Visiting quarterbacks will try to make a statement early in the season against the vaunted Broncos defense.

With the NFL schedule having been announced Wednesday night, the Broncos will open the season Sept 7 at Empower Field at Mile High against the Tennessee Titans, featuring No. 1 draft pick Cam Ward.

On Monday Night Football in Denver on Sept. 29, Cincinnati is scheduled to come in with Joe Burrow. He threw for 412 yards last December against the Broncos in Cincinnati.

On Oct. 19, a week after the Broncos face the New York Jets in London, Russell Willson is scheduled to arrive with the New York Giants. Wilson, who played with the Broncos from 2022-23 before being released, was expected to make his Denver return in Week 2 last season with Pittsburgh. But he didn’t play due to a calf injury.

Denver’s schedule features four prime-time games, two more than they had in 2024. After they went 10-7, their first winning season since 2016, and made the playoffs for the first time since 2015, head coach Sean Payton had expected the Broncos to have more high-profile games.

The other prime-time games will be Nov. 30 at Washington on Sunday Night Football and on Thursday Night Football on Nov. 6 at home against Las Vegas and Dec. 25 at Kansas City.

The Christmas Day game was announced on Monday and Denver’s game in London as the road team was announced Tuesday.

The Broncos will play at defending champion Philadelphia on Oct. 5 before they head to London. They won’t have a bye week after facing the Jets, coming straight home to face the Giants. The Broncos will have a bye in Week 12, meaning they won’t play the weekend that includes Sunday, Nov. 23.

Denver’s first road game will be Sept. 14 at Indianapolis. The Broncos had expressed an interest in facing the Colts in Berlin on Nov. 9 as the road team, but Indianapolis blocked the move, preferring to face Denver at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Broncos were then sent to London instead.

Heisman Trophy-winning wide receiver-cornerback Travis Hunter, the NFL’s No. 2 draft pick, is scheduled to return to Colorado with Jacksonville for a Dec. 21 game.

The Broncos don’t have any stretches of three straight games either at home or on the road. They will close the season with AFC West foes at Kansas City in the Christmas game and at home against the Los Angeles Chargers on Jan. 3 or 4.

The Broncos also announced their preseason schedule Wednesday. They will play at San Francisco between Aug. 7-10 (televised by 9News), Arizona at home between Aug. 14-17 (9News) and at New Orleans on Aug. 23 at 11 a.m. MDT (KTVD).

Here’s a game-by-game look at the regular-season schedule:

Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 7, vs. Tennessee Titans, 2:05 p.m. MDT, Fox

In his debut after being the No. 1 pick in 1983, John Elway completed 1 of 8 passes for 14 yards with an interception and was benched but Denver actually beat Pittsburgh 14-10. The Broncos hope Ward has a similar bad performance in his debut but without a win.

Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 14, at Indianapolis Colts, 2:05 p.m., MDT, CBS

One thing seems certain after Jonathan Taylor’s legendary gaffe in the Colts’ 31-13 loss last December at Denver. If the Indianapolis running back is heading toward the end zone, he will make certain not to drop the ball before the goal line.

Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 21, at Los Angeles Chargers, 2:05 p.m., MDT, CBS

Payton and Jim Harbaugh will battle again. You better believe Payton was not happy that Harbaugh’s Chargers beat him twice last season in his return to the NFL.

Week 4: Monday, Sept. 29, vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 6:15 MDT, ABC

So why did the Broncos sign free-agent safety Talanoa Hufanga and draft cornerback Jahdae Barron in the first round? One reason was that Burrow riddled the Broncos last December.

Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 5, at Philadelphia Eagles, 11 a.m. MDT, CBS

Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph gets a chance to make up for the Broncos’ horrific last visit to Philadelphia. He was the head coach in 2017 when they lost 51-23 at Lincoln Financial Field.

Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 12, vs. New York Jets, London, 7:30 a.m. MDT, NFL Network

Alas, the British media won’t have any Nathaniel Hackett stories to write. The failed former Broncos coach is gone after a lackluster two years as the Jets’ offensive coordinator, but he did have a brief bit of success with the Jets’ win at Denver in 2023.

Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 19, vs. New York Giants, 2:05 p.m. MDT, CBS

Wilson finally returns to face Denver. Or will he? He could face some competition to be the Giants’ starter from Jameis Winston or even from rookie Jaxson Dart. Broncos fans are hoping for the chance to boo Wilson.

Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 26, vs. Dallas Cowboys, 2:25 p.m. MDT, CBS

OK, it won’t be as dramatic as a Wilson return, but running back Javonte Williams is in line to be back in Denver after playing his first four years with the Broncos. He will look to show more than he did the past two seasons after returning from a knee injury.

Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 2, at Houston Texans, 11 a.m., MST, Fox

The last time the Broncos were in Houston, Wilson threw a crushing last second-interception in a 22-17 loss in 2023. One thinks his replacement, Bo Nix, would have thrown the ball away.

Week 10: Thursday, Nov. 6, vs. Las Vegas Raiders, 6:15 p.m. MST, Prime

It’s like old times. Two longtime rivals meet in prime time. The Broncos coveted in the draft Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, who went No. 6 to the Raiders. They now hope Jeanty won’t pile up too many yards under the lights in Denver.

Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 16, vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 2:25 p.m. MST, CBS

The Chiefs will return to Denver and this time will play starters. The Broncos lucked out in the 2024 finale when Kansas City had nothing to play for and rested starters. The Broncos won 38-0 to clinch their first playoff berth since 2015.

Week 12: Bye, Sunday, Nov. 23

The Broncos last season had the latest bye week possible, in Week 14, and safety Brandon Jones grumbled about it. Hey, at least the bye is two weeks earlier in 2025.

Week 13: Sunday, Nov. 30, at Washington Commanders, 6:20 p.m. MST, NBC

Washington’s Jayden Daniels was clearly the best rookie quarterback in 2024, and Nix was No. 2. For Nix to vie for top sophomore honors, a big showing against the Commanders on Sunday Night Football certainly would help.

Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 7, at Las Vegas Raiders, 2:05 p.m. MST, CBS

The Broncos last season finally didn’t go bust in Las Vegas. After losing their first four games in town following the Raiders’ move from Oakland, they won 29-19. Now they seek to win two in a row for the first time since a five-game streak from 2011-15.

Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 14, vs. Green Bay Packers, 2:25 p.m. MST, CBS

The competition is often between the Steelers and Packers on which road team can bring the most fans to Denver. If the Packers are in playoff contention, their fans will be willing to pay top dollar to invade Empower Field.

Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 21, vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 2:05 p.m. MST, Fox

Hunter is in line to return to Colorado. How much offense will he play? How much defense? The Broncos might not mind some winter weather to slow down the former Buffaloes star.

Week 17: Thursday, Dec. 25, at Kansas City Chiefs, 6:15 p.m. MST, Prime

The Broncos are playing again on Christmas Day three years after the disastrous 51-14 loss at the Los Angeles Rams that got Hackett fired the next day. Then again, it gave them a head start on finding Payton as their next coach.

Week 18: Saturday, Jan. 3 or Sunday, Jan. 4, vs. Los Angeles Chargers, TBD

It’s a matchup that could be for playoff positioning. Then again, maybe it will be the Broncos this time able to rest starters in a season finale.