The 2023 NFL schedule release was Thursday night as the league announced its full 18-week slate starting in September.
There are some absolutely huge games on the NFL schedule this coming season, including rematches of the NFC and AFC Championship Games as well as the Super Bowl from back in February.
NFL Commissioner Rodger Goodell and Co. know full well what they are doing when it comes to the league’s schedule. Despite the promotion of Thursday night’s release being overplayed a bit, it’s exciting at this time on the gridiron calendar. Below, we rank the 10-best games on the 2023 NFL slate.
Related: Full 2023 NFL schedule
10. Houston Texans at Carolina Panthers
- Date: October 29
- Time: 1:00 PM ET
- TV coverage: FOX
The No. 1 and No. 2 picks going up against one another. The last time this happened was back in 2021, and it proved to be a flop with Zach Wilson “leading” his New York Jets to a win over Trevor Lawrence’s Jaguars. Prior to that, it was back in 2015 when Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota made their regular season debuts against one another. Mariota completed 13-of-15 passes with four touchdowns in leading his Tennessee Titans to a blowout win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Unlike these previous two matchups, it was an open question who would be the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft with weeks remaining until things got going in Kansas City. From that point on, everyone knew that the Panthers were going to select Bryce Young over C.J. Stroud.
The larger surprise here is that Stroud went No. 2 to the Houston Texans despite pre-draft concerns. These two downtrodden franchises are certainly relying on the rooks to lead them moving forward. In a matchup between two players who will be compared to one another for their entire careers, this late-October game should be a popcorn-worthy time.
9. Cincinnati Bengals at Jacksonville Jaguars
- Date: December 4 (Monday night)
- Time: 8:15 PM ET
- TV coverage: ESPN/ABC
Sensing a theme here? We begin our best games after the NFL schedule release with young quarterbacks going up against one another. Joe Burrow is already among the best in the game after two consecutive stirring seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, including leading them to the Super Bowl after the 2021 campaign. What Burrow has done from a statistical standpoint during this two-year span is otherworldly.
- Joe Burrow stats (2021-22): 68.3% completion, 9,086 yards, 76 total TD, 26 INT, 104.2 QB rating
Lawrence and his upstart Jaguars are looking to take that next step and become legitimate conference title contenders with Cincinnati in the AFC. The Jags are coming off a brilliant 2022 season in which they earned a trip to the divisional playoffs. This Week 13 game is going to be something to watch when it comes to both the quarterbacks and their teams. That’s for sure.
Related: Sportsnaut’s updated 2023 NFL power rankings
8. Miami Dolphins at Los Angeles Chargers
- Date: September 10
- Time: 4:25 PM ET
- TV coverage: CBS
There is certainly some historical significance to this Week 1 matchup. Back in 2020, the Miami Dolphins opted to select Tua Tagovailoa over Oregon’s Justin Herbert at No. 5 overall. One pick later, and the Chargers drafted Herbert.
As Herbert continues to look like one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL, Tua is coming off an injury-plagued 2022 season. This has led to some questions about his future in the professional football world. The backdrop here includes Miami and Los Angeles looking to take that next step after both lost in the NFL Wild Card Playoffs a season ago.
Tagovailoa and Herbert have already played twice in their three-year careers. The first matchup came back in November of 2020. Miami won that matchup despite Herbert tallying three total touchdowns. Last season saw Los Angeles return the favor with a 23-17 win over Miami. Herbert completed 39-of-51 passes for 367 yards in the win.
Can Tua prove that he’s on the same level as his 2020 classmate or will Herbert continue to show that the Dolphins made a mistake in the 2020 NFL Draft?
7. Buffalo Bills at New York Jets
- Date: September 11 (Monday night)
- Time: 8:15 PM ET
- TV coverage: ESPN/ABC
Aaron Rodgers vs Josh Allen. A four-time NFL MVP taking on the new task of playing for a long-downtrodden Jets squad. A younger quarterback attempting to overcome some late-season struggles in 2022 while proving that Buffalo is still the top dog in the AFC East.
The league knew what it was doing with its NFL schedule release on Thursday, pitting these two against one another on Monday Night Football to open the 2023 season. It also takes place in the 22nd anniversary of 9/11, mere miles from Ground Zero.
Related: Sportsnaut’s 2023 NFL Playoff and Super Bowl predictions
6. Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs
- Date: December 31
- Time: 4:25 PM ET
- TV coverage: CBS
Two consecutive AFC Championship Game matchups between these growing rivals. Two close games. Two separate results. What we’ve seen from Kansas City and Cincinnati in the AFC Playoffs in recent seasons is nothing short of extraordinary.
