL calendar is the release of the NFL schedule. It used to not get a lot of attention, so that is why I loved when the schedule came out. Now the schedule release gets a huge amount of attention with two hour specials from NFL Network and ESPN. I don't look at the schedule and go through it picking out each game's wins or losses. It is impossible to tell how each team is going to be in 2010, so to try and predict which games your team is going to win or loss is pointless. I love to try and analyze why the NFL put certain games in certain spots. The things I look for, especially when analyzing the Broncos' schedule, is primetime games, road trips, and when we play certain teams on our schedule. Yes, you need the schedule to break right sometimes to help you get on a run and into the playoffs, but we will not be sure of how the teams are playing at that time until you get there.

Denver's schedule opens up on the road at Jacksonville. For the sixth straight year, Denver opens on the road, but it will be at the less than intimidating Jackonsville Municipal Stadium. Not a bad opener for the Broncos. The Broncos get their home opener vs. Seattle in Week 2. Once again, the Broncos get a chance to get off to a 2-0 start. The Broncos host the Colts in Week 3. Unfortunately, the Broncos get Peyton Manning and the Colts early in the season instead of at the end of the year. Got to get off to a 2-0 start before the Colts game. Week 4 sends Denver to Tennessee for a tough road game. Denver goes to Baltimore in Week 5. The Broncos never win in Baltimore. The Broncos come back home and host the Jets in Week 6. The Broncos host Oakland in Week 7, and then they travel to London to take on San Francisco in Week 8. Denver gets the bye week in Week 9, and they start the second half of their season with hosting Kansas City. Week 11 sends the Broncos to San Diego for their only Monday Night Football appearance. Week 12 pits Denver at home vs. St. Louis. Denver goes on the road to KC in Week 13. The Broncos travel to Arizona in Week 14, and they head to Oakland in Week 15. The Broncos finish at home vs. Houston in Week 16, and Denver hosts the Chargers at home in Week 17.

Quick Hits on the Broncos' schedule:
-Starting on the road at Jacksonville and hosting Seattle in Week 2 has to give Denver a 2-0 start.
-Why not let the Broncos host the doubleheader of the MNF opener? Why give the game to Kansas City and give it a 9:15 pm start local time in KC? That made no sense.
-Their toughest stretch of the season starts in Week 3 and ends in Week 6. The four game stretch includes: home vs. Indy, at Tennessee, at Baltimore, home vs. Jets. Those are four really tough games for Denver. They have to be at least 2-0 going into the Indy game, and they have to be at least 3-2 going into the Jets game.
-Going to London should be interesting. I wonder how Denver will play in what is a neutral site game overseas, eventhough it is considered a SF home game.
-I love that the bye week is in the middle of the season.
-If Denver is 5-3 headed into their bye, then they are in good shape to make a run for the playoffs.
-The Broncos come out of the bye with home vs. KC, at SD, and home vs. St. Louis. They need to get 2 out of these 3 games. That would put them at 7-4.
-Although they play 3 straight road games (at KC, at Arizona, at Oak) for the first time since 1997. The KC game will be tough because Arrowhead always gives Denver fits, but they are getting Arizona at the right time. Arizona might be having a down year and that stadium could be a ghost town if the Cards are playing out the string. Also, the Broncos usually play well at Oakland every year. If they can get 2 out of those 3, then they are really in striking position for the playoffs.
-Denver finishes with Houston and San Diego at home. Obviously, both teams look good on paper, but who knows how Houston will fare in 2010. They have yet to prove in Gary Kubiak/Matt Schaub Era that they can win a big game late in the year. San Diego could have things locked up, but it could also be a chance that this game could mean a lot for both teams.