On Tuesday, the National Football League demonstrated its power by once again dominating the headlines despite playoffs being played in the National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League.
What is most impressive is that the NFL wasn’t dominating headlines due to big trades or even the draft. Rather, it was the release of the 2010-2011 regular season schedule that had people across the country analyzing their favorite team’s prospects at a successful season. The schedule release commanded a full three hour special on ESPN and with just over 24 hours until the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft one has to wonder how viewer ratings for the draft will compare to the NBA and NHL playoffs to end this week. 
After a promising 6-0 start to the 2009-10 campaign, the Denver Broncos faltered down the stretch and finished last season 8-8 and once again missed out on the playoffs. Fans were eager to see what kind of schedule the Broncos would face this upcoming season and if there was potential for a similar fate.
Unlike last season, the Broncos will face their toughest challenges in the first half of the season. After opening up the season Sept. 12 in Jacksonville, the Broncos face intriguing home games against the Seattle Seahawks, Indianapolis Colts and New York Jets before a Week 9 bye. Mixed in with that will be tough road challenges in Tennessee and Baltimore as well as a “road” game in London against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 8.
The schedule gets easier as the season progresses, however, five of the Broncos six divisional games come in the last seven weeks of the season after the bye in Week 9. The Broncos will need to have a strong start to give them momentum heading into the pivotal divisional games to finish the year if they hope to break a four year drought and earn a playoff spot.
If the Broncos can take advantage of the traditionally weak NFC West opponents they could find themselves sitting pretty come December-January.
Look for a lot to be on the line when the rival San Diego Chargers come to Invesco Field at Mile High on Week 17.
Denver’s only scheduled night game comes on ESPN’s Monday Night Football in Week 11 against the Chargers; there are always chances for more prime-time games though with NBC’s Sunday Night Football flex schedule.
For the complete Denver Broncos Regular Season Schedule check below:
WK DATE OPPONENT TIME (ET) TV
1 Sun, Sep 12 @ Jacksonville 1:00 PM
2 Sun, Sep 19 Seattle 4:05 PM
3 Sun, Sep 26 Indianapolis 4:15 PM
4 Sun, Oct 3 @ Tennessee 1:00 PM
5 Sun, Oct 10 @ Baltimore 1:00 PM
6 Sun, Oct 17 NY Jets 4:05 PM
7 Sun, Oct 24 Oakland 4:15 PM
8 Sun, Oct 31 @ San Francisco 1:00 PM in London**
9 BYE WEEK
10 Sun, Nov 14 Kansas City 4:05 PM
11 Mon, Nov 22 @ San Diego 8:30 PM ESPN
12 Sun, Nov 28 St. Louis 4:15 PM
13 Sun, Dec 5 @ Kansas City 1:00 PM
14 Sun, Dec 12 @ Arizona 4:15 PM
15 Sun, Dec 19 @ Oakland 4:15 PM
16 Sun, Dec 26 Houston 4:05 PM
17 Sun, Jan 2 San Diego 4:15 PM
***All home games in bold
John Livingston is the Chief Staff Writer of Colorado Sports Desk. Follow him on twitter, or become a fan on Facebook.
