DENVER BRONCOS
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Denver
Broncos have spent the offseason trying to dig out from last
season's 5-11 finish, their worst showing since 2010 -- the year before John
Elway returned to the team as the top football decision-maker. They've
signed Case Keenum at
quarterback and believe he's just what they need.
But the roster, at least pre-draft, still looks too thin in
spots to compete for a playoff spot in the AFC West. History says the Broncos
should at least get back to .500 this time around. After all, they haven't had
back-to-back losing seasons since 1971-72.
Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 9 vs. Seattle
Seahawks, 4:25 p.m. ET
This is the Seahawks' first trip to Denver since 2010. They
have largely dismantled the Legion of Boom defense, having released Richard
Sherman, traded Michael
Bennett and Earl Thomas is
a no-show for the early portion of the team's voluntary offseason workouts. The
team is also regrouping some on offense, with three of their most productive
pass-catchers having departed in free agency. Record: 1-0
Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 16 vs. Oakland
Raiders, 4:25 p.m. ET
The Raiders created some of the biggest headlines of the
offseason when they signed Coach Jon Gruden to a 10-year deal to resurrect some
swagger. Wide receiver Jordy Nelson was
their most significant signing in free agency -- he'll turn 33 in May -- but
Gruden's quest for "grinders" leaves largely the same kind of roster
the Broncos faced last season. Record: 2-0
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 23 at Baltimore
Ravens, 1 p.m. ET
The Ravens have given quarterback Joe Flacco some
new targets in Michael
Crabtree and John Brown,
and some in the league believe the Ravens might have interest in adding Dez Bryant as
well. It will be a test for the Broncos' revamped secondary, with Bradley Roby in
an increased role and Tramaine
Brock having been signed. Record: 2-1
Week 4: Monday, Oct. 1 vs. Kansas City
Chiefs, 8:15 ET
Their playoff spot assured, the Chiefs sat most of their
regulars last New Year's Eve in Denver and still gave the Broncos their 11th
loss of the season. Patrick
Mahomes got his first start at quarterback in that game and is
now Andy Reid's permanent starting quarterback. Record: 2-2
Week 5: Sunday. Oct. 7 at New York Jets,
1 p.m. ET
The Jets are on the hunt for the quarterback of their future
in this draft, but at the moment they're still a rebuilding team trying to rise
from the ground up with a draft-centric approach. The Broncos have won three of
their last four road games against the Jets. Record: 3-2
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 14 vs. Los Angeles
Rams, 4:05 p.m. ET
Just start with former Broncos head coach/assistant Wade
Phillips calling the defensive plays for the Rams to go with former Broncos
captain Aqib Talib at
one of the starting cornerback spots after being traded last month. The Rams
were the big-splash team this offseason, having added Talib, Ndamukong Suhand Brandin Cooks in
recent weeks. Record: 3-3
Week 7: Thursday, Oct. 18 at Arizona
Cardinals, 8:20 p.m. ET
They have a new coach in Steve Wilks, a new quarterback
in Sam Bradford and
one of the team's foundation players -- wide receiver Larry
Fitzgerald -- back for his 15th season. The Cardinals have been
a frequent preseason opponent for the Broncos and are again this year, but the
Broncos haven't played a regular-season game in Arizona since 2010, or just
after Josh McDaniels had been fired as head coach. Record: 4-3
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 28 at Kansas City Chiefs, 1
p.m. ET
Last season's trip to Arrowhead was the real beginning of
the spinning carousel that became the Broncos' quarterback depth chart. Trevor
Siemian threw three interceptions in the Broncos' loss that
night. Thus began the season of change, as the Broncos went through three
starters behind center -- twice -- in the games that followed. Record:
4-4
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 4 vs. Houston
Texans, 4:05 p.m. ET
The Broncos likely get a glimpse at one of the best young
combinations in the league in quarterback Deshaun
Watson and wide receiver DeAndre
Hopkins. Hopkins has already said he believes the two can be the
"best duo in the NFL." The Texans' last win in Denver was in 2012,
when Gary Kubiak was Houston's coach. Record: 5-4
Week 10: BYE
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 18 at Los Angeles
Chargers, 4:05 p.m.
