If you have an event taking place in the Denver area, email information to carlotta.olson@gazette.com at least two weeks in advance. All events are listed in the calendar on space availability.
Brazilian Zouk Classes and Social Dance — 7-11:30 p.m., Mercury Café, 2199 California St., Denver, $20 class and social, $15 social only; mercurycafe.com.
Cloud Nothings — With Armlock, Famers Wife, 8 p.m., Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, $25. Tickets: axs.com.
Mile High Holidays Drone Show — 7 p.m. through Dec. 31, Denver skies; denver.org/milehighholidays.
“American Dreams” Exhibit — Through Dec. 31, Molly Brown House Museum, 1340 Pennsylvania St., Denver, go online for prices. Tickets: mollybrown.org.
“Shadow and Light: Patrick Marold” — Through Jan. 5, Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St., Denver, go online for prices; botanicgardens.org.
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“Vanity & Vice: American Art Deco” — Through Jan. 12, Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art, 1201 Bannock St., Denver. Go online for prices. Tickets: kirklandmuseum.org.
“Dawoud Bey: Street Portraits” — Through May 11, Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway, Denver, go online for prices: denverartmuseum.org.
Monday-Dec. 28
Miracle at Union Station: Buddy’s Bar — Pop-up cocktail lounge featuring holiday décor, cocktails and a designated Hanukkah table, 4-p.m.-midnight, Galley Bar on lower level, Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop St., Denver. Reservations: denverunionstation.com.
Monday-Dec. 30
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Free Downtown Trolley Rides — See the downtown Castle Rock decorations, 5-7 p.m. Mondays-Tuesdays, no rides Dec. 24, pickup/drop-off points Encore Garage Entrance on South Street between Wilcox and Perry Street and Douglas County School District Parking Lot Entrance on 6th Street Wilcox and Perry Street, Castle Rock; crgov.com/2622/season-of-the-star.
The NFL handed the Denver Broncos a gauntlet to open the 2026 regular season. With road games against the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, and San Francisco 49ers, plus home stands against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Rams, and Seattle Seahawks, it’s the toughest first six games I’ve seen the Broncos draw since I began covering the team in 2012.
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The first six weeks are so tough that FOX Sports radio host Colin Cowherd couldn’t help but draw the conclusion that the NFL is “punishing” the Broncos. But let’s set that particular conspiracy theory aside for the time being.
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What’s important to remember is that the Broncos earned this first-place schedule. How this team achieved last year suggests it is ready to bow up for the challenge that this first six-week stretch presents.
But how has the schedule release impacted the NFL power rankings? When it comes to FOX Sports, the Broncos have jumped one spot to land at No. 1 in its post-schedule release 2026 NFL power rankings.
“Their first six games are just terrible. But assuming they survive that, there is a real soft middle of the schedule that could put them on a real run from Weeks 7 to 15. That should be enough for the class of the AFC, and a team that is motivated by the knowledge they should’ve been in the Super Bowl last year,” Ralph Vacchiano wrote.
The Middle
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Vacchiano is right. Even if the Broncos emerge from that first six-week stretch at 3-3 or even 2-4, they’d still be set up for a great opportunity to have all their goals on the table by the time they hit Week 16 when things stiffen up again. If the Broncos emerge at 4-2 or better, watch out, NFL.
From Week 9 through Week 15, the Broncos face the Carolina Panthers and New York Jets on the road, the Las Vegas Raiders twice, and the Miami Dolphins. There is one eyebrow-raiser in Week 12’s Black Friday throwdown on the road vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers, which became infinitely more interesting with Aaron Rodgers officially returning for his 22nd NFL season, but the Broncos match up well with them.
The Broncos’ bye also comes during this stretch, in Week 10. The NFL placed Denver’s bye as close to the middle of the 17-game schedule as possible. The Chiefs and Chargers have their respective byes before Week 8.
The Final Gauntlet
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Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) is sacked by Denver Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto (15) as he fumbles the ball. | Dustin Bradford / IMAGO / Icon Sportswire
In Week 16, the Broncos host the Buffalo Bills on Christmas Day, a rematch of the divisional round of the playoffs from this past January. Then the Broncos go on the road to take on Drake Maye and the New England Patriots, before coming home to face Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers to close the season.
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The Broncos probably aren’t going to win 14 games again this season. Campaigns of that magnitude are few and far between in Broncos history. Only the 1998 and 2025 Broncos have ever won that many games in a season.
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However, the Broncos probably don’t need 14 wins to repeat as AFC West champions. The AFC West drew the AFC East and the NFC West this season, two divisions that produced five playoff teams last year.
The Broncos have to face them all, but so do the Chargers, Chiefs, and Raiders, which levels the playing field somewhat. The Chargers also have to play the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans (ouch), while the Chiefs have to play the Cincinnati Bengals.
Kansas City also draws the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colts, who, on paper, don’t seem all that threatening sitting here in May, but both could be a force to be reckoned with in 2026.
The Takeaway
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Despite the initial shock of how the schedule rolled out, these FOX Sports power rankings reflect how the Broncos are perceived overall around the NFL. Not every publication will have Denver at No. 1, but this team is viewed as top five across the board.
That’s a far cry from the doldrums the Broncos were in for eight years before Sean Payton arrived. Even though the Broncos have a tough row to hoe this season, it’s a schedule they earned, and that qualification should make them equal to the opportunity against every one of these tier-one opponents on the schedule.
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DENVER (KDVR) — A vehicle collided with a home overnight in Denver, causing serious injuries, according to the Denver Police Department.
Officers responded to a call that came in just before 2 a.m. Tuesday morning about a vehicle that hit a home near West 10th Avenue and North Perry Street in the Villa Park neighborhood, a police spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said they do not know how many people were inside the vehicle at the time of the crash. The injuries are considered serious, but the spokesperson did not say if someone in the vehicle or the house was injured.
The vehicle did go airborne before it hit the home, police said, and investigators are looking at speed, alcohol or drugs as factors in the crash.
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FOX31’s Kasia Kerridge is at the scene to learn more.
DENVER (KDVR) — After a cool and wet start to the week, more showers and a warming trend will move into Denver’s weather forecast.
Winter weather advisories and winter storm warnings for accumulating snowfall leading to difficult travel in the high country will expire at 9 p.m. on Monday.
Weather tonight: Showers, cold
Showers will continue Monday evening, then taper off overnight.
Low temperatures will fall to the 30s, allowing mostly for a chilly rain with a few wet snowflakes trying to mix in.
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The cold temperature has triggered a frost advisory from Monday night through Tuesday morning. Remember to protect pipes and plants so frost does not cause damage.
Weather tonight: Cold night ahead
Tuesday will start with patchy areas of morning fog and chilly temperatures. High temperatures will climb to the 50s as clouds continue to build in ahead of afternoon and evening rain showers.
Looking ahead: More showers, warmer weekend
More showers and the chance for thunderstorms are in the forecast for Wednesday. Temperatures will only reach the upper 50s, which is nearly 15 degrees cooler than normal for this time of year.
Thursday will start with sunshine, then clouds will increase ahead of the chance for showers and storms as highs cling to the 60s. Another round of showers and storms moves in Friday, with temperatures again getting capped in the 60s.
There is a slight chance for showers and more afternoon thunderstorms Saturday, followed by sunshine and a high near 80 degrees Sunday.
