The release of the NFL schedule is the only major football event in between the draft and the start of training camps. We already knew who plays whom but now we know when they will play, which can make all the difference. A schedule that gets easier later in the season can lead to improbable playoff rallies. Meanwhile, a long tough road trip could prove to be a season dooming obstacle. Mostly though, the schedule just gives us a baseline on what to expect next year. Fans can start planning what games they want to attend, when to start looking towards the draft, and when to watch the most exciting games. This list is to help with the latter, with our five must-watch games of the 2020 season.
Five must-watch games of the 2020 NFL season
#5: Week 17: Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers
The NFC West currently looks like a two-team race between the Seahawks and the 49ers. The tension could be at an apex come Week 17. We’ve seen it time and time again, there is a legitimate chance that the winner of this Week 17 contest will clinch the divisional title. The 49ers are looking to have a strong rebound year after losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl, while the Seahawks are looking to get revenge for the Week 17 loss they suffered last year. These two teams both have Super Bowl aspirations and the winner of the NFC West will automatically be put in a strong playoff position.
#4: Week 16: Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys
The NFC East is consistently the most exciting and most competitive division in the NFL. Whether it be because every team is terrible, or because they have multiple double-digit win teams, the division always seems to come down to the last two weeks. The two top teams in the division are currently the Cowboys and the Eagles, and they’ll finally face-off during Week 16 in Dallas. The winner of that game could decide the division, and it will hold major playoff implications regardless. Expect an exciting game that could very well come down to the wire.
#3: Week 6: Green Bay Packers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Despite Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady dominating the league for the majority of the past two decades, they’ve only met on the field twice. The score is 1-1, and this is the pivotal third meeting. Both quarterbacks have proven to shine brightest in clutch situations, and we could potentially be in for a treat when two of the greats clash for what could be the last time. How Rodgers and Brady play in the fourth quarter will determine how great this game really is.
#2: Week 1: New Orleans Saints @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Two of the greatest quarterbacks to ever live will take each other on to start the season. What could be better than this? Brady brings new fire to this divisional rivalry as these two teams are the obvious favorites to win the NFC South. The winner of this game would have an immediate lead over the other in the standings. Another underrated storyline lies in Sean Payton vs Bruce Arians and who can come up with the more ludicrous offensive game plan.
#1: Week 3 (MNF): Kansas City Cheifs @ Baltimore Ravens
This is easily the most exciting match-up in my eyes. You’ve got the two latest MVPs, two AFC powerhouses, two of the most exciting offenses in football, and two of the games’ best young stars. This one has everything you can ask for in a regular-season NFL game. The offenses are explosive, the defenses are exciting, and the coaching is some of the best in the league. I expect this game to be talked about for the next 15 years.
Honorable Mentions:
- Week 1: Houston Texans @ Chiefs (Thursday Night Football)
- Week 12: Washington Redskins @ Dallas Cowboys (Thanksgiving)
- Week 12: Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers (Thanksgiving)
- Week 12: Seattle Seahawks @ Philadelphia Eagles (Monday Night Football)
- Week 13: Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs (Sunday Night Football)