Latest Broncos Updates: GM Confirms Major Boost and Comments on 2024 Schedule!
The Denver Broncos’ schedule will be officially released on Wednesday at 6 p.m. MDT, but leaks are already surfacing. One notable leak comes from long-time Seattle radio host Dave “Softy” Mahler, who tweeted that the Broncos will open the regular season at Lumen Field against the Seattle Seahawks.
If confirmed, this would be the third time in seven seasons that the Broncos have opened their season against Seattle. The Broncos secured a 27-24 victory over the Seahawks in the 2018 season opener but fell 17-16 in the infamous “46 left hash” game in 2022, where then-coach Nathaniel Hackett opted for a 64-yard Brandon McManus field-goal attempt in the final seconds.
This game would mark the fifth time the Broncos have started their season against the Seahawks. Only the Raiders and Bengals have been more frequent season-opening opponents, with the Broncos facing the Raiders nine times and the Bengals seven times in their season openers. Additionally, the Broncos have opened five seasons against the Chiefs, Rams, and Chargers. Historically, the Broncos are 2-2 against Seattle in regular-season openers.
The potential matchup with Seattle stems from the NFL’s expanded 17-game schedule introduced in 2021, which adds one game against an opposite-conference opponent based on the previous season’s standings. This additional game is considered the 17th game in the schedule construction.
Peyton called for timeout 62 times in the final minute of Monday night's game pic.twitter.com/qOs9wesnyJ
— Omaha Productions (@OmahaProd) September 14, 2022
In 2021, the Broncos faced the Detroit Lions at home for their 17th game, both teams having finished last in their divisions. In 2022, the Broncos traveled to Charlotte to play the NFC South’s Carolina Panthers, with both teams having finished in fourth place the previous season.
Last year, the Broncos’ 17th game was against the NFC East’s Washington Commanders, which resulted in a Week 2 loss. This season, the NFC West is the designated 17th-game opponent, and unlike previous seasons, the Broncos are not facing a last-place finisher; both Denver and Seattle finished third in their respective divisions in 2023.
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