Most Anticipated Game of the 2021 NFL Season

One of the most exciting moments of the NFL season comes way before the games start in the form of the league’s schedule release. Analysts quickly begin making their predictions for the season and fans hopelessly convince themselves that their respective teams will achieve double-digit wins this year. In this article, we will be highlighting the best and most intriguing games from the 2021 slate.

REVENGE GAMES

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New England Patriots (Week 4)

When Tom Brady signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over a year ago, this game instantly became the most anticipated of 2021. Just listen to the potential storylines:

- Tom Brady solidified his G.O.A.T.* case without Bill Belichick. Can The Hoodie return the favor?

- Rob Gronkowski and Antonio Brown both found their way to Tampa from New England, can the Patriots new weapons outshine them?

- Can Cam Newton turn it back to 2013 and outduel Brady, cementing the Patriots as a contender once again?

There’s been a lot of talk over the years as to whether Brady or Belichick is more responsible for the Patriots’ dynasty. This game will go a long way toward quieting those debates.

*Greatest of All Time

2. New England Patriots at Carolina Panthers (Week 9)

After nine years, an MVP, and multiple playoff appearances in Carolina, 2011 #1 overall pick Cam Newton finally fell out of favor with the Panthers. Both Newton and the Panthers went through tough seasons apart in 2020, but with rebuilt rosters, both sides have a chance to make some noise this year. It’ll be bittersweet to see Newton dress up in Bank of America stadium as a visitor for the first time, but we’re in for a treat as he and Sam Darnold both try and salvage their names.

3. New York Jets at Carolina Panthers (Week 1)

It took just three years for the Jets to curb the Sam Darnold experiment and take BYU QB Zach Wilson #2 overall in the draft. Darnold won’t have to wait long to return. Wilson shouldn’t be burdened with any abnormal expectations in what should be his first career start, but Darnold has an opportunity to make some noise. In Carolina, he has the fantastic WR trio of DJ Moore, Robby Anderson, and Terrace Marshall, a core he could never even dream of in New York. A huge game from Darnold could have Jets fans kicking themselves in the foot.

4. Detroit Lions at Los Angeles Rams (Week 7)

After getting bounced out of the playoffs, Sean McVay and the Rams decided that they needed a drastic change at the game’s most important position. That came in the form of a rare QB swap, where Jared Goff (and some change) was sent to the Lions in exchange for the annually underrated Matthew Stafford. Goff is probably the only player in this game looking for some type of revenge, but with no weapons to speak of, it could get out of hand pretty quickly.

5. Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants (Week 12)

No player-vs-team revenge here, just old-fashioned divisional hatred. The story dates back to Week 17, 2020 when the Eagles blatantly threw a game on National TV to secure a better draft spot. That game cost the Giants (a six-win team) a playoff spot, and many players took to Twitter with their displeasure. A few months later on the first day of the 2021 draft, the Eagles leapfrogged the Giants to take Heisman-winning WR DeVonta Smith… a player the Giants desperately and openly wanted. After being shorted twice by Philly, even the Giants official Twitter made it known that there was beef between the two franchises. Although New York requested a Week 1 game, they’ll have to wait until Week 12.

PLAYOFF REMATCHES

1. Cleveland Browns at Kansas City Chiefs (Week 1)

Both of these teams won double-digit games and at least one playoff game last year. Both of these teams are also undisputedly better now than they were last year. The Chiefs completely remade their offensive line with the additions of Orlando Brown Jr, Joe Thuney, and Laurent Duvernay-Tardif while the Browns stacked their defense with the additions of John Johnson III, Jadeveon Clowney, Troy Hill, and others. They gave us a thriller last January, expect no difference in September.

