For nearly three decades, Denver Broncos fans could count on tuning into a Monday Night Football game, and often times numerous Monday night appearances. Not in 2021.
After four consecutive losing seasons and a last-place finish in the AFC West with a 5-11 record in 2020, the Broncos were left off the Monday Night Football calendar when the schedule was released Wednesday. It is the first time in 29 years the Broncos haven’t been scheduled for Monday night action, which was the longest streak in the league.
2021 Denver Broncos Schedule
PRESEASON
Week 1: at Minnesota, TBA
Week 2: at Seattle, TBA
Week 3: vs. L.A. Rams, 7:05 p.m.
REGULAR SEASON
Week 1: at N.Y. Giants, 2:25 p.m., FOX
Week 2: at Jacksonville, 11 a.m., CBS
Week 3: vs. N.Y. Jets, 2:05 p.m., CBS
Week 4: vs. Baltimore, 2:25 p.m., CBS
Week 5: at Pittsburgh, 11 a.m., FOX
Week 6: vs. Las Vegas, 2:25 p.m., CBS
Week 7: at Cleveland, 6:20 p.m., Thursday Night Football on FOX, NFL Network, Amazon
Week 8: vs. Washington, 2:25 p.m., FOX
Week 9: at Dallas, 11 a.m., FOX
Week 10: vs. Philadelphia, 2:25 p.m., CBS
Week 11: BYE
Week 12: vs. L.A. Chargers, 2:05 p.m., CBS
Week 13: at Kansas City, 11 a.m., CBS
Week 14: vs. Detroit, 2:05 p.m., FOX
Week 15: vs. Cincinnati, 2:05 p.m., CBS
Week 16: at Las Vegas, 2:25 p.m., CBS
Week 17: at L.A. Chargers, 2:05 p.m., CBS
Week 18: vs. Kansas City, 2:25 p.m., CBS
Denver is slated for one prime time game, though it will come on Thursday Night Football. The Week 7 matchup will is at the Cleveland Browns with a 6:20 p.m. kickoff Oct. 21. That game can be viewed on FOX, the NFL Network or streaming on Amazon.
This season also will mark the first time since 2003 and only the third time since 1970 – when the AFL and NFL merged – that Denver will play its first two regular-season games on the road. The Broncos had opened the season at home nine times in the previous 10 years.
The regular season will start at 2:25 p.m. Sept. 12 against the New York Giants, as Denver will face all of the NFC East teams this year.
Then, Denver will visit No. 1 draft pick Trevor Lawrence, new NFL head coach Urban Meyer and, potentially, former quarterback Tim Tebow and the Jacksonville Jaguars for an 11 a.m. Sept. 19 game in Week 2. Tebow will get a chance at tight end under his former college coach Meyer.
Denver’s home opener will come Week 3 against the New York Jets before a difficult stretch Week 4 at home against the Baltimore Ravens and Week 5 on the road at the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Broncos will look to avoid a Halloween scare Week 8 at home against the Washington Football Team. That will kick off a stretch of three consecutive games against NFC East opponents, as Denver travels to Dallas in Week 9 and then will host Philadelphia Week 10 before a Week 11 bye.
The first AFC West game isn’t until Week 6 in a home showdown with the Las Vegas Raiders. Denver’s division schedule is back-loaded, as Denver will see the Chiefs in Weeks 13 and 18 and the Los Angeles Chargers Weeks 12 and 17 with a Week 16 road trip to the Raiders.
This is the first year of a 17-game regular-season NFL schedule that league owners approved in the offseason. That move has been met with some criticism from players. It will see the regular season go one week later and finish Jan. 9.
Though Denver also isn’t on the schedule for a Sunday Night Football game, NBC begins flex scheduling Week 12, so some of those late-season divisional matchups still could make it to prime time if Denver finds itself in contention or if Denver is able to negotiate a trade for disgruntled Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Livi’s Prediction: 7-10 with Teddy Bridgewater or Drew Lock at QB; 13-4 with Aaron Rodgers at QB.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
