Breaking down the most important games on the Broncos' 2019 schedule

This year is a tough one for the Denver Broncos, and it is reflected in the schedule. Looking over Denver's schedule, there are 10 games that stand out as being very important.

I would almost call them must-win games. The importance of each contest is based on a few different issues revolving around the team, but remain crucial nonetheless.

10 wins is nearly always a playoff berth in the NFL. In that vein, which 10 games are of the utmost importance for the Broncos? Let's dive in.

Week 1: @ Oakland Raiders

You always want to kick off the season strong. That is reason No. 1 why this game makes the list. It also has to do with the fact it's the Raiders. This is one of the biggest, most heated rivalries in all of sports. Denver is headed to Oakland to kick off the season, and if they Broncos can go in there and pull off a win, it can help build momentum in the Division. Anytime the Broncos can beat the Raiders and shut up them up is a good thing.

Week 2: Chicago Bears

Typically, Week 2 games are not high on the importance list, but this one is a little different. New Broncos head coach Vic Fangio will be taking on his former team in the early-season matchup. The Bears' offense has a lot of talent that can exploit weaknesses on the Broncos defense and we get a chance to see what Fangio can come up with to stop them. Not only that, but this will be a great early test for a Broncos' defense that many are saying will be top-10, if not top-5, and is Denver's home opener.

Week 4: Jacksonville Jaguars

Denver will be tested by a Jaguars team that is trying to get back to former glory. After a down year last year, they have their eyes set on the playoffs. This will be a test for the Broncos on offense and defense in a game where they will really have to play mistake free football.

Week 5: @ Los Angeles Chargers

All AFC West games are important. Being early in the season, and going into the Chargers' home and beating them can send a loud message for the Broncos this season. Many analysts are saying the Chargers are one of the best teams in the AFC, which makes this game even more important. The Broncos have high expectations for themselves, and to reach them they need to win Division games on the road.

Week 7: Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs were the top team in the AFC West a year ago, led by the reigning league MVP Patrick Mahomes. Denver gets the privilege of taking the Chiefs on at home first, which will help level the playing field some. The Chiefs have a weak spot on defense, but their offense will likely be putting up 30-plus points per game. Can Denver hang in there in a shootout, or can the Broncos' defense step up and shut down what is expected to be a high-powered offense?

Week 9: Cleveland Browns

From laughing stock to being predicted as the surprise team of the 2019 season, I expect the Browns to be a very good team. But the talk of Cleveland winning the Super Bowl this year is a bit crazy. Denver will have a chance to take them on in at Mile High, and find a way to deal with Baker Mayfield, a quarterback the Broncos coveted in the 2018 draft.

Week 11: @ Minnesota Vikings

This isn’t a Division game. It isn’t a home game either, and the Vikings are not expected to be a great team this year, so why this one? It's the game coming off a bye week and the start of a five-game series where the Broncos play at home just once. In the past few years, Denver has had trouble winning games on the road so if the Broncos can come off the bye and smack the Vikings in the mouth, it would be a good harbinger of the team’s future.

Week 13: Los Angeles Chargers

Another Division game, this time at home. Philip Rivers tends to have some great performances in Denver and at this point in the season, the playoffs are on everyone's mind. Denver may not make the postseason, but if the Broncos enter Week 13 with six or seven wins, they'll be in a position to make a push. Winning Division games is a must in order to push for the playoffs.

Week 15: @ Kansas City Chiefs

Playing in Kansas City has always been hard for the Broncos. Playing there in December is even harder. Like with the Chargers game, Denver may be in position to push for the playoffs and the Chiefs could stand in their way. It is a high-powered offense, and with a playoff berth potentially on the line, can the Broncos pull it off in Kansas City? They lost by a single score at Arrowhead Stadium last year, with Case Keenum at QB.

Week 17: @ Oakland Raiders

No matter what happened in the previous weeks, you always want to end the season on a high note, even if you’re not making the playoffs. If you are making the playoffs, you want to enter the tournament with a win. Plus, it's the Raiders and any time the Broncos play their bitter Division foe, it's important, and it'll be even moreso that they come out with the win.

Follow Erick on Twitter @ErickTrickel.