The Broncos trip to the Chargers' temporary soccer stadium
home in '17 turned out to be an ugly -- yet historical -- one, as Denver was
shut out for the first time since 1992. It was the Chargers' first win in their
return to the Los Angeles area since 1960. Record: 5-5
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 25 vs. Pittsburgh
Steelers, 4:25 p.m.
This will likely be the best group of receivers the Broncos
face in Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Martavis
Bryant. If the Steelers find a way to clean up the offseason drama
with RB Le'Veon Bell, the Broncos' defense gets the sternest of tests.
The Broncos have won three of the last four meetings with the Steelers,
including two playoff wins. Record: 5-6
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 2 at Cincinnati
Bengals, 1 p.m. ET
Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green has
promised he will rebound from a "crummy" 2017 season. The team has
spent plenty of time on an overhaul of the offense, as Bill Lazor -- who was
moved into a play-calling role after Ken Zampese was fired two games into '17
-- gets an offseason to put in his playbook. The Broncos won in their last trip
to Paul Brown Stadium in 2016. Record: 6-6
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 9 at San Francisco
49ers, 4:05 p.m. ET
The Broncos get their first look at quarterback Jimmy
Garoppolo -- the 49ers' $137 million man -- leading a team that
also added Richard Sherman as former Broncos safety John Lynch works through
his second year as the 49ers' general manager. This is the Broncos' first
regular-season game against the 49ers in California since 2002 -- the 49ers
were the "home" team against the Broncos in London in 2010. Record:
6-7
Week 15: Saturday, Dec. 15 vs. Cleveland
Browns, 4:30 p.m. ET
The Broncos don't really know who two of the biggest names
they will face in this one are at the moment, as the Browns have the Nos. 1 and
4 overall picks in the draft. But Cleveland was aggressive in the offseason
after a combined 1-31 record over the past two seasons, adding wide
receiver Jarvis Landry and
quarterback Tyrod Taylor. Record:
7-7
Week 16: Monday, Dec. 24 at Oakland Raiders,
8:15 p.m. ET
Last season's trip to Oakland on Nov. 26 was supposed to be
the start of Paxton Lynch's
stretch run to show he could be an option for 2018. But he tossed a red zone
interception, injured his ankle and didn't start again until the season
finale. Record: 8-7
Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 30 vs. Los Angeles Chargers,
4:25 p.m. ET
The Chargers feel they are ready to be "the"
defense in the division, a title the Broncos have held for much of the past
five or so seasons. The Chargers look stout in front of quarterback Philip Rivers,
having added center Mike Pouncey.
The offense will again hinge on what Rivers has left in the tank. Record:
8-8
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
The most difficult portion of the Kansas City
Chiefs' schedule comes in the first six games, which includes four
on the road. The schedule eases considerably after that. The Chiefs will play
just one playoff team from 2017 over their final 10 games and finish with three
of their last four games at Arrowhead Stadium.
Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 9, at Los Angeles
Chargers, 4:05 p.m. ET
The Chiefs have won eight straight against the Chargers,
five times by double-digit margins. The streak continues, but just
barely. Record: 1-0.
Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 16, at Pittsburgh
Steelers, 1 p.m. ET
The Chiefs haven’t won in Pittsburgh since 1986. They won’t
be able to overcome all that bad history. Record: 1-1.
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 23, vs. San Francisco
49ers, 1 p.m. ET
Alex Smith was
the 49ers quarterback the last time they played in Kansas City, in 2010. Much
has changed since, but the result won’t. Record: 2-1.
Week 4: Monday, Oct. 1, at Denver
Broncos, 8:15 p.m. ET
The Chiefs have won three straight in Denver, but victory
came only on a field goal on the last play in each of the last two seasons.
It’s the Broncos’ turn on their home field. Record: 2-2.
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 7, vs. Jacksonville
Jaguars, 1 p.m. ET
The Jaguars almost beat the Chiefs at Arrowhead two years
ago, when they had a bad team. Jacksonville is no longer a joke. Record: 2-3.
