There’s no more guesswork to be done. Now that the 2018 NFL schedule is officially official, we can really look ahead to see which games grab our attention the most.
For the purposes of this list, we’re focusing on the most compelling game each week around the league. Not surprisingly, a bunch of them occur on Sunday or Monday night — both prime-time schedules are absolutely loaded this year (in theory, at least).
From a Week 1 matchup between two quarterbacks on new teams that just paid them a ton of cash to be there to a Week 17 battle between divisional rivals, these are the games we can’t wait to watch.
Week 1: San Francisco 49ers vs. Minnesota Vikings
Jimmy Garoppolo and Kirk Cousins just got paid in a major way, with both quarterbacks setting new markets at the time of their new deals. Now it’s time to see if they were really worth all that cash, and the football gods have made it easy by pairing them together in Week 1. San Francisco isn’t the same kind of expected championship contender as Minnesota, which went to the NFC Championship Game last year. But these two teams are about as hot as they come entering the 2018 NFL season, and this game will feature some incredible talent on both sides. Plus, Jerick McKinnon will get an immediate chance to prove he’s starting material against his former team, adding to the drama.
Week 2: New England Patriots vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
This AFC Championship Game rematch should be a really good early barometer for both teams. Given how close the Jaguars came in that game to beating the Patriots, and given how Jacksonville appears to have gotten through the offseason in much better shape than New England, this could be a significant marker for the up-and-coming crew from Duval. Of course, Blake Bortles will need to mind his Ps and Qs, but given the losses to the Patriots’ offensive line the Sacksonville crew could feast on Tom Brady in a big way. All that being said, if there’s anything we’ve learned over the years it’s that you bet against Brady and Bill Belichick at your own peril. This should be a fun one.
Week 3: Los Angeles Chargers vs. Los Angeles Rams
The battle of Los Angeles. This should be grand. Especially because both the Chargers and Rams actually have some darn good teams right now. Being that this game will be contested at the newly renamed Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, we would be shocked if the joint wasn’t absolutely packed. Will Philip Rivers and Co. be able to withstand the fury of the recently revamped Rams defense? Will Jared Goff and his offense take that next step going up against Joey Bosa, Casey Hayward and the gang? It’s going to be a fun game, and it’s really a great opportunity to feature top-notch football in Los Angeles.
Week 4: Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (SNF)
This will be the only game to watch as a Sunday night special, and these two AFC North rivals almost always deliver a heated slugfest worth watching. The Ravens have been on the losing end three games in a row, having recently fallen on hard times. But with a revamped receiving corps, led by one Michael Crabtree, perhaps the offense can really get going again, especially with All-Pro guard Marshal Yanda coming back healthy. The Steelers obviously have an absolutely loaded lineup that’s fun to watch every week. Baltimore’s defense loves the challenge of shutting it down, however, and we look forward to the first of two matchups between these natural rivals.
Week 5: Dallas Cowboys vs. Houston Texans (SNF)
This game will be huge for football fans in Texas, with both pro teams going at it head-to-head for just the fifth time in history. Houston has been little brother in more ways than one the previous four times these teams matched up. But the Texans have an up-and-coming offense led by young Deshaun Watson that could give the Dallas defense quite a run for its money. On the other side, we fully expect the battle between Houston’s front seven and Dallas’ offensive line to be fierce for 60 minutes. If Dak Prescott is going to make fans forget about Tony Romo, then he needs to have a big game throwing the ball, and he’s now working with a revamped, Dez Bryant-less receiving corps.
Week 6: San Francisco 49ers vs. Green Bay Packers (MNF)
Whew. This will really be a good test for the burgeoning 49ers, led by Garoppolo and Kyle Shanahan. Going into Lambeau Field on a Monday night, on national television with the world watching will give us a strong indication about whether San Francisco is an entertaining pretender or legitimate contender. And anytime you get a chance to watch Aaron Rodgers in prime time, you take it with both hands. This is a player who always seems to rise to the occasion, and no lead is too great. San Francisco’s young defense will be tested, and it’s going to be fun watching Richard Sherman attempt to out-wit Rodgers in the passing game.
Week 7: Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Last year, this matchup between AFC South teams was nothing fair. Jacksonville absolutely abused Tom Savage in the first game of the season and then gave Deshaun Watson a nice welcome-to-the-NFL present in his first action after the rookie replaced Savage. Still, Watson did some exciting things in that game, letting us know he was for real with a gorgeous touchdown pass to DeAndre Hopkins (watch here). Assuming the Texans come into this game healthy, things should be much more even. Houston has the players on both sides of the ball to give the Jaguars a real run for their money.
Week 8: New Orleans Saints vs. Minnesota Vikings
The Saints are going to have this game highlighted in a big way, as it will give them a chance for some redemption. As you likely remember, the Vikings advanced to the NFC Championship Game on a miracle play that became known as the “Minnesota Miracle,” when rookie Saints defensive back Marcus Williams whiffed badly on a would-be tackle, allowing Stefon Diggs to sprint to the end zone on a game-winning touchdown. Both of these teams have championship aspirations, too, along with star players on both sides of the ball. This game should be heated from start to finish and could end up having significant playoff implications when it’s all said and done.
