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Denver Broncos schedule 2024: Takeaways, predictions

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Denver Broncos' 2024 schedule was released Wednesday along with the rest of the NFL slate. After the Broncos' decision to release quarterback Russell Wilson and the departures of safety Justin Simmons, wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, center Lloyd Cushenberry and linebacker Josey Jewell, the Broncos will head into a season that features two prime-time games.

As the Bo Nix watch begins in earnest at quarterback, coach Sean Payton and the Broncos have a particularly robust road schedule waiting for them in the fall.

Here's what's in store for the Broncos:

Broncos 2024 regular-season schedule

Week 1: Sept. 8 at Seattle

Week 2: Sept. 15 vs. Pittsburgh

Week 3: Sept. 22 at Tampa Bay

Week 4: Sept. 29 at NY Jets

Week 5: Oct. 6 vs. Las Vegas

Week 6: Oct. 13 vs. LA Chargers

Week 7: Oct. 17 at New Orleans ("Thursday Night Football")

Week 8: Oct. 27 vs. Carolina

Week 9: Nov. 3 at Baltimore

Week 10: Nov. 10 at Kansas City

Week 11: Nov. 17 vs. Atlanta

Week 12: Nov. 24 at Las Vegas

Week 13: Dec. 2 vs. Cleveland ("Monday Night Football")

Week 14: BYE

Week 15: Dec. 15 vs. Indianapolis

Week 16: Dec. 22 at LA Chargers

Week 17: Dec. 28 or 29 at Cincinnati

Week 18: Jan. 4 or 5 vs. Kansas City

Strength of schedule: 13th easiest

Over/under: 5.5 wins

Biggest takeaway

This is a schedule filled with a daunting slate for the Broncos with nine away games. They've beaten the Ravens just once in seven previous tries in Baltimore. They haven't won in Seattle since 2002 and they haven't won at the Raiders or in Kansas City since 2015. Sprinkled in there is a trip to Sean Payton's old stomping grounds: New Orleans. The Broncos need at least minimal success on the road if they want to make the playoffs. They haven't won more than three road games in a season since going 4-4 in 2016 and haven't been better than .500 on the road since their last playoff season in 2015.

Revenge game

The Broncos host the Steelers for their home opener in Week 2, which will mark a strange return for Wilson. The quarterback signed with the Steelers after he was released by the Broncos in March following two bumpy seasons in Denver. Wilson could be out for a bit of revenge while Payton and a to-be-determined starting quarterback look to show that they are settling into a new and improved era without Wilson.

Bold prediction

The Broncos will finally find a way to beat the Raiders. The Broncos snapped a 16-game losing streak to the Chiefs last season, but that dismal stretch camouflaged the fact that the Broncos haven't beaten the Raiders since 2019 (0-8 in that stretch) and Denver still hasn't won a game in Las Vegas.