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 14, at New England
Patriots, 8:20 p.m. ET
The Chiefs pulled out a win in a memorable game in New
England in prime time last year. It’s too much to ask for that to happen again. Record: 2-4.
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 21, vs. Cincinnati
Bengals, 1 p.m. ET
The Chiefs’ schedule eases considerably with the arrival of
this game. The Chiefs will take advantage. Record: 3-4.
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 28, vs. Denver Broncos, 1
p.m. ET
The last five games at Arrowhead between these teams have
been in prime time. The Chiefs will continue their modest winning streak in the
daylight. Record: 4-4.
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 4, at Cleveland
Browns, 1 p.m. ET
Browns GM John Dorsey, fired last year by the Chiefs, gets
to watch the quarterback he so boldly moved up to draft for Kansas City in
2017. He’ll wish Patrick
Mahomes II played for the Browns. Record: 5-4.
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 11, vs. Arizona
Cardinals, 1 p.m. ET
Sam Bradford is 1-0 at Arrowhead, but that win came in the
Big 12 championship game in 2008, when he played for Oklahoma. Things will be
different this time. Record: 6-4.
Week 11: Monday, Nov. 19, vs. Los Angeles
Rams (in Mexico City), 8:15 p.m. ET
Marcus Peters will
be motivated to beat the team that traded him. He might even attempt to make a
tackle or two. Record: 6-5.
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 2, at Oakland
Raiders, 4:05 p.m. ET
Jon Gruden lost his first three games against the Chiefs in
his previous time coaching the Raiders. He’ll get off to a similar start
against Kansas City this time. Record: 7-5.
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 9, vs. Baltimore
Ravens, 1 p.m. ET
Joe Flacco is
3-0 all-time against the Chiefs, with two wins coming at Arrowhead. But there’s
a first time for everything. Record: 8-5.
Week 15: Thursday, Dec. 13, vs. Los Angeles
Chargers, 8:20 p.m. ET
The Chiefs’ long winning streak against the Chargers comes
to an end, putting Kansas City’s playoff hopes in danger. Record: 8-6.
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 23, at Seattle
Seahawks, 8:20 p.m. ET
The teams played a classic, hard-fought game at Arrowhead
the last time they met, in 2014. Record: 8-7.
Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 30, vs. Oakland Raiders, 1
p.m. ET
The Chiefs get the win in their final game and a sweep of
the Raiders. But will that be enough to put them in the playoffs? Record: 9-7.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
COSTA MESA, Calif. – The Los Angeles
Chargers will be road warriors in 2018. According to ESPN Stats
& Information, the Chargers have to travel 30,797 miles round trip this
season, including a home game in London in Week 7 against the Tennessee
Titans.
Only the Oakland
Raiders (31,716) travel more miles than the Chargers. That said
the Chargers have the ninth-easiest strength of schedule in the NFL to start
the regular season at .480. In the Chargers' second season in Los Angeles,
Coach Anthony Lynn should have the advantage of continuity in a year of
transition for the rest of the AFC West.
“Missing out on that playoff tiebreaker left a sour taste in
everyone’s mouth, so schedule release day is pretty nice in that it helps us
lock in on the job at hand for 2018,” Lynn said. “You know for months who
you’re playing and where, but the 'when' brings everything that much more into
focus. Looking at the schedule, there’s no doubt we have our work cut out for
us. But I’m excited about this team and know we’ll be up for the challenge.”
Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 9, vs. Kansas City
Chiefs, 4:05 p.m.
Losers of eight straight against the Chiefs, the Chargers
will face second-year pro Patrick
Mahomes for the first time, as the Texas Tech product makes his
second career start. Chargers defensive coordinator Gus Bradley should have
some wrinkles in store. Record: 1-0.
Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 16, at Buffalo Bills,
1 p.m.
The Chargers intercepted Nathan
Peterman five times in the first half in a runaway win against
the Bills last season. Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram will
likely get a chance to chase around another inexperienced quarterback in the
team’s season opener, whether it’s AJ McCarron or
a rookie the Bills take in the draft. Record: 2-0.
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 23, at Los Angeles
Rams, 4:05 p.m.
