The NFL regular season is merely a month away. Another year of amazing catches and extraordinary comebacks awaits football fans. While some NFL fans are still embroiled in arguments over NFL expert picks, others are obsessing over the must-watch games of the 2016 season, the most prominent including the following:
10). Patriots/Browns Week 5
While these two sides rarely deliver the most memorable games, Week 5 none the less marks the return of Tom Brady. Brady’s four-game suspension should have ended by then, and there is no telling how the four-time Super Bowl Champion’s presence will affect the Patriots.
9). Broncos/Bengals Week 3
The Bengals must face the Jets and the Steelers before contending against the Broncos who beat them 20-17 in overtime last season. The home advantage might give the Bengals the push necessary to come out on top, though.
8). Jets/Bills Week 2
In failing to deal with the Bills last season, the Jets failed to make the playoffs. The game against Buffalo might allow the Jets to overcome their discouraging slump. On the other side, the Bills cannot ignore the Cardinals and Patriots, their opponents in the coming weeks.
7). Patriots/Cardinals Week 1
Having won their respective divisions last season, both of these sides should comfortably make the playoffs again. The Cardinals, who are at home, must shrug off the considerable pressure of fans who expect them to take this one, especially since they have starting quarterback Carson Palmer under center.
6). Giants/Cowboys Week 1
The Giants VS The Cowboys is fast becoming the must-see matchup of the division. The Cowboys have a definite advantage here, having won five of the last six meetings. Whether or not the Giants can stop blowing fourth-quarter leads will determine their fate in this game.
5). Cardinals/Panthers
The Panthers decimated the cardinals last postseason in the NFC championship. The Cardinals must muster their full strength to overcome that particular humiliation, especially in a game taking place at the Panther’s home. Carson Palmer really needs to add a playoff victory to his resume.
4). Seahawks/Patriots Week 10
The Seahawks will not soon forget that memorable play in Super Bowl 49 at the 1-yard line. With the Cardinals winning the division last season, the Seahawks are no longer at the top of the pyramid in the NFC West.
America will watch with bated breath as Richard Sherman and Tom Brady clash in this exciting rematch.
3). Bills/Jets Week 17
The Jets cannot afford to lose to the Bills on two occasions. In losing to the Bills on the Road, the Jets failed to reach the playoffs last season. The fact that they are at home in this match should give them a leg up.
On the other hand, the fact that Tyrod Taylor is playing for a new contract might give him the strength to lead the Bills to victory.
2). Steelers/Bengals Week 15
The top squads in the division at the moment, the Steelers, and the Bengals are the very definitions of Smash Mouth football. The Steelers showed twice last season that they could effectively shut the Bengals’ offense down.
Head Coach Marvin Lewis’ inability to win a single playoff game in 13 seasons will keep him motivated in this match.
1). Panthers/Broncos Week 1
There are a lot of factors to consider with this match up. Vin Miller is finally back following complex contract negotiations. The Panthers cannot have forgotten the manner in which the Broncos humiliated them in the Super Bowl.
Mark Sanchez must undertake the herculean task of filling Peyton Manning’s spot. The panthers can no longer rely on Josh Norman, and whether their secondary will adjust remains to be seen.
This matchup has everything one could hope for in an exciting NFL matchup in Week 1.
