Broncos 2019 schedule announced. Denver opens, closes season vs. Raiders By Ryan O’Halloran Denver Post April 18, 2019 Broncos coach Vic Fangio will make his debut on national TV against the Oakland Raiders, part of a schedule that includes one other prime-time game. The NFL released its 2019 regular season schedule Wednesday night, and the Broncos will open as the final game of Week 1 when they travel to Oakland on Monday, Sept. 9 (8:20 p.m.). It will be the Broncos’ first season opener on the road since 2010. The other scheduled prime-time game is Thursday, Oct. 17, at home against the Kansas City Chiefs (6:20 p.m.). The Broncos will play eight games against 2018 playoff teams and will have a Week 10 bye. A look at the full schedule: Sept. 9 (Week 1) — at Oakland, 8:20 p.m. (ESPN) The new-look Raiders with left tackle Trent Brown, linebacker/ex-Bronco Brandon Marshall, safety Lamarcus Joyner and receivers Antonio Brown and Tyrell Williams kick the season off. Sept. 15 (Week 2) — Chicago, 2:25 p.m. (FOX) Just call this one ‘The Fangio Bowl.’ Fangio faces the team of which he was previously the defensive coordinator. Other ex-Bears on the Broncos include defensive coordinator Ed Donatell, outside linebackers coach Brandon Staley and cornerback Bryce Callahan. Sept. 22 (Week 3), at Green Bay — 11 a.m. (FOX) The Broncos’ first trip to Lambeau Field since 2011 (49-23 loss). Green Bay hired Tennessee offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur to replace Mike McCarthy as coach. The Packers then re-tooled their defense in free agency by signing defensive end Za’Darius Smith (Baltimore), outside linebacker Preston Smith (Washington) and safety Adrian Amos (Chicago). They also signed former Broncos guard/tackle Billy Turner. Sept. 29 (Week 4), vs. Jacksonville — 2:25 p.m. (CBS) The last time Jacksonville visited the Broncos, it was 2013 and the Jaguars were a record 27-point underdog. The Broncos won 35-19. The Jaguars are two years removed from reaching the AFC title game and signed quarterback Nick Foles in free agency. The Jaguars will also be traveling with extra rest, having hosted Tennessee on Sept. 19 in a Thursday night game. Oct. 6 (Week 5), at L.A. Chargers — 2:05 p.m. (CBS) The Broncos’ last regular season trip to the converted soccer stadium in Carson, Calif., that the Chargers call home. Last November, Brandon McManus’ field goal triggered a three-game winning streak that got the Broncos into playoff contention — for a week. Oct. 13 (Week 6), vs. Tennessee — 2:25 p.m. (CBS) A key stretch in the schedule, two home games in five days and three home games over the next four weeks. The Titans’ defense is led by former Broncos linebacker Wesley Woodyard and they signed veteran pass rusher Cameron Wake in the offseason. Oct. 17 (Week 7), vs. Kansas City — 6:20 p.m. (FOX/NFL Network) Short week for a Thursday-night game against the Chiefs. The teams met at Mile High last year in primetime and the Broncos squandered a 10-point fourth-quarter lead, part of a four-game losing streak. Fangio’s big task: Can he devise a pressure package to sack Patrick Mahomes instead of just chasing him around? Oct. 27 (Week 8), at Indianapolis — 2:25 p.m. (CBS) The Colts were one of last year’s surprise teams, rising from the AFC South basement to beat Houston in the playoffs and lose at Kansas City. Quarterback Andrew Luck is 2-2 against the Broncos. Nov. 3 (Week 9), vs. Cleveland — 2:25 p.m. (CBS) The Browns visit Denver for the second consecutive year — they won 17-16 last December. Since then, Cleveland has promoted offensive play-caller Freddie Kitchens to head coach, hired Steve Wilks (Arizona’s coach last year) as defensive coordinator, traded for receiver Odell Beckham and pass rusher Olivier Vernon and signed free agent defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson. Week 10 — Bye. Nov. 17 (Week 11), at Minnesota — 11 a.m. (CBS) A stretch of three out of four games on the road begins the post-bye portion of the schedule. The Broncos will be making their first trip to US Bank Stadium and will face a Vikings offense whose staff includes former Broncos coach Gary Kubiak. Nov. 24 (Week 12), at Buffalo — 11 a.m. (CBS) The Broncos return to Buffalo after losing there in 2017. The Bills were one of the most active teams in free agency last month, adding receivers John Brown and Cole Beasley, center Mitch Morse, left guard Quinton Spain, tight end Tyler Kroft and running back Frank Gore. Dec. 1 (Week 13), vs. L.A. Chargers — 2:25 p.m. (CBS) The final month of the season starts with a second trip around the AFC