DENVER — There’s just no getting away from Russell Wilson in 2024.
Not only are the Denver Broncos paying their former quarterback $37.79 million of his $39 million salary this year, they are playing against his former team in week 1 and the man himself with his new team in Week 2.
The Broncos will open their regular season, Sunday, Sept. 8, at Seattle’s Lumen Field, where Wilson spent the first 10 seasons of his career.
In the Broncos’ home opener the following week, they will host Wilson and the Pittsburgh Steelers. It is not, however, a primetime game as the game will kickoff at the usual 2:25 p.m. at Empower Field at Mile High.
Other highlights from the Broncos’ 2024 schedule:
— The Broncos are among the teams with the latest possible bye as it comes in Week 14. The challenge with such a late bye week is keeping the players fresh and healthy past the midway point of the season.
— 18 of the Broncos’ 20 games, counting the preseason, are played on Sunday. The exceptions are a Thursday Night game on Prime on Oct. 17 at New Orleans in the return of Broncos and former Saints’ head coach Sean Payton and so many of the Broncos’ former Saints players, and a Monday Night game Dec. 2 vs. Cleveland in the return to Denver for receiver Jerry Jeudy.
— On paper, the Broncos face two extremely difficult stretches. The first is back-to-back games at Baltimore on Nov. 3 and at Kansas City on Nov. 10. Those two teams met in the AFC Championship Game last season.
The second gauntlet is the final three games of the regular season when the Broncos play at the Los Angeles Chargers, at the Cincinnati Bengals and home against the Chiefs.
— For now, the games at the Saints and home against Jerry Jeudy’s Browns are the Broncos only primetime regular-season kickoffs. It’s possible later-season games can be flexed to primetime, including the final two at Cincinnati and home against the Chiefs, as those start times are listed as TBD.
— Three of the first four games are on the road including a week 4 contest at the New York Jets with offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
— Did you notice the preseason schedule? All three games are on Sunday. Usually they are played on Saturdays.
— The Broncos play the Indianapolis Colts twice this season – in the preseason opener at Indy and in week 15 of the regular season at Empower Field.
— With back-to-back games on the East Coast – at Tampa Bay in week 3 and at the Jets in week 4 – don’t be surprised if Payton has his team stay out East between games.
— Asked to frequently play on Christmas Day, Christmas Eve or day after Christmas in recent years, the Broncos don’t play on the holidays this year.
— Continuing with the annual rotation between conferences in an odd (17)-game schedule, the Broncos and AFC will play 8 regular-season games at home; 9 on the road. Two of the three preseason games are at home.
Denver Broncos 2024 preseason schedule
- Sunday, Aug. 11 at 11 a.m.
- at Indianapolis Colts - Lucas Oil Stadium
- KTVD-TV Channel 20
Most likely the first look at first-round quarterback Bo Nix for Broncos fans on KTVD.
- Sunday, Aug. 18 at 6 p.m.
- vs. Green Bay Packers - Empower Field at Mile High
- KUSA-TV 9NEWS
The Broncos rallied to beat Jordan Love and the Packers in week 7 last season in Denver. This could be a big game for the Broncos’ running back competition with rookies Audric Estime and Blake Watson joining incumbents Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine and Jaleel McLaughlin.
A national broadcast which is why the outstanding 9NEWS team featuring Steve Levy and Ryan Harris won’t be carrying the game.
- Sunday, Aug. 25 at 2:30 p.m.
- vs. Arizona Cardinals - Empower Field at Mile High
The Broncos' preseason finale will be played in Denver.
Denver Broncos 2024 regular season schedule
- Sunday, Sept. 8 at 2:05 p.m.
- at Seattle - Lumen Field
- CBS
Already dubbed The Dump Russ Bowl.
Wilson’s previous two teams square off in opener for second time in three seasons on Seahawks’ home turf. In 2022, Wilson wouldn’t get off the field on fourth-and-5 from the Seattle 46 with about a minute remaining as coach Nathaniel Hackett called for a 64-yard field goal attempt by Brandon McManus, creating a look of chaos. McManus eventually got his shot, missed, and Seattle won, 17-16.
- Sunday, Sept. 15 at 2:25 p.m.
- vs. Pittsburgh Steelers - Empower Field at Mile High
- CBS
When the Broncos played the 2022 opener at Seattle, where Wilson left in part because of irreconcilable differences with management, the crowd reaction was mixed. He did have impressive success there.
When Wilson returns to Denver, boos figure to reverberate. For $122 million, he posted an 11-19 record here.
- Sunday, Sept. 22 at 11 a.m.
- at Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Raymond James Stadium
- FOX
The Bucs behind quarterback Baker Mayfield, receiver Mike Evans and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. were a playoff team last year.
- Sunday, Sept. 29 at 11 a.m.
