NFL schedule release: Ranking each week’s best game

The NFL schedule release is upon us. We’ve known who was facing who for a while, but now we know when those games will be.

We also know what the season’s best games will be, but what will be the best game each week? Now that the NFL schedule release is done, we can answer that question as well.

Week 1: Carolina Panthers at Denver Broncos

For only the second time in NFL history (1970 being the other), the two teams who met in the previous year’s Super Bowl will open the season with each other. It’s hard to top that.

In addition to being a Super Bowl rematch, this game will answer a few questions. Will the Panthers, notably Cam Newton, adjust after being effectively shut down in the Super Bowl?

Following the retirement of Peyton Manning and the departure of Brock Osweiler, who will be under center for the Broncos and how will he look against an upper-echelon defense?

We’ll get a sense of what those answers will be very early.

Week 2: Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers

A rematch of one of the most brutal, hard hitting playoff games in a long time. It’s safe to say that these two teams do not like each other, and that bad blood will be renewed early on:

Indeed, Vontaze Burfict will be suspended for that game. Still, we can expect an abundance of hard hits and penalty flags at Heinz Field in Week 2.

Week 3: Minnesota Vikings at Carolina Panthers

These two didn’t meet in the playoffs last year, but they both qualified for the postseason.

We’ve seen some promising seasons from the Vikings in the recent past, but they haven’t put two good ones together in a while. A Week 3 showdown against the reigning NFC champions and three-time defending NFC South champs will be a great test.

It will also be another early test for Newton. Minnesota has a fantastic defense and teams have had a full offseason to see what the league MVP did last year in order to adjust to it.

Week 4: Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers

Two playoff teams that give us a pretty sharp contrast in styles. Kansas City tends to be more comfortable with games like last year’s between the two, when they won 23-13. The Steelers, on the other hand, tend to be pass happy and do better in high-scoring games.

While late-season games between playoff contenders generally get more attention, these early games can’t be overlooked. Both of these teams figure to be in the mix for a postseason spot again, so this one could well decide who makes it and who doesn’t. At the very least, it can decide who gets the playoff home game.

Week 5: Cincinnati Bengals at Dallas Cowboys

Here’s an interesting question to ask about the Cowboys.

Was the 4-12 season in 2015 just a disaster or was the 12-4 season in 2014 a complete fluke? The injury to Tony Romo in 2015 points to that season being an aberration. The fact that the 2014 season was Dallas’ only playoff appearance since 2009 points to last year being closer to the norm.

An early-season game against a perennial playoff team will give us a strong sense of what we can expect from the ‘Boys in 2016.

And while Week 5 will be a big test for Dallas, Week 6 will be a test for their Week 5 opponent.

Week 6: Cincinnati Bengals at New England Patriots

It feels like a broken record to say this, but it needs to be repeated until something changes. We know that Cincinnati can get to the playoffs, but they haven’t proven they can win once there.

Cincinnati and New England join the Broncos as the only AFC teams to have qualified for the postseason over each of the last five years. Unlike New England and Denver, though, the Bengals have yet to win a playoff game.

The Patriots have made the AFC Championship game every year since 2011. So, while it’s not a playoff game, it’s a perfect chance for Cincinnati to show it can beat a team that clearly knows how to win in January.

Week 7: Houston Texans at Denver Broncos

Brock Osweiler decided to leave Denver for Houston in free agency. That, combined with the retirement of Manning, has contributed to a quarterback situation that is still very much unsettled.

For the Broncos, this is the perfect opportunity to show Osweiler that they don’t miss him and he made the wrong decision.

For Osweiler and the Texans, it’s a perfect chance to show that they’re true AFC contenders.

That, combined with the fans in Denver giving Osweiler a warm welcome back, make this one a must watch.

Week 8: Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers

This is an NFC Championship game rematch between the teams that were the NFC’s best squads all throughout the 2015 season. In addition to this playing a huge role in potential playoff positioning, it’s important for each team from a mental standpoint.

For the Cardinals, it’s a chance to turn the page from the way that each of their last two seasons ended, losing the the Panthers.

For the Panthers, it’s an opportunity to prove that they’re still the big dogs (or cats) in the NFC and that the path to the Super Bowl goes through them.

Week 9: Indianapolis Colts at Green Bay Packers

 

After making the playoffs for three straight seasons from 2012-2014, the Colts missed the playoffs in a disastrous 2015 campaign. A game against a perennial contender is a perfect way to show that the bad season was just a down year and not a sign of things to come.

