Denver Broncos Schedule 2012: NFL Bumps Start Time For 4 Games

If you methodically plan your fall around the Denver Broncos' schedule, there are a few changes to make for the 2012 NFL season. With Peyton Manning around to generate national interest in the wake of Tim Tebow's departure, the Broncos are a team that everyone will be watching closely, and the NFL took some easy steps to make sure other games won't conflict with start times on a few Broncos games.

As noted by Lindsay Jones of The Denver Post, the NFL moved back the kickoff times for four Denver games this season to avoid overlap during double-headers on CBS or FOX. Start times have been shifted back 10 minutes from 2:15 p.m. MT to 2:25 p.m. MT for the following Broncos games:

Week 3, Sept. 23 vs. Houston Texans

Week 5, Oct. 7 at New England Patriots

Week 6, Nov. 18 vs. San Diego Chargers

Week 17, Dec. 30 vs. Kansas City Chiefs

To read more about the Denver Broncos, visit our story stream here. For general Broncos news and information, check out the Mile High Report. To read more on NFL free agency news, visit the SB Nation NFL hub page.

Tim Tebow Will Not Be Featured On 'HBO: Hard Knocks' This Season

If you were hoping to get a glimpse into the New York Jets' training camp to find out how Tim Tebow, Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez are going to get along, you're out of luck. The Jets will not be the NFL team featured on HBO's Hard Knocks this season, according to a report by Bob Raissman of the New York Daily News. The Denver Broncos "flat out denied" the producers of Hard Knocks back in April, as HBO reached out to the Broncos first in hopes of getting access to Peyton Manning's return from injury, but now you won't be seeing Rex Ryan or Tim Tebow either.

Back in April, Adam Schein of FOX Sports speculated that if the Jets said no, the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens could be next on the list. TheJacksonville Jaguars have declared their interest in being the subject of the series, but that hasn't gotten the attention of HBO at this point.

To read more about the Denver Broncos, visit our story stream here. For general Broncos news and information, check out the Mile High Report. To read more on NFL free agency news, visit the SB Nation NFL hub page.

2012 NFL Season Point Spreads: Broncos Open As 2-Point Favorites Over Steelers

Early point spreads for the 2012 NFL season have come out in May, courtesy of Beyond the Bets and Cantor Gaming. These can and will certainly change, but it's interesting to see how the odds makers see things right now after major free agency and the NFL Draft.

The Broncos open as two-point favorites over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the season-opener, a rematch of January's playoff game. The Broncos currently have three pick 'em games (vs. Houston, at Cincinnati and at Carolina) while they are a touchdown-underdog in only one game: at New England.

Denver is a 7-point favorite at home against the Raiders and a 1.5-point road favorite against them, too. Denver's largest point spread is 8.5 points over the Cleveland Browns.

Here are the lines for every game (except for Week 17):

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more on the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. Check out SB Nation NFL for more news and notes around the league.

Broncos Schedule 2012: SI.com's Don Banks Sees NFL Taking 'Leap Of Faith' With Denver, Peyton Manning

The 2012 NFL schedule has been released and the Denver Broncos will appear in the league-maximum of five prime time games this fall. The NFL and the networks are taking a big leap of faith that Peyton Manning will be able to return from multiple neck surgeries and 20 months off from football.

Last season, the Indianapolis Colts, a team that finished 2-14, put up duds in its multiple prime time games without Peyton Manning on the field. The likes of Kerry Collins, Dan Orlovsky and Curtis Painter all went under center for the Colts. If John Elway's Plan A of Peyton Manning fails, that currently leaves the Broncos with no real Plan B. As Sports Illustrated's Don Banks writes:

For Denver's sake, and the NFL's, Manning had better be ready from the first snap of the regular season on. Caleb Hanie, at the moment, is the Broncos backup quarterback. And we all know what happened in Chicago last season when he was forced to center stage.

The Broncos are expected to draft a quarterback in the later round of the 2012 NFL Draft, but there's unlikely to be saving grace with that selection should Manning falter. The Broncos are all in with Peyton Manning. It's a good hand the Broncos have, but will there be anything to trump it?

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more on the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. Check out SB Nation NFL for more news and notes around the league.

Monday Night Football Schedule 2012: Broncos Face Falcons, Chargers On Monday Night

The Denver Broncos will make two appearances on Monday Night Football this fall. One week after starting the season on Sunday Night Football, the Broncos will visit the Atlanta Falcons on Sept. 17 during Week 2. Four weeks later, the Broncos will hit the road for a Monday night game against the San Diego Chargers.

