After playing the Seattle Seahawks on the road in Week 1, the Denver Broncos are now set to return home to host the Pittsburgh Steelers at Empower Field at Mile High in Week 2.
“I’m really excited about that,” quarterback Bo Nix said of playing in front of home fans for the first time (in the regular season) in his NFL career. “I’ve been looking forward to this since the draft. I’m excited to play a game at home. I’m excited not to travel this week. It’s going to be a good home opener.”
The Broncos have sold out 441 consecutive home games since 1970, the longest active streak in the NFL. Denver has an amazing fan base, and wide receiver Courtland Sutton can’t wait to play in front of them again.
“This is [my] seventh [home opener], and I tell people all the time, people think it’s biased, but I love playing at home,” Sutton said. “It’s one of the best atmospheres to be a part of. The excitement, the juice and the energy, you can feel it from the fans from the moment that they start letting the fans into the stadium. You just feel the juice. I’m excited for it.
“I’m excited to have this experience again with our team. Some of the guys, it’s going to be their first home opener. [I’m] just looking forward to going out there and getting a win for the home team and for the home crowd. They deserve it and we deserve it. [We’re] working hard. [I’m] just excited for this next opportunity.”
Gates to the stadium will open at 12:30 p.m. MT and pre-game entertainment will include the team’s Stampede Drumline, the Thunderstorm skydiving team, music from DJ Squizzy Taylor, an Alumni Flag Plant and a C-130 flyover. Then Tigirlily Gold will sing the national anthem just before kickoff.
Following a narrow loss on the road last week, the Broncos will aim to bounce back at home on Sunday.
“I think we have a perfect opportunity to set that tone,” cornerback Pat Surtain said. “First home game of the season, the fans are going to be there, [and] we have home-field advantage. Being able to play this week at the stadium, it’s [going] to mean a lot. [It] has a lot of stake going in towards the season for sure.”
Sunday’s game is scheduled to kick off at 2:25 p.m. MT.
[vertical-gallery id=620142]