We're about a month & a half away from the NFL's kickoff weekend... here are the five matchups that I'm most excited for!
#1 Miami Dolphins @ Los Angeles Chargers
This is definitely a playoff caliber matchup, right out of the gates. Tua proved a lot to me last year... and Herbert is a living legend. Both sides of the offense are LOADED. And both sides seem to have either added or successfully retained ammo in the off-season. I could easily see this one turning into a shootout - and maybe the most exciting matchup of the week.
2. Detroit Lions @ Kansas City Chiefs
This one isn't about who'll be competitive and who's going to come out on top. Sorry Lions fans... I'm about 95% certain the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs are taking the "W" here.
With that said, I'm still monitoring the progress of this Detroit team. They haven't added a lot, but with first-round draft pick Jahmyr Gibbs; Goff & St. Brown connecting; and Aidan Hutchinson fronting an improving defense (who just added Dre Bly as their CBs coach this off-season), a good start could very well mean the Lions being a couple inches closer to making a Wildcard spot this year.
3. Carolina Panthers @ Atlanta Falcons
Bryce Young (CAR) vs Desmond Ridder (ATL) - these are the NFC's future stars at the QB position. Talent-wise, the Falcons definitely have the higher stacked offense, between the two NFC South teams. However, the QB play is going to be what we're watching in this one. Neither will be flawless, since both are still in their first handful of official pro starts. But this game is sure to provide us then same feeling, and enjoyment, as peeking in the oven when the cookie dough starts rising... they're not done yet, but "oh boy!" are they almost ready!
4. Buffalo Bills @ New York Jets
Division rivals. Buffalo vs a very quickly improving New York Jets team. One AFC juggernaut (BUF) against a team who very well put it all together this year and creep themselves into the playoffs, if they can keep up the positive momentum they were able to build from their better parts of last year. Oh yeah, and have you heard...? Aaron Rodgers is a Jet now! A rare moment that lets us watch Allen vs Rodgers, in what very well may be one of their last opportunities ever.
5. Green Bay Packers @ Chicago Bears
Again, this NFC North battle probably won't be the ratings getter of the weekend... or let's be honest, the most exciting one, either. But watching the first "Post-Rodgers era" Green Bay Packers game, led by Jordan Love is very exciting to me. They take on a Chicago Bears team who seems to have a lot of fun on the field, and seems to be a little closer to putting things together, with every game. There's a lot of names on offense, for both sides of the ball, that I'm very interested in watching (Watson (WR - GB); Aaron Jones (RB - GB); Justin Fields (QB - CHI); Cole Kmet (TE - CHI)) - this should just be a good, fun football game.
HONORABLE MENTION: San Francisco 49ers @ Pittsburgh Steelers
You know I love my "honorable mentions" and today is no different. Who the heck is San Francisco going to start at QB? They have Trey Lance... Brock Purdy is injured... Jimmy G left for Las Vegas... and in the off-season they picked up, Sam Darnold?
The 49ers have, perhaps, the most "complete" football team in the entire NFL. So QB... shouldn't be a problem? The Steelers were an interesting mix of "hot or not" from week to week, last year. This game could be anarchy.
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