First six weeks will determine Denver Broncos 2026 season
The first six games of the season will help shape the entire Denver Broncos season. If they can hold their own then the rest of the AFC will be in huge trouble.
DENVER, CO - DECEMBER 14: Bo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos celebrates after throwing a touchdown pass during the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Empower Field at Mile High on December 14, 2025 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) | Getty Images When the Denver Broncos 2026 schedule dropped yesterday, the first thing I noticed was the brutal look to their first six weeks. Playoff team after playoff team and prime time.
High pressure. Cinema. What the NFL wants every week, but for Denver every week.
I noted this slate of six games to start the season as the “ugly” part of their 2026 schedule and for good reason. Five playoff teams plus the Kansas City Chiefs. Week 1, 9/14: Broncos at Chiefs (MNF) Week 2, 9/20: Jaguars at Broncos Week 3, 9/27: Rams at Broncos (SNF) Week 4, 10/4: Broncos at 49ers Week 5, 10/11: Broncos at Chargers Week 6, 10/15: Seahawks at Broncos (TNF) The most winnable games here — if you can call them that — would be the Jacksonville Jaguars at home and the two AFC West division games.
Denver matches up well against the Chiefs, but the Los Angeles Chargers match up well against Denver. And those are the more winnable games in my mind. The NFC West was the strongest division in football last year and you have to figure they’ll continue to be playoff-caliber teams in 2026.