Scheduled: Big Ben, Brady, Brees … The Broncos will face a murderers’ row of star quarterbacks this season. A game-by-game look at who they will meet:
Sept. 9: Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
4,077 passing yards, 21 TD, 14 INT in 2011
With a new offensive coordinator in Todd Haley, Roethlisberger will try to avenge a devastating playoff loss to the Broncos last season.
Sept. 17: Matt Ryan, Falcons
4,177 passing yards, 29 TD, 12 INT
Has taken his team to the playoffs in each of his four seasons, while breaking most franchise records along the way. Awful in Falcons’ 2011 playoff loss, though.
Sept. 23: Matt Schaub, Texans
2,479 passing yards, 15 TD, six INT
Coming off a serious foot injury, Schaub will look to continue his success in Houston. He holds almost every franchise record.
Sept. 30 and Dec. 6: Carson Palmer, Raiders
2,753 passing yards, 13 TD, 16 INT
Will begin his first full season as the Raiders’ starting quarterback in attempt to get back to his Pro Bowl form.
Oct. 7: Tom Brady, Patriots
5,235 passing yards, 39 TD, 12 INT
Peyton Manning’s biggest rival is coming off an impeccable season.
Oct. 15 and Nov. 18: Philip Rivers, Chargers
4,624 passing yards, 27 TD, 20 INT
Rivers attempts to bounce back after a season full of disappointments, when his team missed the playoffs and he threw for the most interceptions of his NFL career.
Oct. 28: Drew Brees, Saints
5,476 passing yards, 46 TD, 14 INT
With a new contract from an organization in turmoil, Brees will try to duplicate his massive numbers from last season.
Nov. 4: Andy Dalton, Bengals
3,398 passing yards, 20 TD, 13 INT
After putting up impressive numbers as a rookie and being selected for the Pro Bowl, Dalton has even higher expectations going into his second season.
Nov. 11: Cam Newton, Panthers
4,051 passing yards, 35 TD (14 rush), 17 INT
A stellar first year that included NFL records for passing yards by a rookie and most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback, Newton is poised for another strong year.
Nov. 25 and Dec. 30: Matt Cassell, Chiefs
1,713 passing yards, 10 TD, nine INT
An injury to his hand ended his already disappointing last season. And to think he was in the Pro Bowl after the 2010 season.
Dec 2.: Josh Freeman, Buccaneers
3,592 passing yards, 16 TD, 22 INT
A new coach and a new weapon in Vincent Jackson have Freeman looking to get back to his 2010 form, when he passed for 25 touchdowns and threw only six interceptions.
Dec. 16: Joe Flacco, Ravens
3,610 passing yards, 20 TD, 12 INT
Entering his fifth year, Flacco is looking to take his team to its fifth consecutive playoff appearance, as well as cementing himself in the Ravens’ record book.
Dec. 23: Brandon Weeden, Browns
Rookie
The Broncos face the 28-year-old rookie quarterback in the season’s penultimate game.
–Tyler Sapkin, The Denver Post