In last season’s conference title matchup, Harrison Butker nailed the game-winning field goal for Kansas City with three seconds left. That drive was spearheaded by a dumb personal foul penalty on Bengals edge rusher Joseph Ossai. Playing through an ankle injury, Patrick Mahomes threw for 326 yards while Joe Burrow struggled with two interceptions.
Sure, one regular-season game doesn’t mean a whole lot in the grand scheme of things. But this New Year’s Eve matchup could very well go a long way in dictating home-field advantage in the AFC Playoffs. In particular, Cincinnati would love to avoid going through Arrowhead Stadium again in 2023 after circumstances out of its control led to that reality last season.
5. Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers
- Date: October 8 (Sunday Night)
- Time: 8:20 PM ET
- TV coverage: NBC
The top rivalry of the 1990s around the NFL seems to have been renewed. San Francisco has knocked out Dallas in the playoffs two consecutive years. This past season saw the 49ers win at home by the score of 19-12 in a game that saw Dak Prescott struggle big time against the league’s best defense.
Back in January of 2022, Prescott and the Cowboys made a major mistake late in the game, preventing a potential win over their rivals.
Heading into the 2023 NFL season, both of these teams are seen as legitimate Super Bowl contenders. San Francisco has earned two consecutive NFC Championship Game appearances. Dallas has not been to the conference title since all the way back in 1995.
What a statement this would be for Dak and Co. if they went into Santa Clara on Sunday Night Football and came away with a win. Either way, this matchup could have wide-ranging playoff implications.
4. Philadelphia Eagles at New York Jets
- Date: TBD
- Time: TBD
- TV coverage: TBD
Aaron Rodgers taking on the defending NFC champion Eagles on the road. Doing so with Philadelphia favored to represent its conference in Las Vegas for Super Bowl LVIII. There are so many storylines when it comes to this on the NFL schedule.
Outside of that, Rodgers will try to defy father time against an up-and-coming MVP candidate of his own in that of Jalen Hurts. Could this be a precursor of things to come once February comes calling? We’ll find out soon enough.
3. San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles
- Date: December 3
- Time: 4:25 PM ET
- TV coverage: Fox
The NFL schedule makers know exactly what they are doing. Following Philadelphia’s blowout win over an injury-plagued 49ers team in the NFC Championship Game, several San Francisco players have responded by going after the Eagles. In short, the likes of Deebo Samuel and Co. don’t believe Philly would have won this game if the 49ers had a healthy quarterback. Remember, Brock Purdy injured his elbow on the first drive. Prior to that, he had led San Francisco to seven consecutive wins after replacing an injured Jimmy Garoppolo.
Either way, these are the two-top contenders to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl. It’s going to be a bitter-filled game, potentially creating one of the league’s next best rivalries. It could also determine home-field advantage in the NFC Playoffs.
2. Buffalo Bills at Cincinnati Bengals
- Date: November 5 (Sunday night)
- Time: 8:15 PM ET
- TV coverage: NBC
Stefon Diggs nearly stormed out of the locker room. There was seemingly a split between the star wide receiver and Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Fans laid down boos late in the game. In short, it was an ugly scene in Western New York as Buffalo fell to the Cincinnati Bengals by the score of 27-10 in last season’s AFC Divisional Playoffs.
We now know this was not lost on the powers that be following the NFL schedule release. Two of the best quarterbacks in the league going up against one another on Sunday Night Football. So much potentially on the line. Buffalo wanting to prove that the premature playoff exits of the past two seasons are a thing of the past. Cincinnati looking to show that it remains a top dog in the AFC. Yeah, this one is going to be fun.
1. Philadelphia Eagles at Kansas City Chiefs
- Date: November 20 (Monday Night Football)
- Time: 8:15 PM ET
- TV coverage: ESPN/ABC
Late November of the NFL schedule is going to be absolutely lit as a rematch of last season’s Super Bowl dominates the league’s landscape. You also better believe that NFL TV ratings for this game are going to be through the roof.
A hobbled Patrick Mahomes led Kansas City to a dramatic 38-35 win over Philadelphia in Super Bowl LVII. He accounted for three touchdowns while completing 21-of-27 passes. On the other end, Jalen Hurts put up an historical effort with 374 total yards and four total touchdowns. It was among the best Super Bowls in modern history, and the NFL was smart to schedule this in the second half of November on Monday Night Football.
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