The NFL schedule was released Wednesday. The start of another holiday season for football fanatics, with the draft coming up at the end of next week in Nashville. Looking ahead at what lines up as potential classic matchups.
17. Bengals vs. Rams (London, Oct. 27)
May not feel like the sexiest matchup on the field but it does present the opportunity for the youngest professor in the game (Sean McVay) to meet one of his students (Zac Taylor) in an international battle. How much did Taylor learn from his mentor? It will be fascinating to see.
16. Steelers at Jets (Dec. 22)
This one certainly will have hard feelings when the teams take the field as Le’Veon Bell meets the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team he held out and sat out on in 2018. Have to think there will be some extra incentive on both sides to show who won the personal war.
15. Texans at Saints (Sept. 9)
This could provide all sorts of fireworks as two of the best offenses in the game meet in the Superdome. The Texans do have J.J. Watt but that doesn’t mean New Orleans won’t be able to move the ball consistently. And the Saints defense is sturdy but Deshaun Watson, DeAndre Hopkins and the rest of the Houston offense is more than potent.
14. Packers vs. Bears (Opening night, Sept. 5)
The NFC North rivals kick off the 100th anniversary season. Would be impossible to get a rerun of last season’s first meeting when a hobbled Aaron Rodgers came out of the locker room at halftime and led an improbable Green Bay rally to sink Chicago.
13. Rams at Cowboys (Dec. 15)
Teams on the rise come together in Texas. The Rams seemed to be a step or two ahead of the Cowboys but Dak Prescott will have Amari Cooper for an entire season and that will provide a great complement to Ezekiel Elliott.
12. Chiefs at Chargers (Azteca Stadium, Nov. 18)
The NFL attempted to have Kansas City play a Los Angeles team in Mexico last season. It didn’t work out and all that the moved game did was turn into the highest-scoring Monday nighter in history. So, let’s come back and put Kansas City South of the Border again and set them up with their AFC West rival Los Angeles Chargers. The second meeting last season between these teams was spectacular and there is no reason to believe these teams can’t deliver a special game, again).
11. Cowboys at Saints (Sept. 29)
The Saints were on quite the roll last season when they ran into a Dallas defense that wouldn’t give any ground. The 13-10 victory in November was one of the most surprising results of the season. Shutting down Drew Brees & Co. again won’t be easy, but it does set up a great matchup.
10. Eagles at Falcons (Sept. 15)
It would be redundant to keep picking games against the Patriots. So, instead, we will go for a Battle of the Birds. Matt Ryan and Atlanta play host to the Philadelphia Eagles in what lines up as a potential battle of NFL powers. The Falcons need to rebound from a season that was ravaged by injuries. If they stay healthy, they can be a force in the NFC.
9. Ravens at Seahawks (Oct. 20)
The Ravens come to the Great Northwest and bring with them a familiar face to Seattle fans — Earl Thomas. That should be one loud and rowdy night as Thomas’ exit didn’t go smoothly.
8. Browns at Patriots (Oct. 27)
Don’t want to overload on the Super Bowl champs, but how can one ignore when the up-and-coming Cleveland Browns head to Foxboro to meet the New England Patriots. There’s Baker Mayfield and Tom Brady battling and Bill Belichick facing the team he once coached. Well, maybe that reference has passed its expiration date.
7. Steelers at Ravens (Dec. 29)
These teams are always battling in the AFC North, so it seems a perfect fit to bring them together in the final week of the season. Rather than having players watch on jumbo scoreboards, fans can hope playoff spots are on the line and the teams can settle things themselves.
6. Packers at Chiefs (Oct. 27)
Need to say any more than Aaron Rodgers vs. Patrick Mahome? Didn’t think so.
5. Redskins at Vikings (Oct. 24)
The only thing one could ask more of would have been for Kirk Cousins to have gone back to Washington to face his former mates. The Vikings’ QB has a lot to prove in 2019
4. Bears at Raiders (Tottenham Spur, Oct. 6)
Khalil Mack will have to go a long way to meet his former team. Jon Gruden and the Oakland Raiders, who couldn’t come to an agreement with the All-Pro linebacker before last season get to meet Mack and the Monsters of the Midway across the pond. One can be sure Chicago will be breathing fire as it sees the Silver & Black.
3. Chiefs at Bears (Dec. 22)
Another enticing matchup for the Bears with an AFC West opponent. This doesn’t have the emotional ride the game with Oakland will bring. It does, however, give us the No. 1 offense in the Chiefs against the No. 1 defense in the Bears. And if anyone wants to know what the Chicago defense can do to a high-powered offense ask Sean McVay and the Rams.
2. Saints at Rams (Sept. 15)
There’s bound to be a zillion replays of the controversial non-call of pass interference in their playoff meeting from last season. What can’t be lost is the Saints and Rams played two thrilling games and there is no reason to believe these teams won’t add this one to make it a trilogy. And both of our top two games are rematches of the Conference championships from last season. So the next game is …
1. Chiefs at Patriots (Dec. 8)
AP Photo/FileRound Three in the duel between Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady will take place at Gillette Stadium. Will the Chiefs’ young gun finally break through against the G.O.A.T.?
