Week 1 is in the history books, but not before offering surprise upsets (pour one out, Patriots nation) and highlight-reel plays.
Here are some exciting matchups for next week.
- Minnesota at Pittsburgh: Sunday, September 17th at 1:00 PM on FOX
This early matchup will pit the up-and-coming Vikings in the NFC North against the perennial contenders AFC North Steelers. The Minnesota defence, led by cornerback Xavier Rhodes, will look to make a statement against the vaunted Pittsburgh offense which features Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown. Pittsburgh will look to bounce back from last week’s surprisingly narrow 21-18 victory over the Cleveland Browns. One or both of these teams is likely to make the playoffs this year, and this game could be a preview of things to come.
- Dallas at Denver: Sunday, September 17th at 4:25 PM on FOX
What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? We’ll find out when the Dallas Cowboys’ offense collides with the Denver Broncos’ defence. Now that Cowboys running back Zeke Elliott appears primed to play the entire 2017 season, it appears that quarterback Dak Prescott has all the tools he’ll need to mount another playoff run. Standing in their way is the Denver’s “No Fly Zone” defense, led by Aqib Talib and Von Miller. It will be interesting to see what defensive schemes Denver head coach Vance Joseph dials up to slow down the sophomore Prescott.
- Green Bay at Atlanta: Sunday, September 17th at 8:30 PM on NBC
Two of the NFC’s best offenses will meet for a Sunday night showdown. The last time these teams faced off was the NFC Championship Game, where the Falcons blew out the Packers 44-21. This week, look for Green Bay to seek redemption and pick up the pace after a slow offensive start against the Seahawks in Week 1. Atlanta should also come out swinging in an effort to maintain the momentum from their win over the Bears. It’s still early, but there’s a real chance that this game could affect home-field advantage come playoffs.
- Detroit Lions at New York Giants: Monday, September 18th at 8:30 PM on ESPN
Monday night’s matchup promises to be a battle of the gunslingers. Matt Stafford and Eli Manning will face off in what should be a high-scoring affair. The Giants procured multiple new weapons for Manning this offseason, including Brandon Marshall and rookie Evan Engram. Matt Stafford received some new toys as well, including rookie sensation Kenny Golladay. Tune in to see which of these quarterbacks comes out on top in this marquee contest.
Happy watching!