The NFL’s 100th season is finally here. We have watched four preseason games. We have eaten the appetizer with two weeks of college football. Sunday’s now belong to the NFL. As we begin the 2019 NFL Week 1 season, let’s look at the primetime matchups for week 1.
The season begins on Thursday with the annual Thursday Night Kickoff game. For the first time in a few years, the defending Super Bowl champion is not competing in this game. The matchup features two NFC North rivals in the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers. The Bears went 12-4 last year and clinched a 3 seed in the NFC playoffs. The Packers missed the playoffs last year and made a coaching change.
Matt LaFleur enters his inaugural season at the helm of Green Bay. The quarterback matchup features Mitchell Trubisky vs Aaron Rodgers. The advantage goes to the Packers with Trubisky just in year 2 in Chicago. The defense for the Bears was a game-changer last year. They return their blockbuster signee, Khalil Mack.
These two teams split their meetings last year. Both home teams won their respective matchups. This game feels like a toss-up. If the Packers defense is improved that goes a long way towards winning. Aaron will have success and be able to move the ball on offense. The real factor to watch is how does LaFleur coach? If he pushes all the right buttons the Packers stand a good chance at winning. Look for this game to come down to the wire to get the NFL season started.
Wrapping up the first NFL Sunday is Sunday Night Football on NBC. The defending Super Bowl champions, New England Patriots, play host to one of their rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers. This provides another chapter in the Brady vs Roethlisberger rivalry. Tom has gotten the better of Ben during their matchups with one another. The Steelers won last year’s game 17-10.
Tom Brady continues to get stronger each year. Just when you think it is going to be an off-year, Tom makes another AFC title game or Super Bowl. Even without Gronkowski, Brady has loads of receivers that can make plays in this offense. The Steelers missed the playoffs last season and will not have Antonio Brown this year. JuJu Smith-Schuster will step in for Brown and Vance McDonald, at tight end, had an explosive season last year.
Bill Belichick gives the Patriots the coaching advantage. The Patriots rarely lose at home and giving Belichick all summer to prepare, things do not look good for Roethlisberger and company. The key to victory for both teams will be field position and special teams. This game could come down to a 4th quarter drive by either quarterback to give their team the victory. This could be another 2019 NFL week 1 preview of a playoff matchup in January.
Week 1 concludes, as usual, with a doubleheader on Monday Night Football on ESPN. The Saints play host to the Texans in game 1 of the doubleheader. These two teams both won their divisions last year. New Orleans saw heartbreak in the NFC Championship end their season while the Texans were upset by the #6 seeded Indianapolis Colts. Drew Brees vs DeShaun Watson will be intriguing to watch.
Both guys can throw the ball effectively, Watson adds the element of running. Both quarterbacks have weapons on the outside. We get to see DeAndre Hopkins vs Michael Thomas. We could see our fair share of fade touchdown throws down on the Bayou. The game breaker in this game could be Alvin Kamara for the Saints.
The Texans lost Lamar Miller in the preseason with an ACL injury. This game could be a shootout of epic proportion. Like the Patriots and Steelers game mentioned above, this might come down to a 4th quarter drive, resulting in a game-winning kick or touchdown.
The final primetime game of week 1 in the NFL is an AFC West showdown between the Denver Broncos and the Oakland Raiders. Four seasons ago, the Broncos hoisted the Lombardi Trophy. The Raiders have made 1 playoff appearance since the infamous tuck rule game. Both teams are starting from the bottom up. Vic Fangio enters year one in Denver and John Gruden begins year 2 in Oakland.
The Broncos are trying their third different starting quarterback since Peyton Manning retired. Former Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco takes over the reins of this Bronco offense. Flacco gets a fresh start to show the NFL that he is not done yet. The defense still features Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller. Miller will continue to wreak havoc on opposing offenses.
The Raiders return Derek Carr for his 5th season. Carr had the offense in groove back in 2016 before hurting his hand. Carr hopes to rekindle the success that almost brought the Raiders back to glory. Gruden had been out of coaching since 2008 and needed to shake the rust off. Year one took care of that. I believe the Raiders will have much more success in year two.
The defense will need to be better than they were last year. The offense can be better if Antonio Brown can solve the helmet drama. Give the advantage to the Raiders because of Gruden being a head coach before. Fangio will have to prove himself during this game. This matchup could be a low scoring affair. Both offenses could struggle and both defenses could shine. I cannot wait to watch these 4 games unfold and see which teams start 1-0. NFL 100th season is here. Let’s get it kicked off. Here is the 2019 NFL Week 1 Preview.
