Peyton Manning Reveals the Broncos' 2026 Schedule and It's a Gauntlet

The NFL schedule release is its own holiday at this point. And the Broncos leaned into it this year, getting Peyton Manning involved in the reveal. Which, honestly, is just the right move every single time.

So here is what the 2026 slate actually looks like, and look, it is worth paying attention to because this thing is legitimately tough from the jump.

The Opening Gauntlet Is Real

Five of the first six opponents are 2025 playoff teams. Five. The Broncos open Week 1 on the road in Kansas City on Monday Night Football, the first time in franchise history they have opened the season against the Chiefs on the road. Denver is 3-0 on Monday Night Football since Sean Payton arrived in 2023, so at least there is some history working in their favor there.

Then it stacks up fast. Jacksonville at home in Week 2. The Rams at home on Sunday Night Football on September 27. At San Francisco in Week 4. At the Chargers in Week 5. And then the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks come to Denver on Thursday Night Football on October 15.

Three prime-time games in the first six weeks of the season. The Broncos have hosted just one Sunday Night Football and one Thursday Night Football game in Payton's entire tenure so far. That is about to change in a hurry.

The Holiday Stretch Is Where It Gets Interesting

Black Friday. Christmas Day. These are not accidents on the schedule, these are statements.

Week 12, the Broncos travel to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers on Black Friday, November 27, on Prime Video at 3 p.m. ET. Denver has never played on Black Friday before. Ever. So that is a first.

Then Christmas Day, December 25, Netflix gets the Broncos hosting the Bills at 2:30 p.m. Mountain Time. That one is a rematch of last year's Divisional Round playoff game. (Side note, a playoff rematch on Christmas Day on Netflix is genuinely must-watch programming and you know it.)

After that Bills game, the final three weeks are all against 2025 playoff teams. Broncos visit the Patriots in a rematch of last year's AFC Championship Game in early January, then close the regular season hosting the Chargers. The Chargers also show up in Week 5, meaning Denver plays Los Angeles twice, once early and once at the finish line.

A Few Things Worth Noting

The Broncos hold the highest winning percentage in season openers in the NFL dating back to 1960. That is not a small stat. They are also 17-5 in home games after the bye week, and 3-0 after the bye under Payton specifically. The Week 10 bye lands earlier than recent years, which the coaching staff has generally liked.

Denver plays ten total games against last year's playoff teams across the full 2026 slate. Ten. As the reigning AFC West champions, the schedule is not doing them any favors, but that is kind of the point. This is what it looks like when the league takes you seriously.

On the preseason side, the Broncos open August 14 on the road against Atlanta, then host the Packers and Vikings at home before the real thing starts. All preseason games air locally on 9NEWS, and KOA carries the full regular season on radio.

Limited single-game tickets are on sale now if you want to get into the building for any of this. The Christmas Day game against Buffalo is the one I would move fast on, if I am being honest.