Photos: The Broncos' 2023 opponents and a look at some of the franchise's best games in those matchups

1985, Week 11: Denver 30, San Diego 24 (OT)

In a battle between two teams with future Hall of Fame quarterbacks under center, this matchup didn't disappoint, even if it wasn't John Elway's or Dan Fouts' finest performances. The Chargers started the game with a 98-yard kickoff return, but they were unable to build off it, and Denver countered. The two teams remained neck and neck for the remainder of the game, including a last-minute drive by Elway to set up a game-tying field goal to send it to overtime.

In the extra frame, Fouts pushed the Chargers deep into Denver territory and was poised to get the win when they trotted out their field goal unit for a 40-yard try. Future Ring of Fame safety Dennis Smith then blocked the field goal not once but twice, as the first try was negated by a timeout just before the snap. On the second, fellow future Ring of Famer Louis Wright picked up the loose ball and ran it back 60 yards for the game-winning touchdown.

2012, Week 6: Denver 35, San Diego 24

After an uneven first five games of the 2012 season, it appeared there was a good chance the Broncos would begin Peyton Manning's Denver tenure 2-4 when they headed to the locker room down 24-0 in San Diego. But the Chargers would not score again that night, while the Broncos mounted perhaps the finest comeback in franchise history. Manning found Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker and Brandon Stokley for touchdowns, and Tony Carter returned a fumble 65 yards for a score to overcome the deficit in the fourth quarter. Then, with Philip Rivers looking to take the lead once more, cornerback Chris Harris Jr. put the game on ice with a 46-yard pick-six.

1992, Week 5: Denver 20, Kansas City 19

In one of John Elway's finest comebacks in his career, he led the Broncos back from a 13-point deficit with five minutes remaining in the game. On the first drive, Elway accounted for all 80 yards and the touchdown that cut the lead to five. Then, Denver forced a punt and got the ball back with 1:17 left in regulation with great field position thanks to a wild return by Arthur Marshall. Three plays later, Elway found Vance Johnson for the game-winning touchdown.

1997 Divisional Round Playoffs: Denver 14, Kansas City 10

In what is known as "The Revenge Tour," the Broncos went into a hostile Arrowhead Stadium and walked away with a hard-fought playoff win over the 13-3 Chiefs. It wasn't the typical game the Broncos played; they failed to reach 20 points just twice that season. Still, Denver managed to overcome the league's top defense behind two touchdowns and 101 rushing yards from Terrell Davis — and a fourth-down pass breakup by Darrien Gordon.

1977 AFC Championship: Denver 24, Oakland 17

In the Broncos' first 17 seasons, they failed to make the postseason. And in that span, they won just six times in 34 games against the Raiders. In 1977, though, Denver reversed its luck against Oakland and the league writ large.

The Broncos split the season series with the Raiders, but they met in Denver's first postseason run in the game to decide who would go on to the Super Bowl. The Broncos, the AFC's top team, earned a 14-3 lead heading in to the fourth quarter and held off hall of Fame quarterback Ken Stabler's comeback attempt for a 20-17 win.

(Peter Read Miller via AP)

2015, Week 5: Denver 16, Oakland 10

Denver's dominant defense secured an important win on the road and kept the Broncos' undefeated start intact in the Black Hole. While the Broncos' offense mustered just nine points, cornerback Chris Harris Jr. provided the game-changing play when he intercepted Derek Carr and took it 74 yards the other way for a touchdown.

1984, Week 7: Denver 17, Green Bay 14

With "Monday Night Football" in town, the country watched as a blizzard descended upon Denver. The game, ranked No. 42 in 2014 on an ESPN list of the most memorable moments in the history of the program, featured two defensive touchdowns to open the game by the Broncos. On Green Bay's first play from scrimmage, Steve Foley returned a fumble 22 yards for a score, and when the Packers offense took the field again, they fumbled once more, and Louis Wright returned it 27 yards for the touchdown. The two plays provided a cushion for the Broncos, though the Packers would cut the lead to three points in the fourth quarter.

But even though more than four inches of snow fell on the field during the game, according to the National Weather Service, it would be barefoot kicker Jim Turner who gave the Broncos the win.

(AP Photo/Vernon Biever)

2015, Week 4: Denver 23, Minnesota 20

The Broncos never trailed in this one, but that doesn't mean it wasn't a nail-biter. Denver built an early lead behind a 72-yard sprint by Ronnie Hillman and, later, a touchdown pass from Peyton Manning to Owen Daniels, but the Vikings were able to tie it up late in the fourth quarter. The Broncos responded with a go-ahead field goal with just under two minutes left, leaving Minnesota with an opening. But against one of the best defenses in recent history, the Vikings faltered, as T.J. Ward clinched the game with a strip-sack.