Additionally, a huge part of what makes this game fun is the probability that we’ll see quarterbacks Andrew Luck and Aaron Rodgers square off against each other. With the Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady now defunct, this is about as good of a showdown as we can ask for.

Of course, we’ll only see that QB duel if the Indianapolis offensive line can keep Luck on his feet and healthy, so let’s all keep our fingers crossed.

Week 10: Seattle Seahawks at New England Patriots

A Super Bowl rematch, once removed, and what a Super Bowl it was.

Recent history tells us that this game will have major playoff implications in both conferences. Since 2012, only the Broncos have more wins than these two teams.

Recent history also tells us that this will be a memorable game, as the last two games between these teams were decided by a combined five points. New England won Super Bowl XLIX 28-24 in February of 2015 while Seattle prevailed over the Pats by a point back in 2012.

This will also be a fun game when looking ahead. It would not be terribly surprising if the two powers met again on the first Sunday in February.

Week 11: Green Bay Packers at Washington Redskins

Another playoff rematch from last year. And while the 35-18 final would indicate that the Packers dominated, the game was a lot more competitive than that.

The Redskins took a step forward last year, winning their division. If they want to keep moving forward, they need to beat teams like Green Bay.

Conversely, the Packers need to handle rising teams like Washington if they’re still going to be considered an elite NFL team.

Week 12: New England Patriots at New York Jets

Even in the Jets’ down years, they always seem to play the Patriots very tough. Additionally, football fans for quite some time have been wondering when New York, Buffalo Bills, or Miami Dolphins will step up and challenge New England in the AFC East.

The Jets will have a great chance this week to get a leg up on their division rivals.

Giving New York’s defense two weeks to prepare for Tom Brady gives them an adequate chance at pulling off the win.

The Jets are currently the most-qualified of the Pats’ three divisional rivals to unseat the AFC East powerhouse, and a home showdown on prime time would be the ideal place to show it.

Week 13: Carolina Panthers at Seattle Seahawks

The Panthers have three straight playoff appearances while the Seahawks have made it to the postseason four consecutive times. That’s an indication that this one will likely go a long way in determining who earns a playoff spot and potential home-field advantage.

These two teams rarely play bad games. Until 2015, Seattle had the role of the big brother in this rivalry, always coming out on top. But Carolina got a measure of revenge in 2015, beating the Seahawks in both the regular season and the playoffs. That last game ended with Cam Newton throwing a 12th Man flag away.

It’s unlikely that the 12’s in Seattle will welcome Newton with open arms.

Week 14: Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers

The Seahawks may or may not like a back-loaded schedule, but these late-season clashes are going to be awfully fun for football fans everywhere.

Much like Seattle and Carolina, the Seahawks and Packers usually play exciting games that aren’t decided until the final minutes. They’re also both perennial playoff teams and if they’re not two of the better teams in the conference this year, it’d be surprising. The playoff implications are real here.

Even if by some chance that doesn’t happen and both of these teams are out of contention, with stars like Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews, Russell Wilson, and Richard Sherman, this game will be entertaining anyway.

Week 15: New England Patriots at Denver Broncos

While we’re done with the Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning showdowns, the Patriots and Broncos still have a lot to offer:

These two not only played in the AFC Championship game last season, but it was one of the best conference championships games we’ve seen in a while.

It will be fun to see if Tom Brady and Bill Belichick can bounce back from the beating that Von Miller and the Denver defense gave them in January.

Something else to keep in mind. One of these two teams has been the AFC’s No. 1 seed every year since 2012. Much like Seattle’s games against the Panthers and Packers in the NFC, a late-season showdown may well determine who ends up hosting the AFC Championship game.

Week 16: Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks

Another big game towards the end of the season for the Seahawks.

Arizona and Seattle have finished first and second in the NFC West for each of the last two seasons, with the Seahawks winning in 2014 and the Cardinals taking the crown in 2015.

It’s pretty unlikely that the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers will do anything to challenge the Seattle/Arizona supremacy this year. So, the games between the Cardinals and Seahawks could well decide who wins the division and who’s left competing for a wild card spot.

Week 17: New York Giants at Washington Redskins

When looking ahead to Week 17, we have to ask a few questions.

One, which division is most likely to be on the line? Two, which game is most likely to decide the division?

The NFC East is generally a close, competitive division and frequently features three or even all four teams in the mix until the final week.

Given that this game features the reigning division champ, it gets a slight nod over the Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles clash.