The NFL, which is optimistic about its 2020 season taking place without a hitch despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, released its 2020 regular season schedule on Thursday.
The regular season, which will begin on September 10th and finish on December 27th, has a ton of big matchups in store and will provide plenty of intrigue after big moves this offseason saw some of the game’s most familiar faces moving to new teams.
Opening weekend is always a delight for football fans, and there will be plenty of juicy matchups to analyze and watch this season. Here are our top three picks for games to watch during the first round of games.
Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs
The defending Super Bowl champions will begin the defense of their title on Thursday night in the season’s opening game. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs won’t have it easy, however, as they welcome DeShaun Watson and the Texans in a matchup of two of the league’s premier young quarterbacks.
The Texans and Chiefs faced off in the divisional round of last year’s playoffs, with the Texans stunning fans at Arrowhead Stadium after taking a 21-0 lead in the first quarter. Kansas City stormed back to win, however, in the first victory of a Super Bowl march in what was a thrilling 51-31 shootout. The season’s opening game this year promises much of the same thrilling action.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints
Tampa Bay is going to be one of the most scrutinized teams in the 2020 season after they added former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in one of the league’s most stunning moves. Joining him will be tight end Rob Gronkowski and a host of attention that will turn them into one of the league’s biggest draws.
They won’t have an easy matchup in Week 1, as they will visit the always-hostile Superdome and the 2019 division champion New Orleans Saints. Tom Brady and Saints QB Drew Brees, despite both being over 40-years-old, are still two of the league’s top signal-callers and should provide an entertaining matchup.
Los Angeles Chargers at Cincinnati Bengals
Are you looking for a game that should provide plenty of intrigue related to the 2020 NFL Draft? This Week 1 matchup might feature two teams that registered double-digit losses last season, but it also promises to feature the debuts of two of the premier players picked in this year’s draft.
Top overall pick and potential franchise savior Joe Burrow is expected to make his debut with his team in this Week 1 matchup at home against the Chargers, who selected quarterback Justin Herbert with the sixth overall pick this year. Week 1 could provide us with a fascinating showdown between these two prime targets to become NFL stars.