Week 9: Green Bay Packers vs. New England Patriots (SNF)
The battle between the GOAT and one who would challenge his status as the greatest ever. On Sunday Night Football, no less. This should be spectacular. Aaron Rodgers, who now has a Rob Gronkowski-like target in Jimmy Graham, will be going up against Tom Brady for just the second time ever (as a starter). The first time they met (back in 2014) it was Rodgers who outdueled Brady by over 100 yards through the air in a narrow 26-21 victory for the Packers. This could be the last time we ever seen a Rodgers-Brady duel, so it absolutely had to make it on our list of most compelling matchups on the 2018 NFL schedule.
Week 10: Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles (SNF)
Last year, obviously we know that Philly ended up winning it all. The Cowboys, who earned the top seed in 2016, didn’t even make the playoffs despite a 9-7 record. Of course, that ninth win came in Week 17 in a game against the Eagles, who had nothing to play for. The other matchup these NFC East rivals had last season resulted in a 37-9 shellacking in which Dak Prescott had one of the worst games of his professional career while Dallas’ defense got rolled by Philly’s running game. The ‘Boys will be eager to prove that their 2016 season was what we should expect, rather than last year’s disappointing campaign. Winning in the City of Brotherly Love would go a long way to proving just that.
Week 11: Atlanta Falcons vs. New Orleans Saints (Thanksgiving Day)
These two NFC South rivals are always a treat to watch, and the added bonus here is obviously that they’ll be playing on Thanksgiving Day. Last year, the two teams split their seasonal series 1-1, with both teams winning at home. The Mercedes-Benz Superdome will be rocking for this one, which features top-tier quarterbacks on both teams in Drew Brees and Matt Ryan, not to mention a dazzling array of playmakers on both sides of the ball. There’s a really good chance the outcome will have a lot to do with who wins the division, too. A hot game between two hot teams on a holiday is just what the doctor ordered.
Week 12: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Rams (MNF in Mexico City)
Two up-and-coming young quarterbacks leading two dynamic offenses on foreign soil. It’s going to be really fun watching Jared Goff and Patrick Mahomes — two young passers who could be really good for a really long time — going head-to-head in this game. There is also the added allure of Marcus Peters going up against his former team (he cannot wait to pick off Mahomes, by the way), and Sammy Watkins doing the same against the Rams. In terms of pure excitement, this game should be loaded with big plays by both teams, and it’s going to be played in front of a rabid fan base in Mexico that relishes every chance it gets to watch NFL action.
Week 13: San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks (SNF)
The return of Richard Sherman. On Sunday night. And this could be a biggie in terms of NFC West preeminence. It’s not an accident that the NFL scheduled things out so that the 49ers and Seahawks don’t even seen each other until Week 13. Sherman should theoretically be fully healthy by then (he’s expected to be ready for training camp). And there aren’t many more compelling storylines this year than the former Legion of Boom leader returning to CenturyLink Field to battle the team he helped win a championship a few years back. Will Russell Wilson and the boys get the better of their former teammate, or will Sherman and the 49ers get some revenge while trampling their fierce division rival? It’s going to be very fun watching this one play out.
Week 14: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Oakland Raiders (SNF)
It’s going to be fascinating to see where Jon Gruden’s team is at this point in the season. Given the way the team has brought in so many older players, it’s hard to imagine the Raiders being a powerhouse, but anything can happen. Still, we cannot deny Oakland’s star power. Derek Carr, Amari Cooper and Marshawn Lynch lead an offense that was very good two seasons ago, and Khalil Mack is one of the most dynamic defenders in the NFL. He’ll need to have a spectacular game to bottle up Le’Veon Bell and make Ben Roethlisberger’s life miserable. But if Mack and Co. can do those things, the Raiders have a chance to pull off an upset on national television.
Week 15: New England Patriots vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
It’s no secret that Tom Brady has owned the Steelers going back since he started playing. Still, it’s always fun when he and Ben Roethlisberger go head-to-head, and they’ve done that many times over the years. This could potentially be the last time both quarterbacks see one another in a regular-season game, as it wouldn’t be shocking to see one or both of them retire following the 2018 season. Heinz Field will be rocking in anticipation of what should be yet another classic between these two AFC powerhouses when New England visits in December.
Week 16: Denver Broncos vs. Oakland Raiders (MNF)
The Broncos and Raiders have a long history of hating each other, and the rivalry between these AFC West squads is still one of the fiercest in the NFL. Both teams are in somewhat of a transitional period, but both are going to be doing everything in their power to get back to the playoffs after some frustrating finishes the past two seasons. Can Case Keenum do for Denver what last year’s trio of embarrassment could not? If he becomes a stabilizing force for the Broncos, then Denver really could make another run at postseason glory. Winning in the Black Hole is never easy, however, and we fully expect a brutal struggle when these teams clash in Week 16 to close out the Monday Night Football schedule on the season.
Week 17: Carolina Panthers vs. New Orleans Saints
Last season, these two teams both posted records of 11-5, with New Orleans edging Carolina based on head-to-head win percentage. There’s a really good chance these two NFC South rivals will once again be vying for the top spot in their division come Week 17, and one team could be on the outside looking in at the playoffs when it’s all said and done. Both teams feature NFL superstar quarterbacks in Cam Newton and Drew Brees. Both teams feature dynamic defenses and exciting skill-position players on offense. If you could only pick one game to watch at the end the season, you could do a lot worse than this one.