West. The Broncos’ best hope at contending for a playoff spot this year is taking multiple steps forward and hoping the Chargers come back to the division pack. Dec. 8 (Week 14), at Houston — 11 a.m. (CBS) New offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello should have an easy mandate for this game: Challenge former Broncos cornerback Bradley Roby at every turn. This game is a homecoming for cornerback Kareem Jackson, who spent the first nine years of his career with the Texans. Dec. 15 (Week 15), at Kansas City — 11 a.m. (CBS) The Broncos have lost three consecutive games at Arrowhead Stadium. Chances are the Chiefs will have a lot on the line, chiefly home-field advantage through the AFC playoffs. Dec. 21 or 22 (Week 16), vs. Detroit — Time TBD This game will be played on Saturday or Sunday and be announced during the regular season. If it’s a Saturday game, it will be a late-afternoon/early-evening start. The Lions won 45-10 in their last visit to Denver (2011). Dec. 29 (Week 17), vs. Oakland — 2:25 p.m. (CBS) The two rivals meet to wrap up the regular season. Expect most preseason predictions to have these two teams out of the playoff picture at this point. Could this be a rookie quarterback match-up? Dwayne Haskins vs. Kyler Murray? Broncos Briefs: Play-caller Rich Scangarello calls Joe Flacco “perfect fit” for offense By Ryan O’Halloran Denver Post April 18, 2019 New quarterback Joe Flacco is a “perfect fit for the type and style of offense we play,” Broncos offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello said Wednesday after minicamp practice. Scangarello was available to the media for the first time since the Broncos traded a fourth-round pick to the Baltimore Ravens for Flacco on March 13. Scangarello comes from the Shanahan Coaching Tree, having worked three years under Kyle Shanahan in Atlanta and San Francisco. In 2014, Flacco threw 27 touchdowns (a career high) and had a 91.0 passer rating (second-best) for then-Ravens offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, a disciple of former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan. “It was easy to evaluate that year and watch him play that season because they did some similar things,” Scangarello said. Scangarello will call the plays and said he is in the quarterbacks room for their meetings, which undoubtedly helps his relationship with Flacco. “Joe’s been a pro in the NFL for a long time,” Scangarello said. “His resume is really solid when you look at the course of his career. More than anything, I think his skill set marries very, very well with the type of offense we run. He’s tough, he stands in the pocket, he can make all the throws. “Those are the things you want in a quarterback.” Von on the draft. Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller said he will “pay attention,” to the first round of next week’s draft. “I like all of the guys that everybody likes,” Miller said. “(LSU inside linebacker) Devin White. I like (Ohio State quarterback) Dwayne Haskins. He was in here and I got to spend some time with him and talk to him. I like (Alabama defensive lineman) Quinnen Williams. I’ve played with great inside linebackers. I’ve played with great D-tackles. And I know quarterbacks, too. Those three guys would have to be my picks.” Miller called Haskins, who visited the Broncos last week, “a pretty cool dude. I liked him a lot.” Miller briefly advocated for picking Haskins before pivoting toward going the “best available” player route. Footnotes. Miller on his early impression of coach Vic Fangio’s system: “Coach Fangio is a 3-4 (scheme) guru and it’s good to be in a system like this where it’s all about the outside rushers and the outside linebackers.” … The Broncos will wrap up their voluntary minicamp with a Thursday morning practice. NFL draft preview: Plenty of options if Broncos pass on tight end in first round By Ryan O’Halloran Denver Post April 18, 2019 Tight ends in the draft BRONCOS STATUS On the roster: Jeff Heuerman, Jake Butt, Troy Fumagalli and Temarrick Hemingway. Level of need: High. Heuerman (ribs), Butt (ACL) and Fumagalli (abdominal) were injured last year and the Broncos opted to let Matt LaCosse walk in free agency. The need is based on the unknowns regarding Butt and Fumgalli in particular. Butt has three ACL tears on his record and Fumagalli hasn’t played in an NFL game. MID-ROUND OPTIONS Kahale Warring, San Diego State Caught only 51 passes in 26 games so his early entry was a semi-surprise. But size (6-foot-5/252 pounds) and athleticism (4.67 seconds in the 40) have helped stock.