Broncos Analyst Maps 18-Week 2026 Schedule Ahead of May 14 Reveal

10 articles · Updated · DenverBroncos.com · May 11

May 14 at 5:30 p.m. MT is when Denver will unveil its full 2026 schedule, but a team analyst projected an 18-week slate starting Sept. 13 at the Raiders and ending Jan. 10 against the Chiefs.
Four prime-time games anchor the prediction: Rams on Sept. 28, Bills on Oct. 18, Chiefs on Nov. 2 and Patriots on Dec. 6, plus a Thursday night home game against Seattle on Dec. 24.
Week 7 is projected as Denver's bye, with the toughest stretch coming late — three road games in four weeks before a final three-game run of Seahawks, Chargers and Chiefs.
The Broncos already know their home and road opponents, including home dates with Buffalo, Miami and all three AFC West rivals and trips to New England, San Francisco and Pittsburgh.
The projection is explicitly speculative — the analyst noted he correctly guessed only 2 of 17 games last year — and is meant as a preview before the official release.

With a top AFC seed in 2025, is Denver's predicted 2026 schedule an easy path back to the playoffs?

Will five predicted primetime games push the recently successful Broncos over their 9.5-game betting line?

How will the Raiders' rookie QB, the first overall draft pick, handle his predicted Week 1 debut against Denver?