After a great deal of anticipation, the 2021 NFL schedule has been released.
In Denver, as in every other NFL city, this is the big story of the day.
From early in the morning, there was widespread speculation about who is playing where, and when and which team has an advantage over the other.
The answer is none of that means anything.
The NFL schedule is two-fold regarding how it is looked at. There are the coaches and players, more on that a bit later, and there are the fans and media.
While the former deals directly with wins and losses, the latter is vitally important as well.
Fans make the game, and our television partners and all our reporters promote it and bring it to America via television and a vast array of journalism and social media forums.
Excitement is created and stimulated, and the game would not be the same without its fans and the media.
It doesn't really matter who you play, where you play or what time you play. What matters the most is how you play, each and every week.
I have heard and read a great deal about who has the toughest and easiest schedules. That is all baloney, as any coach or executives knows all too well.
There is nothing worse than assuming you are better than your opponent or that he cannot defeat you, based on the team the other guys had last year.
As the great coach Chuck Knox used to say, last year's record is a cancelled check, next year is a promissory note and this season is cash.
This moment is cash.
I remember once upon a time, I showed our schedule and that of the Kansas City Chiefs to Head Coach Mike Shanahan and asked him his opinion of the respective schedules.
Mike took a cursory glance at the two schedules and said, "It looks like we each have eight at home and eight away."
In other words, each game is an opportunity to win or lose, and it is what you make of it each day.
Of course, the one big difference in that scenario this year is that, for the first time in NFL history, some teams have nine at home (like the Broncos) and some have eight.
Legendary Patriots coach Bill Belichick, when asked about a long streak that his team had recorded over a particular foe, would point out that these are not the same players as in the past, on either side, the weather could be a huge variable, and he had no idea who would be injured, on either side, before game time.
I am reminded of the words of the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus, who famously said, "No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man."
When the Denver Broncos had our tremendous back-to-back Super Bowl run, I remember never being too concerned about the opponent.
It was all about our own execution.
And our execution was being led by Hall of Famers John Elway, Gary Zimmerman, Terrell Davis and Shannon Sharpe on offense, and by Hall of Famer Steve Atwater on defense, among others.
Every week we prepared to win, and just about every week, we did win.
Let all the pundits suggest which team is better than another, who will win at home or lose on the road, who has the advantage of good health or the misfortune of injury.
Focus, prepare, practice and play.
The schedule will be there every week, until that last game in February.
Putting one's focus on the moment is the best way to get to that final game, regardless of the schedule in between.
Flip through the Broncos' 2021 regular-season schedule with photos from historic moments in franchise history.
Date and time: Sunday, Sept. 12 at 2:25 p.m. MT Broadcast: FOX
Broncos history note: The last time the Broncos traveled to New York to face the Giants, brothers Peyton and Eli Manning played their last game against one another. The Broncos won 41-23.
(AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Date and time: Sunday, Sept. 19 at 11 a.m. MT Broadcast: CBS
Broncos history note: In 2005, Denver got its first road win over the Jaguars with a 20-7 victory led by Jake Plummer, Mike Anderson and a dominant defensive performance. Plummer threw for two touchdowns to open the day and Domonique Foxworth and Nick Ferguson picked off two passes while Al Wilson forced two fumbles.
Date and time: Sunday, Sept. 26 at 2:05 p.m. MT Broadcast: CBS
Broncos history note: After romping to an easy win over the Dolphins in the divisional round, the Broncos took down the Jets 23-10 to win a second consecutive AFC Championship. Denver rebounded from a scoreless first half with 20 third-quarter points to get the win and secure a trip back to the Super Bowl — and made John Elway's last home game at Mile High Stadium a very happy one.
Date and time: Sunday, Oct. 3 at 2:25 p.m. MT Broadcast: CBS
Broncos history note: In opening the 2013 season against the defending Super Bowl champs, who ended Denver's postseason hopes a year earlier, the Broncos made quite the statement. Not only did they rout Baltimore 49-27, but Peyton Manning tied an NFL record with seven passing touchdowns.
Date and time: Sunday, Oct. 10 at 11 a.m. MT Broadcast: FOX
Broncos history note: With one game between Denver and another shot at a championship, the Broncos headed to Pittsburgh's Three Rivers Stadium. John Elway threw for two touchdowns and Terrell Davis ran for 139 yards and a touchdown to help Denver win the AFC Championship.
Date and time: Sunday, Oct. 17 at 2:25 p.m. MT Broadcast: CBS
Broncos history note: In their first postseason run, the Broncos stunned the defending Super Bowl champions with a narrow win in the AFC Championship Game. Craig Morton found Haven Moses for a 74-yard touchdown to get Denver on the board, and the Broncos rode that momentum to a 20-17 win to go to the team's first Super Bowl.