The Chargers get an up-close look at their crosstown-rival
Rams and the dream team they constructed during the offseason. Should be a
tough game for the Bolts after traveling across the country a week earlier to
face a physical Buffalo squad. Record: 2-1.
Week 4: Sunday, Sept. 30, vs. San Francisco
49ers, 4:25 p.m.
The Chargers face quarterback Jimmy
Garoppolo for the first time and the StubHub Center should be
filled with 49ers fans. But I’ll take Philip Rivers and
his cast of playmakers against a young San Francisco defense. Record: 3-1.
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 7, vs. Oakland Raiders,
4:05 p.m.
The Chargers face Coach Jon Gruden for the first time since
his return to the NFL after a nine-year absence. Expect the Raiders, swept by
the Chargers last season, to struggle against their AFC West rivals as Gruden
works to change the culture in Oakland. Record: 4-1.
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 14, at Cleveland
Browns, 1 p.m.
The Browns should be much improved and actually played the
Chargers tough a year ago at the StubHub Center, so this game won’t be easy.
However, the Browns will struggle to score points. Record: 5-1.
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 21, vs. Tennessee Titans,
9:30 a.m.
The Titans are physical and do a great job creating a
diversity of runs led by athletic quarterback Marcus
Mariota, and the Chargers have to prove they are better at stopping
the run. Record: 5-2.
Week 8: Bye
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 4, at Seattle
Seahawks, 4:05 p.m.
The Chargers travel to Seattle to face the Seahawks for the
first time since 2010. The Bolts usually play the Seahawks tough, but could
struggle with the crowd noise and a resilient Seattle defense. Record: 5-3.
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 11, at Oakland Raiders,
4:05 p.m.
Gruden should have his Raiders rounding into shape by the
second half of the season, and the Chargers usually struggle to steal a win in
the Black Hole. Record: 5-4.
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 18, vs. Denver
Broncos, 4:05 p.m.
The Chargers will get their first look at Case Keenum as
signal-caller for the Broncos, who will have to do a better job of protecting
the quarterback to have a chance in this one. Record: 6-4.
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 25, vs. Arizona
Cardinals, 4:05 p.m.
Let go midway through last season by the Broncos, former
Chargers head coach Mike McCoy landed in Arizona as the Cardinals' offensive
coordinator. Will Sam Bradford still
be Arizona’s quarterback by this point of the season? Not sure it will
matter. Record: 7-4.
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 2, at Pittsburgh
Steelers, 1 p.m.
The Chargers travel to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers for
the first time since 2012. The Chargers are 2-8 against Pittsburgh over the
last 10 meetings. Record: 7-5.
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 9, vs Cincinnati
Bengals, 4:05 p.m.
The Chargers are 19-14 against the Bengals, including 10-7
at home all-time. They should make it 11 in this one. Record: 8-5.
Week 15: Thursday, Dec. 13, at Kansas City
Chiefs, 8:20 p.m.
The Chiefs hosted the Chargers on a nationally televised,
Thursday night game last season and the Bolts fell short. The Bolts suffer the
same fate here. Record: 8-6.
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 23, vs. Baltimore
Ravens, 4:05 p.m.
Talented former Chargers safety Eric Weddle faces
his former team for the first time. All of those practice battles between
Rivers and Weddle will happen for real in this one. Record: 9-6.
Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 30, at Denver Broncos,
4:25 p.m.
The Chargers haven’t won in Denver since 2013, but will find
a way to get this one and sweep the Broncos for first time since 2010. Record: 10-6.
OAKLAND RAIDERS
Jon Gruden’s return to the NFL as a coach -- he was
the Oakland
Raiders' headman from 1998 through 2001 and with the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers from 2002 through 2008 -- is a big deal. Big enough
that the Raiders are on prime-time television four times in 2018. A rough
start, which includes a “home” game in London and a chilly finish, will tell
the tale for Gruden 2.0, even as the Raiders are tied for the fourth-easiest
strength of schedule in the NFL. They had the fourth toughest in 2017.
