What happened: Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton joked that he must have angered someone in the NFL league office "a long time ago" to earn their grueling opening schedule. Payton made the quip during recent offseason workouts when asked about the team's challenging first six weeks.
Why it matters: The Broncos face a daunting stretch to open the upcoming season, squaring off against five 2025 playoff teams in their first six weeks. This difficult run will immediately test Denver's roster and set the tone for their 2026 campaign in the highly competitive AFC West.
By the numbers: Denver's schedule features three early primetime appearances, starting with a Monday Night Football matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1. The challenging gauntlet also includes the Rams on Sunday Night Football and a Thursday night clash against the Seahawks in Week 6.
What to watch: The team will continue offseason workouts as they look to build momentum ahead of a demanding early-season schedule.