Denver Broncos 2020 NFL schedule: 5 must-win games

Vic Fangio, Denver Broncos. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Vic Fangio, Denver Broncos. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images) /
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Jon Gruden, Las Vegas Raiders
Jon Gruden, Las Vegas Raiders. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

Las Vegas Raiders. player. 28. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Home. Empower Field at Mile High. 1

This is the game the Broncos have to have above all else. They need to beat the Silver and Black when they come to their place. Otherwise, there’s no hope for them to contend for a playoff spot in a strong middle in the AFC. Denver should beat the Los Angeles Chargers at home, and probably won’t beat the Kansas City Chiefs at Mile, but the Las Vegas Raiders coming to town is different.

The Raiders were a third-place team in the AFC West last year, meaning they’ll inherit a slightly easier schedule than the Broncos. Every little win matters when you’re trying to best your rival for playoff positioning. Instead of second-place games against the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, the Raiders get easier ones vs. the Cleveland Browns and the Indianapolis Colts.

While there is a chance the Broncos could sweep the Raiders like they could the Chargers, Las Vegas would have gained a ton of confidence from a road win in Denver, especially if that is the first of the two annual meetings. Even if Drew Lock is ready to become a star at quarterback, the Raiders do have a pair of proven signal-callers in Derek Carr and Marcus Mariota.

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Ultimately, it will be next to impossible for the Broncos to even get to .500 in AFC West play if they drop this one at home to the Raiders. A loss at home to the Raiders almost ensures the Broncos will get swept by the Chiefs in their two games. Anything less than a 3-3 record in AFC West play and there’s no way the Broncos push for a playoff spot. They must beat the Raiders at Mile High.