Look at all the road trips to Eastern time zone cities (New England, Cleveland, Atlanta, New York Jets, Carolina) and the number of teams visiting Invesco Field at Mile High whom Broncos fans rarely see (New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Miami, Buffalo). A closer look:
1. Monday, Sept. 8, at Oakland, 8:15 p.m.
For openers, Broncos take on their old friends Javon Walker, Gerard Warren, Cornell Green and Cooper Carlisle. That’s a lot of former Broncos starters. Could it be Al Davis is trying to emulate Mike Shanahan?
2. Sunday, Sept. 14, San Diego, 2:15 p.m.
Denver should have no trouble getting up for this game after several Chargers players, most notably QB Philip Rivers, taunted the Broncos during a Christmas Eve meeting won by San Diego, 23-3.
3. Sunday, Sept. 21, New Orleans, 2:05 p.m.
The Saints have their share of marquee players, such as Reggie Bush, Drew Brees and Marques Colston.
4. Sunday, Sept. 28, at Kansas City, 11 a.m.
The Chiefs, in full scale rebuilding mode, enter the season on a nine-game losing streak, two of which came against the Broncos. If running back Larry Johnson returns completely from his foot injury, the Chiefs could be better than expected.
5. Sunday, Oct. 5, Tampa Bay, 2:05 p.m.
Broncos safety John Lynch gets to play against his old team. The Bucs have reached the playoffs two of the last three seasons despite quarterback issues.
6. Sunday, Oct. 12, Jacksonville, 2:05 p.m.
The Jaguars would be considered Super Bowl-caliber if they weren’t playing in the same conference as Indianapolis and New England. They physically beat up the Broncos last season.
7. Monday, Oct. 20, at New England, 6:30 p.m.
Dating to 2001, Shanahan has won five of his last six meetings, including playoffs, against Pats coach Bill Belichick, who has won 14 consecutive home games.
8. Bye
This is the Broncos’ latest bye week since 2005, when they had the bye a week later.
9. Sunday, Nov. 2, Miami, 2:05 p.m.
The team The Big Tuna has reconstructed will visit Invesco Field for the first time since 2004. After a 1-15 season, Miami brought in Bill Parcells to clean up the mess, this time from the front office.
10. Thursday, Nov. 6, at Cleveland, 6:15 p.m.
The Browns are no longer pushovers. Their defense is fortified by Shaun Rogers, who ran roughshod over the Broncos’ offensive line while playing for the Detroit Lions last year. If quarterback Derek Anderson gets dinged, the Browns can bring in Brady Quinn, arguably the league’s most intriguing backup.
11. Sunday, Nov. 16, at Atlanta, 11 a.m.
The feared scenario among Broncos fans is Jason Elam running onto the field — Toro! Toro! — and kicking the game-winning field goal for the Falcons as time expires. But why not Matt Prater, who kicked for the Falcons last year, returning to Atlanta to burn his former teammates?
12. Sunday, Nov. 23, Oakland, 2:05 p.m.
Bronco fans will be waiting for Walker. Question is, by Week 12, will his knee hold up so he’s ready for Denver?
13. Sunday, Nov. 30, at New York Jets, 11 a.m.
The last time the Broncos played at the Meadowlands, in 2005, they dominated the New York Giants until Eli Manning led his team to two fourth-quarter touchdowns. The Jets and Giants will move to a new stadium at the Meadowlands in 2010.
14. Sunday, Dec. 7, Kansas City, 2:05 p.m.
One of the primary reasons the Broncos signed strongside linebacker Boss Bailey: Stop Tony Gonzalez.
15. Sunday, Dec. 14, at Carolina, 11 a.m.
A return home for new Broncos receiver Keary Colbert, this is a rare meeting between these teams, as they’ve played only once since 1997.
16. Sunday, Dec. 21, Buffalo, 2:05 p.m.
The Broncos and Bills met in the season opener last year, a game dually remembered for the violent collision between Broncos kick returner Domenik Hixon and tackler Kevin Everett, and Elam’s game-winning kick as time expired. None of those players will participate in this game.
17. Sunday, Dec. 28, at San Diego, 2:15 p.m.
Another primary reason the Broncos brought in Boss: Stop Antonio Gates.
Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com
