Denver Broncos 2013 Opponents

Von Miller celebrates a touchdown in early December when the Broncos faced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. (Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/Getty Images)

We’ve known for years that the Denver Broncos would draw the AFC South and NFC East in 2013, but did not know until last week that by finishing first in the AFC would also have the Broncos playing the AFC East champion, New England Patriots and AFC North champion, Baltimore Ravens.

That is a complete schedule, my friends, but oh what things are to come in 2013.

It is as great a feeling as a fan can have, to be discussing 2013 while still having the rest of what your favorite team had accomplished in 2012 still ahead.

With the 2013 opponents, Denver has so many story lines to work with, it is hard to imagine any of their games outside the AFC West not being in prime time. Peyton Manning’s former team the Indianapolis Colts and their phenom sophomore quarterback Andrew Luck will welcome Manning back to Lucas Oil Stadium for the first time. That won’t be the only outstanind second-year quarterback that the Broncos will face, they will also draw RG3 and the return of Mike Shanahan, this time in Washington Redskins’ gear, to Denver.

See how next season is shaping up so far?

Now how about this: the Manning vs. Manning Bowl in New York as the Broncos travel to play Eli Manning’s New York Giants.

The dramatics don’t stop there.  If in fact Jack Del Rio is still the defensive coordinator for the Broncos, which I completely expect him to be; his current team will also host his former team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, in the Mile High City. There is still more, though not quite the marquee material that the previous four games provide.  Denver will travel to play the Houston Texans, as well as a trip to Dallas to play the Dallas Cowboys.  The Dallas game will most likely be a Thanksgiving game in Jerry’s House.

Now let’s dive in a bit deeper, if Denver plays either Baltimore or New England in the playoffs, 2013 will feature a rematch of that game. There will be the usual, quote/unquote, rivalry games which pair the Broncos against the Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs twice next season. The games that I have yet to mention will have the Tennessee Titans and Philadelphia Eagles coming to Denver, which could be interesting in that the Eagles will have a new coach and probably a new quarterback. The Titans, who made a heck of a run at securing Peyton Manning’s as their own, could also have a new quarterback.

Not bad for a year that isn’t even here yet.