Here is the complete Monday Night schedule:

Week 1: Bengals vs. Ravens

Week 1: Chargers vs. Raiders

Week 2: Broncos vs. Falcons

Week 3: Packers vs. Seahawks

Week 4: Bears vs. Cowboys

Week 5: Texans vs. Jets

Week 6: Broncos vs. Chargers

Week 7: Lions vs. Bears

Week 8: 49ers vs. Cardinals

Week 9: Eagles vs. Saints

Week 10: Chiefs vs. Steelers

Week 11: Bears vs. 49ers

Week 12: Panthers vs. Eagles

Week 13: Giants vs. Redskins

Week 14: Texans vs. Patriots

Week 15: Jets vs. Titans

Week 16: Falcons vs. Lions (Saturday)

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more on the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. Check out SB Nation NFL for more news and notes around the league.

Thursday Night Football Schedule 2012: Broncos Vs. Raiders Takes Place During Week 14

The Denver Broncos play five prime time games during the 2012 NFL season, but only one of those games will be on Thursday Night Football. The Broncos will visit the Oakland Raiders for the second game against the divisional rival this fall. They play in Sunday, Sept. 30, during Week 4.

There will be no Thursday night opener this season, which eliminates one game off the Thursday night schedule. However, the Thursday night schedule was expanded to 13 games, meaning plenty of opportunities for all teams to find a spot in prime time:

Here is the complete Thursday night schedule:

Week 2: Bears vs. Packers

Week 3: Giants vs. Panthers

Week 4: Browns vs. Ravens

Week 5: Cardinals vs. Rams

Week 6: Steelers vs. Titans

Week 7: Seahawks vs. 49ers

Week 8: Buccaneers vs. Vikings

Week 9: Chiefs vs. Chargers

Week 10: Colts vs. Jaguars

Week 11: Dolphins vs. Bills

Week 13: Saints vs. Falcons

Week 14: Broncos vs. Raiders

Week 15: Bengals vs. Eagles

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more on the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. Check out SB Nation NFL for more news and notes around the league.

Sunday Night Football Schedule 2012: Denver Broncos Play In 2 Games

The 2012 Sunday Night Football schedule has been announced and the Denver Broncos will play in two games. They will open the Sunday Night Football schedule with a home rematch against the Pittsburgh Steelers, whom they beat in the Wild Card round of the playoffs on a Tim Tebow 80-yard bomb to Demaryius Thomas on the first play from scrimmage in overtime.

The other game is a Week 8 (Oct. 28) contest against the New Orleans Saints at Sports Authority at Mile High.

Here is the complete Sunday Night Football schedule:

Week 1: Steelers vs. Broncos

Week 2: Lions vs. 49ers

Week 3: Patriots vs. Ravens

Week 4: Giants vs. Eagles

Week 5: Chargers vs. Saints

Week 6: Packers vs. Texans

Week 7: Steelers vs. Bengals

Week 8: Saints vs. Broncos

Week 9: Cowboys vs. Falcons

Week 10: Texans vs. Bears

Week 11: Ravens vs. Steelers

Week 12: Patriots vs. Jets (Thanksgiving)

Week 12: Packers vs. Giants

Week 13: Eagles vs. Cowboys

Week 14: Lions vs. Packers

Week 15: 49ers vs. Patriots

Week 16: Chargers vs. Jets

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more on the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. Check out SB Nation NFL for more news and notes around the league.

Broncos Schedule 2012: Denver's Schedule Highlighted By 5 Prime Time Games

The NFL announced the 2012 schedules on Tuesday night, and Denver Broncos fans are going to have plenty of opportunities to see their team in prime time this season. The Broncos open their schedule with a Sunday night game on Sept. 9 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The very next week, they'll be on Monday Night Football playing against Atlanta.

Related: Denver Broncos 2012 Schedule Release Open Thread

All told, the Broncos will play in prime time on five occasions.

Here's the full 2012 Broncos regular season schedule, with dates, times and TV info. (Note: game times for Week 11 through Week 17 are subject to change.)

