NFL Schedule Release

Last night, the NFL released the entire schedule for the 2014 regular season. While the NFL Draft still hasn’t taken place, we still want to look ahead at the big games on the schedule. Here are the marquee games each week:

Week 1

Green Bay at Seattle – This is the opening game of the entire season, which will take place on Thursday, September 4^th. The defending champs hosting Aaron Rodgers.

New Orleans at Atlanta – Drew Brees vs. Matt Ryan, Round 1, two of the best quarterbacks in the league.

Indianapolis at Denver – This features Peyton Manning against his old team in primetime on Sunday Night Football. Last year, Andrew Luck and the Colts got the win in Indianapolis.

NOTE: Not listed above are the debuts of many of the big names in the draft (if they start): Clowney, Mack, Watkins, Evans, Manziel, Bortles, Bridgewater, Carr, etc.

Week 2

Chicago at San Francisco – The new Bears defense will get a test against Kaepernick and company. Their offense will obviously get a stern test too.

Philadelphia at Indianapolis – Chip Kelly vs. Andrew Luck, a matchup Kelly was 2-1 in college in. Both were playoff teams last year, and this is MNF.

Detroit at Carolina – This is offense vs. defense in a big way, especially if Detroit grabs a first round WR in addition to Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate.

Week 3

Washington at Philadelphia – Desean Jackson returns to Philly in this week 3 matchup. This game could also affect the outcome of the NFC East.

Denver at Seattle – Super Bowl Rematch… Enough said.

Kansas City at Miami – Underrated matchup of last year’s AFC Wildcard teams.

Week 4

Green Bay at Chicago – First off, this is a storied rivalry that dates back decades. Secondly, this will be Julius Peppers’ return to Chicago.

New Orleans at Dallas – This SNF game could be a shootout, as they both like to throw it over and over again.

Carolina at Baltimore – Teams known for defense will square off here. Steve Smith will also get the chance to play against his former squad.

Week 5

Cincinnati at New England – Two of the best in the AFC will play here.

Chicago at Carolina – Two of the better teams in the NFC will play here.

Arizona at Denver – Arizona hopes to make it to the playoffs this year, as they just missed out last season. A big win like this would go a long way.

Week 6

San Francisco at St. Louis – The Rams were much improved last season, and with high drafts picks they should improve more in 2014. This game will show us how much they’re better.

Baltimore at Tampa Bay – One of many good games this week, this one features Lovie Smith in one of his first big games with the Bucs.

Chicago at Atlanta – This one features big time receiving combos: Marshall/Jeffery vs. Jones/White.

Week 7

San Francisco at Denver – This could be a potential Super Bowl matchup. I’m looking forward to this one.

New Orleans at Detroit – If you love offense, tune into this one.

Miami at Chicago – The Bears signed Brandon Marshall away from Miami a couple years ago. This should be fun.

NOTE: This week is great and also features Carolina at Green Bay, Cincinnati at Indianapolis, and New York Jets at New England (Rex Ryan always relishes this one).

Week 8

Green Bay at New Orleans – Aaron Rodgers vs. Drew Brees, two of the best QB’s in the world.

Seattle at Carolina – The top two seeds in the NFC last year square off in what should be a hard-hitting affair.

San Diego at Denver – This AFC West rivalry got interesting last year as the Chargers challenged Denver in ways other teams couldn’t.

Chicago at New England – Another Bears game, another tough matchup.

Week 9

New Orleans at Carolina – This one could decide the NFC South, just as it did a year ago.

Denver at New England – This will mark the 16^th matchup between Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. Those matchups were fun last year.

Baltimore at Pittsburgh – Another rivalry game that makes for a close game each year.

Week 10

San Francisco at New Orleans – These teams are both elite squads, that play very differently.

Chicago at Green Bay – Round 2.

Carolina at Philadelphia – Two playoff teams a year ago, that have a lot of work to do now to return.

Week 11

Seattle at Kansas City – The Chiefs were one of the biggest surprises in 2013. They now expect to win a game like this.

New England at Indianapolis – This very storied rivalry now features Andrew Luck vs. Tom Brady.

Minnesota at Chicago – This is the first time Jared Allen plays his former team. That should be an interesting reunion.

Week 12

Tampa Bay at Chicago – Lovie Smith returns to Chicago. I hope he’s cheered.

Arizona at Seattle – The only team to beat Seattle on the road last year was… Arizona.

Dallas at New York Giants – Tony Romo and Eli Manning are both trying to get back on top in the NFC East.

Week 13

Thanksgiving – Chicago at Detroit, Philadelphia at Dallas, and Seattle at San Francisco. All of them will be great games.

Washington at Indianapolis – Andrew Luck vs. RGIII… their first matchup since they were draft 1,2 a couple years ago.

New England at Green Bay – Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers will both be battling for playoff position in this matchup.

Week 14

St. Louis at Washington – This will give us insight of the winner of the RGIII trade a few drafts ago.

Seattle at Philadelphia – Chip Kelly vs. Pete Carroll, in the pro ranks.

New England at San Diego – Two playoff teams, two vet QB’s, in the last month of the season.

Week 15

San Francisco at Seattle – Does this rivalry need any more publicity?

New York Jets at Tennessee – Chris Johnson returns to Tennessee to take on his former squad. Think they’ll be a grudge?

Houston at Indianapolis – Amidst a ton of great matchups this week, don’t overlook this one. We don’t know who will be at QB for Houston, but he wil need to play well here.

Week 16

Rematches – Philly/Washington, Detroit/Chicago, New England/New York Jets, Atlanta/New Orleans, Seattle/Arizona, all are great rematches from earlier games.

Denver at Cincinnati – Inter-conference matchup between two likely playoff squads.

Indianapolis at Dallas – The Colts may have clinched a playoff birth by now, but Dallas will be going down to the wire I’m sure.

Week 17

Arizona at San Francisco – Who knows what implications this will have on the playoffs and/or NFC West, but I’m sure some.

Dallas at Washington – Same goes for this one, but in the NFC East.

New Orleans at Tampa Bay – Will Lovie Smith be in a spot to gain a playoff birth, or act as a spoiler?

San Diego at Kansas City – Who is the second best team in the AFC West?

New York Jets at Miami Dolphins – Who is the second best team in the AFC East?

Carolina at Atlanta – Cam Newton vs. Matt Ryan in a big matchup to end the year.

Detroit at Green Bay – Both were in the mix last year to win the division. Could it be a similar story in 2014?

It should be a great year. I’m sure there are games that aren’t listed that will be epic. We won’t know though until the draft happens, the season starts, and the teams reveal how good they really are. Can’t wait though!

By: The Sports Guys