Friday Faceoff: Where’s the danger for Bo Nix and the Broncos on 2025 schedule?

Paul Klee, sports editor

Answer: AFC West games

Listen to the boss.

“Our absolute goal next year is to win the division,” Broncos CEO Greg Penner said.

With respect to Mr. Schmaedeke, who presents a valid case for the Chargers-Bengals-Eagles gantlet, the Broncos should do their very best to keep the man who writes their checks happy.

Win the AFC West. Host a playoff game. Avoid another January trip to Buffalo… or Baltimore … or somewhere else with a good team, wild-and-crazy fans and Super Bowl-or-bust aspirations.

Denver’s aspirations should start small: loosen Kansas City’s grip on the division that would reach a full decade if the Broncos, Chargers or Raiders don’t win the AFC West in 2025.

Sean Payton has work to do on the divisional front. He’s 6-6 against the division rivals and needed the Chiefs to sit their starters in the regular-season finale just to creep back to .500 against the division.

At least two of Denver’s division matchups land on Thursday nights — against Las Vegas at Empower Field at Mile High (Nov. 6) and at Kansas City (Dec. 25). Denver has four prime-time games. Progress. Kansas City has seven. Respect.

So where is the danger for Bo Nix and the Broncos on the 2025 schedule?

It’s Sept. 21 (at the Chargers), Nov. 6 (vs. the Raiders), Nov. 16 (vs. the Chiefs), Dec. 7 (at the Raiders), Dec. 25 (at the Chiefs) and the first weekend of January (vs. the Chargers). Now that the NFL has tape on Nix, I see a 9-8 record. But the absolute goal is to win the division.

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Chris Schmaedeke, digital sports editor

Answer: at Chargers, vs. Bengals, at Eagles

The Broncos start the 2025 season with two very winnable games against the Titans at home and the Colts on the road.

Then quarterback Bo Nix’s sophomore season really gets going.

While the Broncos offense showed signs of improvement during Nix’s rookie season, there were still plenty of three-and-outs and fruitless drives. If Nix is going to take the next step, the stretch starting with a Week 3 road game with the L.A. Chargers will be a good place to start.

But facing the Chargers, Bengals and Eagles in three straight weeks? That could prove troublesome for the young Broncos quarterback.

Nix and the Broncos must score to keep up with those three opponents, especially the Bengals and the Eagles, the reigning Super Bowl champions. Even if the Broncos defense is as good as they expect, it wouldn’t be enough against Justin Herbert, Joe Burrow and Jalen Hurts.

The pressure on coach Sean Payton and Nix will heat up if Denver struggles in these games. If Payton’s offense with Nix at the helm can’t keep up, questions will start.

Nix’s job status will never be in question, but fans will expect growth in his second year, and the Broncos need to start beating good teams.

The 2025 schedule sets up for another 10-7 season and a chance at the playoffs for the second straight year. Nix needs to lead the Broncos to at least one win during this three-game gantlet.