Week 1 -- vs. Pittsburgh Steelers [Sunday, Sept. 9, 6:20 p.m. MT, NBC]

Week 2 -- at Atlanta Falcons [Monday, Sept. 17, 6:30 p.m. MT, ESPN]

Week 3 -- vs. Houston Texans [Sunday, Sept. 23, 2:15 p.m. MT, CBS]

Week 4 -- vs. Oakland Raiders [Sunday, Sept. 30, 2:05 p.m. MT, CBS]

Week 5 -- at New England Patriots [Sunday, Oct. 7, 2:15 p.m. MT, CBS]

Week 6 -- at San Diego Chargers [Monday, Oct. 15, 6:30 p.m. MT, ESPN]

Week 7 -- BYE

Week 8 -- vs. New Orleans Saints [Sunday, Oct. 28, 6:20 p.m. MT, NBC]

Week 9 -- at Cincinnati Bengals [Sunday, Nov. 4, 11:00 a.m. MT, CBS]

Week 10 -- at Carolina Panthers [Sunday, Nov. 11, 11:00 a.m. MT, CBS]

Week 11 -- vs. San Diego Chargers [Sunday, Nov. 18, 2:15 p.m. MT, CBS]

Week 12 -- at Kansas City Chiefs [Sunday, Nov. 15, 11:00 a.m. MT, CBS]

Week 13 -- vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers [Sunday, Dec. 2, 2:05 p.m. MT, FOX]

Week 14 -- at Oakland Raiders [Thursday, Dec. 6, 6:20 p.m. MT, NFL Network]

Week 15 -- at Baltimore Ravens [Sunday, Dec. 16, 11:00 a.m. MT, CBS]

Week 16 -- vs. Cleveland Browns [Sunday, Dec. 23, 2:05 p.m. MT, CBS]

Week 17 -- vs. Kansas City Chiefs [Sunday, Dec. 30, 2:15 p.m. MT, CBS]

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more on the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. Check out SB Nation NFL for more news and notes around the league.

Broncos Schedule 2012: Denver Will Host Pittsburgh In A Sunday Night Game To Open 2012 Season

The NFL won't officially announce each team's schedule until later Tuesday evening, but one detail about the Denver Broncos' 2012 schedule has emerged thanks to Steelers beat writer Gerry Dulac: Peyton Manning and company will open the regular season in a Sunday night game against Pittsburgh.

Steelers will open the 2012 season Sunday night in Denver against Peyton Manning.

— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) April 17, 2012

Related: Broncos Schedule 2012: Dates And Times For Games Will Be Announced Tuesday Night

Manning's move to Denver and return from injury is such a huge story, and the NFL isn't wasting any time getting the Broncos into a marquee primetime matchup. And there certainly could be more of those in store for the Broncos in 2012.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more on the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. Check out SB Nation NFL for more news and notes around the league.

Broncos Schedule 2012: Dates And Times For Games Will Be Announced Tuesday Night

On Monday, the NFL announced that the full 2012 schedule will be announced live on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. MT on the NFL Network. But we already know which teams the Denver Broncos will play in 2012, we just don't know the dates or game times yet.

Related: 2012 Denver Broncos Schedule Of Opponents Released As Team Prepares For 2012 NFL Playoffs

Here are those opponents:

HOME:
Oakland
Kansas City
San Diego
Pittsburgh
Cleveland
Tampa Bay
New Orleans
Houston

AWAY:
Oakland
Kansas City
San Diego
Baltimore
Cincinnati
Atlanta
Carolina
New England

For those who do not get the NFL Network, ESPN is also planning to cover the schedule unveiling starting at 5:00 p.m. MT. And this StoryStream will have all the details once the dates and times for the Broncos schedule have been made public.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more on the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. Check out SB Nation NFL for more news and notes around the league.

2012 NFL Schedule To Be Released On Tuesday

After months of waiting and plenty of speculation, the NFL will release its 2012 season schedule on Tuesday night:

The 2012 NFL schedule will be released live on @nflnetwork and NFL.com tomorrow at 7pm ET.

— NFL (@nfl) April 16, 2012

We already know the opponents the Broncos will face in 2012, but the dates and times have yet to be announced. There has been speculation that the Broncos will be on the first Sunday Night Football broadcast of the year, possibly facing the Pittsburgh Steelers in a rematch of the teams' 2011 NFL playoffs match-up. Another possibility for that first game of the season could be a rematch of the second round playoff game against the New England Patriots.

Team president Joe Ellis has mentioned that the Broncos will be in a number of prime time games this fall, which is likely the result of bringing in Peyton Manning through free agency.