Week 1: Monday, Sept. 10, vs. Los Angeles
Rams, 10:20 p.m. ET
Welcome back to the NFL, Jon Gruden, and on ESPN’s Monday
Night Football no less. Gruden’s first game on the Raiders sideline since the
2001 season is a monster test, against the likes of the Rams defense with Aaron Donald, Ndamukong Suh, Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib. Record: 0-1
Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 16, at Denver
Broncos, 4:25 p.m. ET
The last time Oakland played here, Derek Carr broke
three bones in his back. Hopefully for the Raiders’ sake, the Broncos' defense
does not break Oakland’s will. Record: 0-2
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 23, at Miami
Dolphins, 1 p.m. ET
Gruden & Co. finally break through, in the South Florida
heat and humidity, for Gruden’s first regular-season win as Raiders coach since
Dec. 15, 2001. Record: 1-2
Week 4: Sunday, Sept. 30, vs. Cleveland
Browns, 4:05 p.m. ET
Remember when Hue Jackson said he was going to take an even
stronger hand with the entire Raiders organization? Neither do the
Raiders. Record: 2-2
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 7, at Los Angeles
Chargers, 4:05 p.m. ET
Things got ugly in a hurry the last time these two met on
the Bolts’ temporary soccer pitch for a field. And the Chargers should be the
division favorites. Record: 2-3
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 14, vs. Seattle
Seahawks in London, 1 p.m. ET
The Raiders are starting to coalesce with Gruden 2.0, while
the Seahawks are in rebuild mode. Bruce Irvin and Marshawn
Lynch have the last laugh over Uncle Pete (Carroll). Record:
3-3
Week 7: Bye
Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 28, vs. Indianapolis
Colts, 4:05 p.m. ET
Will Andrew Luck be
playing by this time? If not, be sure to peep the faux Twitter account of him
as a Civil War captain. Trust me. Record: 4-3
Week 9: Thursday, Nov. 1, at San Francisco
49ers, 8:20 p.m. ET
Technically, Oakland is closer to San Francisco than Santa
Clara. Also technically, there is more grizzled veteran talent on the Raiders
roster ... in mid-April. Record: 5-3
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 11, vs. Los Angeles
Chargers, 4:05 p.m. ET
Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram are
the NFL’s best pass-rushing duo. And Philip Rivers has
a thing about driving daggers into the heart of Oakland. Record: 5-4
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 18, at Arizona Cardinals,
4:05 p.m. ET
Gruden’s gang has been grinding and needs a laugher. The
Cardinals provide the jokes. Record: 6-4
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 25, at Baltimore
Ravens, 1 p.m. ET
How many times will Michael
Crabtree be flagged for his Kenny Powers finger-sniff post-TD
celebration against the Raiders? Depends on how many times the Raiders
put Shareece
Wright on him. I kid. Kinda. Record: 6-5
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 2, vs. Kansas City
Chiefs, 4:05 p.m. ET
Alex Smith is
gone, much to the relief of the Raider Nation. Patrick
Mahomes II, welcome to the Black Hole. Record: 7-5
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 9, vs. Pittsburgh
Steelers, 8:20 p.m. ET
These ancient AFC rivals will conjure up images of
Stabler-Bradshaw, Atkinson-Swann, the Immaculate, ahem, DE-caption. Carr
outlasts Roethlisberger under the lights. Record: 8-5
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 16, at Cincinnati
Bengals, 1 p.m. ET
New Raiders defensive coordinator Paul Guenther should have
the blueprint on how to attack the Bengals. Yet it has all the makings of a
trap game, given the emotional home games surrounding Cincinnati. Paging
Admiral Ackbar. Record: 8-6
Week 16: Monday, Dec. 24, vs. Denver Broncos,
8:15 p.m. ET
Khalil, Case. Case, Khalil. Yes, the Raiders' all-everything
edge rusher, Khalil Mack,
should be in new Broncos QB Case Keenum’s
grill all night in the Raiders’ fourth prime-time game of the year. Record: 9-6
Week 17: Sunday, Dec. 30, at Kansas City Chiefs,
1 p.m. ET
Arrowhead Stadium has been Carr’s personal house of horrors.
Can Gruden perform an exorcism? Record: 9-7
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