1998 AFC Championship Game: Denver 23, New York 10

In spite of falling behind 10-0 in the third quarter, the Broncos woke up and scored on five unanswered possessions to secure a second consecutive Super Bowl trip and a chance to become back-to-back world champions. The game was also notable for being Elway's final home game before retiring months later.

2015 AFC Championship Game: Denver 20, New England 18

Both of the Broncos' home games against the Patriots in the 2015 season were instant classics. The regular-season battle in the snow may have been the better game with its massive fourth-quarter comeback and memorable game-winning walk-off touchdown run by C.J. Anderson; however, it's hard to go against the AFC title game with the last Peyton Manning-Tom Brady matchup, Von Miller having one of his best performances ever and just the huge stakes the game had, of course.

Denver went up early as Manning connected with tight end Owen Daniels for two touchdowns. That gave Denver's defense the freedom it needed against Brady, who finished as the 2015 league MVP runner-up. Despite logging 18 QB hits, four sacks and two interceptions on Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl champion got the Patriots within a two-point conversion of sending the game to overtime. Instead, Denver's defense came up with the final stop it needed and paved the way for the franchise's third Super Bowl title.

1987 AFC Championship Game: Denver 38, Cleveland 33

A year after the Broncos topped the Browns with "The Drive" in Cleveland to win the conference title, the Browns would have their chance to turn the tables the following year in Denver. Down a touchdown, the Browns marched to the 8-yard line with just over a minute left in the game. But just as running back Earnest Byner appeared to be heading for the game-tying touchdown, defensive back Jeremiah Castille jarred the ball loose just shy of the goal line and the Broncos recovered to secure the win.

(AP Photo/Mark Duncan)

1995, Week 3: Denver 38, Washington 31

While Denver got some major contributions from their future Hall of Famers with John Elway's 327 passing yards and two touchdowns and Terrell Davis' three total touchdowns, it was former undrafted wide receiver Rod Smith who was the hero of this game. Smith made his first career reception at the most crucial time, coming down with a 32-yard Hail Mary touchdown to win the game as time expired. Smith, of course, would run with the opportunity and become the franchise's all-time leading receiver.

(David Durochik via AP) [note: photo from a different game]

2011, Week 7: Denver 18, Miami 15 (OT)

The game that truly started Tebowmania. After a three-game skid leading into the bye week, the Broncos opted to make Tebow the starter in the hopes of finding a spark coming out of it. Late in the game, though, the results were hardly promising; the 0-5 Dolphins had built a 15-0 fourth-quarter lead and the Broncos had been unable to get drive more than 14 yards in the second half.

But when their backs were against the wall, Tebow and the Broncos found the momentum they needed. They went 80 yards for a touchdown and then recovered an onside kick with a little less than three minutes left. Tebow then pushed the ball downfield once more and got Denver into the end zone with 25 seconds remaining. Needing one more score to send the game to overtime, the Broncos put the ball in Tebow's hands, and he rushed for the two-point conversion. Then, in overtime, Matt Prater hit a 52-yard field goal to win the game.

1997, Week 9: Denver 23, Buffalo 20 (OT)

The prelude to the Broncos' game in Buffalo has been more memorable than the game itself in franchise lore, as 22 inches of snow fell on the Denver area the day before the game. The team's travel was delayed 10 hours after its scheduled takeoff, and getting there itself was a challenge; Steve Atwater used a snowmobile for part of his travel to team headquarters while a stranded Jason Elam was picked up by fans.

After the wild weather, the Broncos came out looking no worse for wear, building a 20-0 lead through three quarters. But a furious Bills comeback forced overtime. In the extra period, John Elway and Terrell Davis drove the Broncos downfield into field-goal range, and Elam nailed the 33-yard try to win it.

2015, Week 11: Denver 17, Chicago 15

After a 7-0 start, the Broncos fell in their next two games and lost Peyton Manning to a foot injury in the process. Brock Osweiler, the longtime backup, then entered the spotlight needing to keep the Broncos in playoff contention. In Chicago, Osweiler made his first career start and got a much-needed win, as Denver's defense held off a comeback attempt by the Bears.

2013, Week 16: Denver 37, Houston 13

While the Broncos didn't pull away until the fourth quarter, this game is of course most notable for the career accomplishment Peyton Manning reached. With his fourth and final touchdown pass of the game, Manning surpassed the previous NFL record for passing touchdowns in a single season with 51. He would add four more to set the new record at 55, which has yet to be broken.

2015, Week 3: Denver 24, Detroit 12

On "Sunday Night Football," the Broncos traveled to the Motor City to take on Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson and the Lions. Demaryius Thomas provided a highlight-reel-worthy touchdown catch over Darius Slay to give Denver a 14-6 lead, and late in the fourth, Peyton Manning found Owen Daniels for a game-sealing touchdown.