For more on the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. Check out SB Nation NFL for more news and notes around the league.

Broncos 'Flat Out Denied' HBO For Hard Knocks In 2012, According To Report

Maybe it's Tim Tebow time for HBO, because the Denver Broncos "flat out denied" HBO's Hard Knocks offer to film the team's 2012 offseason and preseason with Peyton Manning, according to Adam Schein of FOX Sports. Then again, Rex Ryan is apparently against having the show return to Jets training camp, so maybe Tebow is out of the picture as well. Schein reports that the network reached out to the Broncos first, presumably because Peyton Manning has come to town and expectations are high, but Denver turned them down right off the bat.

Jets owner Woody Johnson reportedly wants his team back on the hit HBO show and would love to grab headlines from the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants, but Ryan thinks it would be a distraction and is pushing back. If the network can't land the Jets, Schein says the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens could be next on the list. The Jacksonville Jaguars have declared their interest in being the subject of the series, but that hasn't gotten the attention of HBO at this point.

To read more about the Denver Broncos free agency, visit our story stream here. For general Broncos news and information, check out the Mile High Report. To read more on NFL free agency news, visit the SB Nation NFL hub page.

Broncos Schedule 2012: Denver Could Open Season On Sunday Night At Home Against Pittsburgh Steelers

The Denver Broncos will know in a few weeks how their 2012 season schedule will turn out. We already have learned that the NFL is planning on putting the Broncos into primetime throughout the season, and there are rumors that the Broncos will be in the first Sunday Night Football game of the season. It now appears that that possibility is coming to fruition. The Denver Post's Mike Klis reports that the Broncos could open the season at Mile High with a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers or on the road against the New England Patriots on Sunday night.

Both teams would be ideal matchups for the Broncos since Denver played them in the playoffs last season. Plus, the addition of Peyton Manning makes the Broncos a great storyline throughout the season: injured quarterback returns with a new team -- how will he perform? And on a lower level, Josh McDaniels, former Broncos head coach, will be offensive coordinator for the Patriots (after being an assistant coach while Bill O'Brien remained in the position before moving to Penn State).

For more on the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. Check out SB Nation NFL for more news and notes around the league.

2012 Broncos Schedule: Do Expect Primetime Games, Says Pres. Joe Ellis

It appears as though the Denver Broncos will indeed be in the primetime spotlight this fall 2012. Broncos president Joe Ellis recently spoke with the Denver Post's Mike Klis and told him this:

The early word on the Broncos’ schedule: "Our fans should get ready for more night games," Ellis said. "Home and road."

In 2011, the Broncos played in the Monday Night Football opener on Sept. 12 and then didn't have another primetime game until Nov. 17 when Tim Tebow defeated the New York Jets on a game-winning touchdown run in the final minutes.

There are already rumors that the Broncos are a strong candidate to play in the first Sunday Night Football game of the season, largely a result of Peyton Manning's return to the gridiron. Manning's arrival in Denver has certainly made this team more attractive to put on primetime television, but the schedule makers should be wary after last year's Colts-heavy primetime schedule and then getting zero Manning appearances.

For more on the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. Check out SB Nation NFL for more news and notes around the league.

Broncos Schedule 2012: Denver Could Be Candidate For 1st Sunday Night Game This Season

The Denver Broncos and the other 31 teams in the NFL won't know their complete 2012 schedules until the middle of April, but there is some belief that the team will play in the first Sunday Night Football game of the season, according to the L.A. Times' Sam Farmer:

There's a good chance Denver will play host to the first Sunday night game. That was a strong possibility when Tebow was penciled in as the quarterback, and the signing of Manning has only made the Broncos more intriguing.

The league is going to need to be careful this season when scheduling its prime time games. Last season, the league and the networks were bitten hard when Manning's neck injury prevented him from playing last season. The Indianapolis Colts were scheduled for several games in prime time and fans saw a very poor Colts team.

This move makes sense, as Farmer points out, because Manning's return to the gridiron will be such a big story -- possibly even bigger than the New York Giants defending their Super Bowl title in the first game of the season.

For more on the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. Check out SB Nation NFL for more news and notes around the league.

2012 Denver Broncos Schedule Of Opponents Released As Team Prepares For 2012 NFL Playoffs

The Denver Broncos gear up for the 2012 NFL Playoffs, but they already know who they will face during the 2012 regular season.