After one of the most disappointing seasons in team history, the Denver Broncos, now led by Sean Payton, will look to improve in the competitive AFC West but must navigate a tricky 2023 schedule. Can Russell Wilson prove he can lead this franchise, or is Denver staring down another disappointing season?
Denver Broncos Schedule and Opponents
While we won’t find out the Broncos’ schedule for 2023 until the official NFL release in May, we already know their opponents for the upcoming season.
Home Games
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Green Bay Packers
- Minnesota Vikings
- New England Patriots
- New York Jets
- Cleveland Browns
- Washington Commanders
Away Games
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Chicago Bears
- Detroit Lions
- Buffalo Bills
- Miami Dolphins
- Houston Texans
As always, the Broncos will face their division opponents both at home and on the road. As part of the rotational schedule, the Broncos and the AFC West will take on the entirety of the NFC North and AFC East.
The remaining three games on their schedule will come against the remaining two AFC teams that finished fourth in their division, as well as their “17th game crossover” against the Washington Commanders, who finished third in the NFC East in 2022.
Denver Broncos Strength of Schedule
The Broncos and the AFC West, in general, have a rather difficult schedule in 2023. Based on projected win totals, Denver has the 11th-ranked strength schedule in the league. Their respective opponents combined to go 148-138-2 for a .517 record.
Of the four AFC West teams, defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City has the third-hardest, with Los Angeles sixth, and Las Vegas holding the fourth-toughest schedule in the league in 2023.
Denver Broncos Record Prediction
2022 was an abject failure for the Broncos. Having gone all-in on Russell Wilson, most Denver fans wanted off the ride about as quickly as the bandwagon filled.
Coming off of a season with poor play, led by inexperienced coaching, one-score games never going to correct way, and a myriad of injuries, Denver should be a prime bounce-back candidate in 2023. Head coach Sean Payton might’ve been the most important offseason acquisition for any team.
However, the problem is the division. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs aren’t going anywhere. Sure, the Chargers disappointed, but Justin Herbert remains one of the brightest young quarterbacks in the league. With the likelihood of a Chiefs sweep, a 3-3 divisional record is on the table, but going 2-4 is just as likely, assuming home game splits against the Chargers and Raiders.
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Although games against the Texans, Bears, and Commanders help to soften the schedule, it’s hard to see Denver walking away from Minnesota, Buffalo, Miami, and Detroit with a winning record. Not to mention Denver’s matchup against the Jets becomes much more intriguing if Aaron Rodgers is traded.
Given the difficult strength of schedule and questions surrounding where Wilson is at this stage in his career, I would lean towards the Broncos winning around eight games this year and, unfortunately, missing the playoffs again, which many likely did not even entertain the thought of this time last year.
