Broncos Preview: 2021 game-by-game predictions

WEEK 1 — Sept. 12

at N.Y. Giants, 2:25 p.m., KDVR-31

The Broncos person ne'er won a September crippled nether manager Vic Fangio (0-7). Mission accomplished against the offensively-challenged Giants. The triumph puts the Broncos implicit .500 for the archetypal clip since Week 3 of ’18. Next stop, Super Bowl!

The call: Broncos 27, Giants 17

WEEK 2 — Sept. 19

at Jacksonville, 11 a.m., KCNC-4

The archetypal location crippled for manager Urban Meyer and backmost Trevor Lawrence volition beryllium a challenge, but the Broncos yet wilt due to the fact that of the crippling Florida heat.

The call: Jaguars 30, Broncos 27

WEEK 3 — Sept. 26

vs. N.Y. Jets, 2:05 p.m., KCNC-4

An implicit must-win and the Broncos’ archetypal location quality earlier a afloat stadium since the 2019 finale. The Jets person rookies astatine manager (Robert Saleh), play-caller (Mike LaFleur) and backmost (Zach Wilson). No excuses.

The call: Broncos 17, Jets 0

WEEK 4 — Oct. 3

vs. Baltimore, 2:25 p.m., KCNC-4

This could beryllium Denver South alum Calais Campbell’s past sojourn to Mile High and it is besides the instrumentality of antiaircraft extremity Derek Wolfe, present successful his 2nd twelvemonth with the Ravens. The past clip these 2 teams met, Joe Flacco was starting … for Baltimore.

The call: Ravens 24, Broncos 16

WEEK 5 — Oct. 10

at Pittsburgh, 11 a.m., KDVR-31

Last play began to autumn isolated successful a Week 2 nonaccomplishment astatine the Steelers erstwhile receiver Courtland Sutton was mislaid for the twelvemonth (ACL) and backmost Drew Lock (shoulder) was injured aboriginal on. We don’t deliberation the Steelers are each that good, either, but bully capable to triumph this one.

The call: Steelers 23, Broncos 21

WEEK 6 — Oct. 17

vs. Las Vegas, 2:25 p.m., KCNC-4

Former Raiders/Broncos manager Mike Shanahan enters The Ring of Fame (voted successful past summer). We lone privation Al Davis was inactive astir to seethe arsenic Shanahan was honored astatine midfield. Derek Carr volition implicit darn adjacent each pass, but volition suffer connected Pat Surtain II’s interception.

The call: Broncos 27, Raiders 26

WEEK 7 — Oct. 21

at Cleveland, 6:20 p.m., KDVR-31/Amazon/NFL Network

The Broncos traveled to the Eastern clip portion past October and bushed the Jets connected a abbreviated week. This is simply a stiffer trial and receivers Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry and choky ends Austin Hooper and David Njoku volition propulsion the Broncos successful coverage.

The call: Browns 17, Broncos 14

WEEK 8 — Oct. 31

vs. Washington, 2:25 p.m., KDVR-31

It’s Ring of Fame Day for backmost Peyton Manning, who is lone 7 years older than Washington starter Ryan Fitzpatrick, 38. Fitz has played lone 3 games against the Broncos arsenic a subordinate of 3 teams (win for Buffalo, losses with Tennessee and Miami).

The call: Broncos 34, WFT 17

WEEK 9 — Nov. 7

at Dallas, 11 a.m., KDVR-31

The Broncos’ archetypal travel to Jerry World since a 51-48 triumph successful 2013. Dak Prescott needed 30 completions to full 238 passing yards successful his lone crippled against the Broncos (loss successful ’17). The 2nd of a three-game agelong against teams with losing records past year.

The call: Cowboys 28, Broncos 23

WEEK 10 — Nov. 14

vs. Philadelphia, 2:25 p.m., KCNC-4

The Eagles should beryllium successful the signifier wherever they accidental to themselves, “We’re rebuilding, but let’s not admit it to anybody.” To commencement camp, they were committed to Jalen Hurts astatine backmost (Carson Wentz was traded to Indianapolis). First-round receiver DeVonta Smith volition beryllium amusive to watch.

The call: Broncos 23, Eagles 9

WEEK 11 — Bye

WEEK 12 — Nov. 28

vs. L.A. Chargers, 2:05 p.m., KCNC-4

The Chargers gave distant past year’s crippled astatine Mile High, a come-from-ahead-loss (led 24-3, mislaid 31-30 arsenic clip expired). Former Broncos adjunct Brandon Staley is the Bolts’ caller large whistle and inherits backmost Justin Herbert, antiaircraft extremity Joey Bosa and information Derwin James.

The call: Chargers 31, Broncos 24

WEEK 13 — Dec. 5

at Kansas City, 11 a.m., KCNC-4

On the existent roster, lone extracurricular linebacker Von Miller and kicker Brandon McManus person experienced a Broncos triumph implicit the Chiefs, who person 12 consecutive wins successful the series. Slowing down Patrick Mahomes and Co. is simply a superior crushed wherefore the Broncos loaded up connected cornerbacks.

The call: Chiefs 20, Broncos 14

WEEK 14 — Dec. 12

vs. Detroit, 2:05 p.m., KDVR-31

New wide manager Brad Holmes and manager Dan Campbell are doing a floor-to-ceiling renovation task with the Lions, who haven’t won a playoff crippled since 1991. If things aren’t going good for the Broncos, the no-show number volition beryllium monitored.

The call: Broncos 37, Lions 23

WEEK 15 — Dec. 19

vs. Cincinnati, 2:05 p.m., KCNC-4

The Broncos interviewed Zac Taylor for their head-coaching opening successful January 2019 and helium ended up with the Bengals (6-25-1 record). But astatine slightest helium has backmost Joe Burrow and receiver Ja’Marr Chase to physique around. The Bengals won’t beryllium good, but they’ll beryllium interesting.

The call: Broncos 40, Bengals 28

WEEK 16 — Dec. 26

at Las Vegas, 2:25 p.m., KCNC-4

How astir this for a weekend? Fly to Las Vegas connected Christmas Eve for 2 nights of amusive (or debauchery), be the Broncos’ 2nd sojourn to Allegiant Stadium (Sunday), which was closed to fans past year, and past enactment for the Avalanche’s crippled astatine Vegas (Monday) with the circumstantial intent of booing Ryan Reaves.

The call: Raiders 35, Broncos 34

WEEK 17 — Jan. 2

at L.A. Chargers, 2:05 p.m., KCNC-4

The location of this year’s Super Bowl and receiver Jerry Jeudy’s nightmare (five dropped passes successful past December’s nonaccomplishment to the Bolts). Like the erstwhile week, it volition beryllium absorbing to spot however galore Broncos fans flood the opponent’s caller stadium.

The call: Chargers 29, Broncos 21

WEEK 18 — Jan. 9

vs. Kansas City, 2:25 p.m., KCNC-4

Chad Henne takes implicit the Chiefs’ discourtesy from Mahomes due to the fact that Kansas City has steamrolled done the AFC to clinch home-field vantage successful the playoffs. This could beryllium the past crippled for we-don’t-know-how galore coaches/players.

The call: Chiefs 30, Broncos 27

Final record: 7-10

*Flexible scheduling is utilized successful Weeks 11-18. For Week 18, 2 games volition moved to Saturday, Jan. 8.