The Denver Broncos – more specifically team president Joe Ellis – told the media earlier this week that a gaudy, new three-time Super Bowl champions banner will be unveiled at the team’s/league’s Sept. 8 regular-season opener at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
Who the Broncos’ starting quarterback will be that Thursday evening remains a mystery, and as to which opposing team will be lining up on the east sideline that night also is unknown – at least for another few weeks.
But as the offseason moves on and the schedule announcements draw closer, we’re starting to get a slightly clearer feel as to which of the Broncos’ already-known eight 2016 home opponents it’s likely to be. Now, these betting props aren’t likely to be found at any Vegas sportsbook, but here are the late-March odds we’re assigning to the eight teams who could serve as the opening foe for the 2016 edition of the Orange & Blue:
Houston Texans (2-1): The Texans became the clear favorite to open the season in the Mile High City as soon as they outbid the Broncos for the free-agent quarterback services of Brock Osweiler earlier this month. The new $18 million-per-year man facing his old team and the sure-to-be-fired-up Denver D to kick off NFL 2016? And a yet-to-be-determined QB in the driver’s seat for the defending champs and squaring off against three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt in his first real test? We’re thinking the league honchos and NBC definitely will be keen on that agenda.
Kansas City Chiefs (5-1): Alex Smith and the K.C. crew came awfully close to ending the Broncos’ AFC West reign a season ago, and the first of their two head-to-head clashes would certainly make for compelling opening-night theater.
Carolina Panthers (7-1): Speaking of compelling theater, how about starting the new season with a Super Bowl rematch between a stewing-all-offseason Cam Newton and celebrating-all-offseason Von Miller and friends?
New England Patriots (10-1): This seemingly always-huge clash of AFC titans is usually reserved for the November sweeps period, but that was way back in the Manning-Brady era. Actually, Brady might not be available, either, if his long-pending Deflategate suspension is upheld, and come to think of it, that still would make for an interesting opener from a number of different angles.
Oakland Raiders (15-1): This has the look of a competitive rivalry again after the teams split their regular-season series a year ago, and Derek Carr and the up-and-coming Raiders actually are now serious candidates to be trotted out in national prime-time contests.
Indianapolis Colts (18-1): You have the Broncos’ new QB and the return of Indy starter Andrew Luck, but this matchup has lost a lot of luster with Manning’s retirement. And in honor of the future first-ballot Hall-of-Famer, we’ll change the odds from 15- to 18-1.
San Diego Chargers (40-1): Yeah, it’s Philip Rivers vs. the Denver D, but the Bolts’ 4-12 disaster of a 2015 season make them longshots to be playing on opening night.
Atlanta Falcons (100-1): The franchise formerly self-nicknamed the Dirty Birds has once again fallen into almost total NFL anonymity, making this inter-conference tilt far better suited to be buried on a random mid-October Sunday afternoon.