- at New York Jets - Metlife Stadium
- CBS
Wouldn’t bet on this becoming the Zach Wilson Bowl as the Broncos may be starting Nix by this game. But you never know.
The Broncos may stay in North Carolina or somewhere out East in the week between their games at Tampa Bay and at New Jersey.
- Sunday, Oct. 6 at 2:05 p.m.
- vs. Las Vegas Raiders - Empower Field at Mile High
- FOX
This is the Broncos’ first chance to snap their losing streak, now at 8 games, against the Raiders.
- Sunday, Oct. 13 at 2:05 p.m.
- vs. Los Angeles Chargers - Empower Field at Mile High
- CBS
The Chargers were the one team in the AFC West they could consistently handle. But now the Chargers have Jim Harbaugh as their head coach.
- Thursday, Oct. 17 at 6:15 p.m.
- at New Orleans Saints - Caesars Superdome
- Prime Video
The Superdome figures to be electric as they welcome back Sean Payton. He’s much bigger there than he is in Denver, at least so far. New Orleans had just seven winning seasons and one playoff win in their first 39 years pre-Payton. After he took over in 2006, the Saints had 10 winning records, 9 playoff wins and a Super Bowl championship in Payton’s 15 seasons.
It will also be a return for former Saints-turned-Broncos players like Adam Trautman, Wil Lutz, Michael Burton, Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Malcolm Roach.
- Sunday, Oct. 27 at 2:25 p.m.
- vs. Carolina Panthers - Empower Field at Mile High
- CBS
It will mark the return of Josey Jewell, a six-year starting inside linebacker for the Broncos, and Ejiro Evero, Denver’s fine defensive coordinator during the Hackett season of 2022.
The game should also feature a Young Gun matchup of first-round quarterbacks Bryce Young and Nix.
- Sunday, Nov. 3 at 11 a.m.
- at Baltimore Ravens - M&T Bank Stadium
- CBS
The Ravens are perennial playoff contenders and boast two-time MVP Lamar Jackson.
- Sunday, Nov. 10 at 11 a.m.
- at Kansas City Chiefs - GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
- CBS
While the Broncos snapped their overall losing streak of 16 games against the Chiefs last year, they still have lost eight in a row at Arrowhead. Going up against Lamar and Patrick Mahomes II in back-to-back weeks may leave Denver defensive coordinator Vance Joseph sleep deprived.
- Sunday, Nov. 17 at 2:05 p.m.
- vs. Atlanta Falcons - Empower Field at Mile High
- FOX
Whether it’s Kirk Cousins or Michael Penix Jr., the Falcons will bring plenty of offensive firepower to Denver.
- Sunday, Nov. 24 at 2:05 p.m.
- at Las Vegas Raiders - Allegiant Stadium
- CBS
Whether the Raiders’ quarterback is Gardner Minshew or Aidan O’Connell, each has had success against the Broncos. Maxx Crosby has 13.5 sacks in 10 games against the Broncos, more than against any other opponent.
- Monday, Dec. 2 at 6:15 p.m.
- vs. Cleveland Browns - Empower Field at Mile High
- ESPN
The return of receiver Jerry Jeudy who will be motivated to show the Broncos and their fans what he can do with Deshaun Watson as his quarterback.
- BYE WEEK: Week 14
The schedule makers did not do the Broncos any favors here. Not only is this the Broncos’ latest bye week since 2001 (Week 15 bye, Dec. 23), and tied for the latest bye in the NFL in 2024, it’s also a short bye week. The Broncos head into their bye week coming off a Monday night game.
- Sunday, Dec. 15 at 2:25 p.m.
- vs. Indianapolis Colts - Empower Field at Mile High
- CBS
Came down to a win-and-in final game against the Houston Texans last season. The Colts lost and finished out of the postseason with a respectable 9-8 record. They’re counting on 2023 first-round quarterback Anthony Richardson to return healthy. If not, Joe Flacco will be ready.
- Sunday, Dec. 22 at 2:05 p.m.
- at Los Angeles Chargers - SoFi Stadium
- FOX
Justin Herbert may be an elite NFL quarterback but he is just 3-4 in his four seasons against the Broncos.
- Saturday, Dec. 28 or Sunday, Dec. 29
- at Cincinnati Bengals - Paycor Stadium
Even with terrific quarterback Joe Burrow missing much of last season with injuries, the Bengals were a gritty 9-8.
- Saturday, Jan. 4 or Sunday, Jan. 5
- vs. Kansas City Chiefs - Empower Field at Mile High
The Broncos finally beat the Chiefs in Denver last Oct. 29 thanks to five takeaways when neither Mahomes nor Travis Kelce had their best games. The Chiefs didn’t look like they were on their way to winning their third Super Bowl in five years after this game, but they pulled it together.
It's like they say: It’s not always who you play, but when you play ‘em.
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