2. Los Angeles Rams at Green Bay Packers (Week 12)

The presence of Matthew Stafford gives this matchup an entirely new dynamic than January’s contest. In that game, the Rams were only able to muster 18 points behind a hobbled Jared Goff direction. Already boasting a top defense, LA also has the potential to rank high on the other side of the ball thanks to a deep receiving core, a young, stud RB, and finally a franchise QB. Green Bay returns mostly the same team from last season, but because they had the NFC’s best record in 2020, that’s just fine.

3. Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs (Week 5)

Week 5 features the NFL’s two most exciting QBs not named Lamar Jackson squaring off in the AFC Title Game rematch. Although Buffalo was outclassed in that game, a new year presents a new opportunity for them to make themselves envy the AFC. After using the draft to fix up their defense and their offensive line, have they patched the weaknesses that caused them to fall short last season?

4. Indianapolis Colts at Buffalo Bills (Week 11)

Last season’s Colts were in the same boat as last season’s Rams. They had a talented roster and elite defense, but they could only go so far with the man they had at QB. Now that they’ve swung for the fences with the trade for Carson Wentz, Indy could be a serious contender if things break right. What better time to test that than late in the season against the team that barely knocked you out of the postseason? 

5. Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams (Week 15)

With the 49ers looking to bounce back after an injury-plagued season, this game could be make-or-break for both Seattle and LA. The Seahawks were bounced by the Rams last year in a game where Russell Wilson couldn’t get it going, but how does the outcome change if Seattle can finally become more than a one-dimensional offense? DK Metcalf is entering his third year, Tyler Lockett just got paid, Chris Carson is returning, and Russell Wilson is still Russell Wilson. Matthew Stafford makes the Rams scary, but Seattle should be able to hold its own.

BEST QUARTERBACK DUELS

1. Green Bay Packers at Kansas City Chiefs (Week 9)

Many would agree that Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers are the two most talented quarterbacks to ever grace the gridiron, and we may finally have the honor of seeing them play against each other. A Mahomes injury robbed us of a 2019 matchup and two GB playoff meltdowns robbed us of two potentially epic Super Bowl matchups. That may be a good thing though because after finishing one and two in the 2020 MVP race, this could be the best time for the stars to align. Something tells me that the 17-game schedule was designed the way it was for this game alone.

2. Green Bay Packers at Baltimore Ravens (Week 15)

Arguably the best thrower of all time vs arguably the best rushing QB of all time? Please sign me up. We haven’t seen a matchup like this since Cam Newton and Tom Brady were going blow-for-blow back in 2013. Make sure not to underestimate Lamar’s ability to hang with Rodgers through the air; Jackson was the league’s passing TD leader just two seasons ago. Don’t underestimate Rodgers’ legs either. He won’t give you 1,000 on the ground but he makes defenses suffer when he buys time out of the pocket.

3. Buffalo Bills at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Week 14)

Tom Brady may have managed to escape the AFC East before Josh Allen became a full-fledged superstar, but thanks to interconference scheduling, we will get to see the two duel. It’s a battle of polar opposites: Brady is a 43-year-old, high IQ pocket passer while Josh Allen is a 24-year-old, big-armed highlight reel who is good for eight rushing TDs a season. Brady has historically dominated Buffalo, but the slate is clean now that he’s a Buccaneer.

4. Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens (Week 2)

The last three MVPs will all face each other at some point this season, including this seemingly annual Jackson-Mahomes faceoff. Mahomes is 3-0 against his AFC counterpart, but fans have been treated to instant classics in two of those contests. Despite a blowout in the 2020 edition of this rivalry, expect the kings of the sidearm to give us another thriller for the books.

5. Dallas Cowboys at Kansas City Chiefs (Week 11)

Before a gruesome injury ended his season, Dak Prescott was on pace for almost 6,000 yards passing in 2020. It feels like Mahomes is the king of all QB stats, but it’s the Dallas signal-caller who leads the league in passing YPG since 2019. Prescott, Elliott, Cooper, Lamb, Gallup vs. Mahomes, Edwards-Helaire, Hill, and Kelce… need I say more?

Writer

-By: Micah Jimoh