INDIANAPOLIS -- The Denver Broncos will kick off the 2016 season at home on Sept. 8. The reason why that information has anything to do with the Indianapolis Colts is because they are one of the teams the Broncos are scheduled to face in Denver next season.
The Colts are one of several marquee teams the Super Bowl champion Broncos could play that night.
New England, Carolina, Houston and Kansas City are several teams who made the playoffs or have a marquee player on their roster that play in Denver next season.
Here's why the Colts may be enticing enough for the NFL to schedule them to open the season in Denver:
If -- and it sounds like a big if at this moment -- Peyton Manning decides to hold off retirement for at least one more season, why not have him face the team that released him in 2012 for the fifth and potentially final time on national television? Manning is 1-3 against his former team.
Andrew Luck returns to the field after missing the final nine games of last season because of a lacerated kidney. Luck's season-ending injury was the main reason why the Colts missed the playoffs for the first time in four seasons. What better way is there for Luck -- and his possible new nine-figure contract -- to return to action?
The Colts gave the Broncos their first loss of the season -- 27-24- in Week 9.
The schedule is usually released at some point in April.