Should Broncos fans be upset or optimistic over team's 2026 schedule?

Should Broncos fans be upset or optimistic over team's 2026 schedule? originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .

Now that fans have had a couple of days to digest the schedule for the Denver Broncos in 2026, how are ya feeling? At first glance, the schedule seems brutal right out of the gate for the defending AFC West champions. The Broncos are playing a first-place schedule while also dealing with the fact that they go against the strong NFC West this coming season.

The first six games are rough. The team opens on the road against a Kansas City Chiefs team that will be loaded with motivation. They face the Jacksonville Jaguars , who beat them last season in Denver, in Week 2, before hosting the Los Angeles Rams .

Following that, the Broncos have back-to-back road games against the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Chargers before returning home to host the defending champion Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football . Yikes. One would think that the Broncos have one of the most difficult schedules in the league.