The dates haven’t been set yet but the opponents are out there for every the schedules for every NFL team in 2019. Looking into the crystal ball at 10 of the most intriguing, non-divisional matchups.
10. Bears at Raiders
The Raiders will have home games, someplace, somewhere, sometime in 2019. It’s unknown where Chicago will travel to face Jon Gruden and his Raiders. What is certain — barring unforeseen events — is Khalil Mack will be facing his former team. He’ll likely be revved up for the revenge match.
9. Cardinals at Buccaneers
Not the sexiest matchup on face value. However, the Cardinals will be facing their former coach, Bruce Arians, when they journey to the Sunshine State. Kliff Kingsbury will match wits with the wily Arians, who is returning to the league after spending a season with CBS.
8. Packers at Chiefs
Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes…..not much more needs to be added to the luster of this matchup.
7. Bengals at Rams
Another matchup of professor and pupil. Sean McVay is so young and yet he already has a coaching tree. Imagine how many limbs it will have in the long run. Zac Taylor leaves the Rams for Cincinnati and the task of getting the Bengals into the playoffs and on the winning side of a postseason game.
6. Patriots at Eagles
The Eagles give the Patriots fits. Prior to Super Bowl LII and the Nick Foles engineered upset, Philly went into New England in 2015 with a paltry 4-7 mark. The Patriots were riding high at 10-1 and surged to a 14-0 lead. It wasn’t anywhere near enough as the Eagles scored 35 straight en route to a seven-point victory. That had to be a highlight of the Chip Kelly era.
5. Chiefs at Bears
Andy Reid will square off against one of his disciples, Matt Nagy as Kansas City travels to the Windy City. Nagy actually was an intern at Philadelphia Eagles training camp in 2008 and ’09, when Reid was coach. Nagy was a coaches’ assistant the following season and moved up the ladder in 2011-12. Reid took Nagy with him to Kansas City when he became coach in 2013.
4. Packers at Chargers
Aaron Rodgers and Philip Rivers get together in what should be an aerial duel in Los Angeles. They have met twice prior and combined for 1,390 yards and 12 touchdown passes. In their last meeting, Rivers threw for 503 yards in a loss. The Chargers will be looking to break a seven-game losing streak against GB.
3. Seahawks at Steelers
The last time the Steelers and Seahawks met in the regular season was in 2015. Seattle posted a 39-30 victory at home in a game that saw Russell Wilson and Ben Roethlisberger combine for 801 passing yards and six touchdowns, five by the Seahawk QB. That was the lone meeting between the great quarterbacks.
2. Saints at Rams
It’s the following season but this could be considered a rubber match from 2018. The Saints dealt the Rams their first loss last season. The Rams dealt the Saints their most painful loss, winning a controversial playoff game, 26-23 in overtime. After two bouts in the Superdome, the Saints travel to LA for the 2019 battle.
1. Chiefs at Patriots
Round Three for Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady. Will the soon-to-be third year Kansas City Chiefs quarterback be able to get into the win column against Tom Brady and the Patriots?
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