(AP Images)
Date and time: Thursday, Oct. 21 at 6:20 p.m. MT Broadcast: FOX/NFL Network/Amazon (Thursday Night Football)
Broncos history note: Down a touchdown in the 1986 AFC Championship and starting their final drive of regulation less than two yards from their own end zone, John Elway became a football star as he led Denver on a game-tying touchdown drive at Cleveland Stadium. Denver then won the game in overtime on a game-winning field goal.
(AP Photo/File)
Date and time: Sunday, Oct. 31 at 2:25 p.m. MT Broadcast: FOX
Broncos history note: During Mike Shanahan's first season as the Broncos' head coach, he and Denver got a glimpse at two of the franchise's future stars that would help pave the way for the team's back-to-back Super Bowl wins. Terrell Davis recorded 129 scrimmage yards and three total touchdowns, and Rod Smith recorded his first career reception — a 43-yard game-winning touchdown on the final play of the game as time expired.
(AP Photo/NFL Photos/Eric Lars Bakke)
Date and time: Sunday, Nov. 7 at 11 a.m. MT Broadcast: FOX
Broncos history note: In what ended up tying to be the fifth-highest scoring game in NFL history, the Broncos and Cowboys combined to make one of the most entertaining games in recent memory. Peyton Manning and Tony Romo each accounted for five touchdowns apiece as the two high-powered offenses dueled, but it was Denver's defense that made the difference as Danny Trevathan's interception with about two minutes left in regulation gave Denver the opportunity for the game-winning field goal.
Date and time: Sunday, Nov. 14 at 2:25 p.m. MT Broadcast: CBS
Broncos history note: In his last home game at Mile High Stadium, Hall of Fame running back Floyd Little was magnificent. He ran for 56 yards, caught five passes for 94 yards and scored two total touchdowns as Denver topped the Eagles 25-10.
Date and time: Sunday, Nov. 28 at 2:05 p.m. MT Broadcast: CBS
Broncos history note: In one of the most memorable moments from Ring of Fame cornerback Louis Wright's career, he saved the Broncos in overtime by blocking a Chargers field goal twice. The first time, the Broncos had called time-out, which nullified the play. But the second time, Wright did it again — and this time, he returned it for a touchdown to give Denver the win.
Date and time: Sunday, Dec. 5 at 11 a.m. MT Broadcast: CBS
Broncos history note: In the only postseason matchup between these two rivals, the Broncos narrowly eked out a 14-10 victory at Arrowhead Stadium in the divisional round. Terrell Davis paced the way with 101 rushing yards and two touchdowns as the Broncos marched toward their first Super Bowl victory.
Date and time: Sunday, Dec. 12 at 2:05 p.m. MT Broadcast: FOX
Broncos history note: The Broncos earned their 10th shutout in franchise history in a dominant 1987 showing. Behind a total of three touchdown runs from John Elway and Sammy Winder, a touchdown pass to Vance Johnson and a pair of field goals from Rich Karlis, Denver skated to victory. With a sack apiece from Rulon Jones, Greg Kragen and Karl Mecklenburg, as well as an interception by Dennis Smith, the Broncos easily held Detroit's offense to a goose egg.
(AP Photo/Damian Strohmeyer)
Date and time: Sunday, Dec. 19 at 2:05 p.m. MT Broadcast: CBS
Broncos history note: Though the Bengals were without starting quarterback Andy Dalton, they put up a good fight in Denver in 2015 as the Broncos looked to end a two-game skid as the playoffs approached. After falling behind 14-0 in the first half, the Broncos rebounded to force overtime. Denver got the ball first and marched downfield to kick a field goal. Then, Cincinnati quarterback A.J. McCarron couldn't handle a snap and DeMarcus Ware leapt on it to secure victory and a playoff berth.
Photo by Ben Hays.
Date and time: Sunday, Dec. 26 at 2:25 p.m. MT Broadcast: CBS
Broncos history note: As the Broncos jumped out to a 7-0 start to their 2015 championship season, they got a key boost from strong defensive play. Von Miller came up with a strip-sack and Chris Harris Jr. returned an interception for a touchdown to give Denver a key road win.
(Photo: © Eric Lars Bakke/ Denver Broncos)
Date and time: Sunday, Jan. 2 at 2:05 p.m. MT Broadcast: CBS
Broncos history note: In one of the Broncos' three comebacks from a 24-point deficit, Denver fell behind 24-0 before halftime. But in the second half, Peyton Manning and the defense sparked the Broncos to a 35-0 run to end the game.
Date and time: Sunday, Jan. 9 at 2:25 p.m. MT Broadcast: CBS
Broncos history note: In addition to running for 218 yards and leading Denver to a 45-27 win, Clinton Portis set a franchise record with five rushing touchdowns.
