👋 Good Morning!

With NFL training camps beginning this week, I’m going to take a second to give you a take that might be a little controversial these days. The league needs preseason games and the quality of play early in the season suffers for teams that don’t play their starters in them.

Nobody wants to see preseason injuries. The thing is, you can only simulate so much in practice. The players need preseason reps to both get into game shape and shake some offseason rust off execution wise too.

I’m not saying your projected starters need to play the entirety of the preseason. But getting out there and going live against another team is good. Even the best athletes in the world need a chance to get some reps in before playing the games that actually matter.

It’s ridiculous the NFL charges season ticket holders full price for preseason games but that’s a rant for another day.

— Justin Michael

Keeping on theme for today, let’s take a look at the 2025 schedule and some of the most exciting home matchups for Broncos Country.

Here are my top 5 most anticipated home games this season:

No. 5 Tennessee (Week 1)

The Broncos haven’t won a Week 1 matchup since beating the Giants on the road in 2021. The last time they won a Week 1 game in Denver was in 2018 under Vance Joseph.

With the No. 1 pick Cam Ward coming to town and big expectations for Denver coming into the year, the energy in the stadium is going to be electric on Sept. 7.

No. 4 Dallas (Week 8)

There are certain teams that are just more fun to beat. Dallas might be at the top of that list.

It’s been 30 years since the Cowboys beat the Broncos. A win would extend Denver’s streak against ‘America’s Team’ to eight.

No. 3 Cincinnati (Week 4)

Joe Burrow in town for Monday Night Football? Hell yes.

Last year’s MNF matchup against Cleveland was legitimately one of the coolest atmospheres we’ve had in Mile High since Manning retired. And for whatever reason the games against the Bengals tend to always be kinda crazy. This one has the makings of an epic night in Denver.

No. 2 Green Bay (Week 15)

The cheeseheads travel well and the Packers are a fun team. There very well could be snow on Dec. 14. I just have a feeling this is going to be the premiere non-divisional home game of the year.

At this stage of the season there could be serious playoff implications too.

No. 1 Kansas City (Week 11)

All of the divisional games are important. Right now the Chiefs are the bully we’re trying to knock off the block though.

Making it three straight home wins against Kansas City would be a big confidence booster going into the final six games of the season. It’s also one you want to win given how tough the stretch of games following it will be.

How high can Bo Nix soar in year two with Sean Payton? According to his teammates, the sky is the limit for him.

READ: Broncos teammates set a high bar for Bo Nix | by Zac Stevens

Jay Norvell no longer has a buyout clause as of Dec. 02. Will CSU extend the veteran football coach or potentially risk losing him for nothing to a bigger school?

READ: Everything you need to know about Norvell’s contract | by Justin Michael