Champion Broncos are still intriguing even without Peyton Manning

The NFL announced its schedule last week. It offers some juicy matches through the 17 weeks of the season. Here are 10 games that are intriguing:

Week 1

Panthers at Broncos

7:30 p.m. Sept. 8, KXAS/5: A rematch of Super Bowl 50 in Denver. What better way to open the season?

Week 2

Bengals at Steelers

Noon Sept. 18, KTVT/11: The Bengals blew up in the playoff game between the two teams in January, getting Cincinnati linebacker Vontaze Burfict suspended for three games.

Seahawks at Rams

3:05 p.m. Sept. 18, KDFW/4: The NFL returns to Los Angeles for the first time since 1994.

Week 3

Vikings at Panthers

Noon Sept. 25, KDFW/4: The Vikings, who believe they are building toward a championship, get to measure themselves against the defending NFC champs.

Week 4

Browns at Redskins

Noon Oct. 2, KTVT/11: Robert Griffin III goes back to where he got his start, facing the quarterback who usurped his job.

Week 7

Texans at Broncos

7:30 p.m. Oct. 24, ESPN: Brock Osweiler could have replaced Peyton Manning in Denver. Instead, he left for Houston.

Week 8

Cardinals at Panthers

3:25 p.m. Oct. 30, KDFW/4: The Cardinals lost to the Panthers 49-15 in the NFC Championship Game in January.

Week 10

Seahawks at Patriots

7:30 p.m. Nov. 13, KXAS/5: The Patriots beat the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX when Malcolm Butler intercepted Russell Wilson in the waning seconds.

Week 14

Seahawks at Packers

3:25 p.m. Dec. 11, KDFW/4: The Seahawks have won three of the four meetings between the teams since 2012, but all three wins were in Seattle. The Packers beat the Seahawks in Green Bay last season.

Week 15

Patriots at Broncos

3:25 p.m. Dec. 18, KTVT/11: Tom Brady won’t face Peyton Manning, but after what the Denver defense did to him in the AFC title game, Brady surely wants revenge.

This story was originally published April 17, 2016 at 5:14 PM with the headline "Champion Broncos are still intriguing even without Peyton Manning."