2016 NFL Schedule To Be Released Soon, Broncos Preseason Game Dates Set

(The Sports Xchange/CBS) - The highly anticipated 2016 NFL schedule will be officially released Thursday, and the Broncos opening game has already been leaked out.

ESPN and NFL Network will air specials beginning at 8 p.m. ET when the slate of games is revealed, but it is already being reported that the Broncos will face the Carolina Panthers at home in a Super Bowl rematch on Thursday, Sept. 8.

League spokesman Brian McCarthy confirmed Wednesday on Twitter that the schedule had been finalized.

The league previously announced all home and away opponents for each team but not the dates for the games.

Three games scheduled for London this fall already are set. They are Indianapolis versus Jacksonville on Oct. 2, an undisclosed NFC East team against the Los Angeles Rams on Oct. 23 and Washington versus Cincinnati on Oct. 30.

The regular season is scheduled to begin Thursday, Sept. 8, and conclude Sunday, Jan. 1.

Broncos Preseason Dates Set

The dates for the Broncos four preseason games are also now set in stone, the team announced Thursday afternoon.

They are as follows:

Thursday, Aug. 11 Denver Broncos at Chicago Bears, Soldier Field, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 20 San Francisco vs. Denver Broncos, Sports Authority Field at Mile High, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 27 L.A. Rams vs. Denver Broncos, Sports Authority Field at Mile High, 7 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 1 Denver Broncos at Arizona Cardinals, University of Phoenix Stadium, 6:30 p.m.