10 Best Games on 2021 NFL Schedule

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 17: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs scrambles as defensive end Myles Garrett #95 of the Cleveland Browns chases during the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 17, 2021 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

1 p.m. ET, CBS

Two offseason winners are pitted to play each other for the first time since December 2017 as the Chargers travel to Washington. Both teams bolstered their offenses in a major way through the draft and free agency and are hoping to make playoff pushes. It’s fair to say these are two of the most complete teams in the league.

Both defenses have their work cut out for them despite being so talented. Quarterbacks Justin Herbert and Ryan Fitzpatrick are capable of putting up monster numbers with their talented supporting casts. It’ll be fascinating to see whether the offenses or defenses are sharper early on.

The Chargers play in the tougher division and can’t afford to lose many of these toss-up games if they want to make the postseason. Overcoming Washington’s impressive defense and pulling out a win on the East Coast would be a statement to start the year. 

4:25 p.m. ET, CBS

A rematch of the exciting divisional round battle between the Browns and Chiefs was needed. Cleveland nearly pulled off the miracle upset after Patrick Mahomes was replaced by Chad Henne in the second-half. Though Tampa Bay may have been destined to win the Super Bowl against anyone, seeing Cleveland have the mere chance to make the big game would’ve been something special.

A lot has changed since. The Browns remade their defense after a slew of injuries limited the unit in a disappointing 2020 campaign. They enter this season as a legitimate contender to push any AFC foe to the brink and win.

Kansas City worked on overhauling their injured offensive line. Playing against Myles Garrett and company in Week 1 is quite the challenge for a unit with all new starters. We can’t wait to kick off the year with this must-see game.

1 p.m. ET, FOX

The NFC South remains one of the more competitive divisions despite quarterback turnover with both New Orleans and Carolina. The torch will be passed from Drew Brees to either Jameis Winston or Taysom Hill. If Winston wins that battle—and he should—seeing him operate in Sean Payton’s scheme will be great entertainment. 

Carolina has also turned the page at quarterback as they acquired Sam Darnold. He showed little in his time in New York, but joins a loaded offense with a great coordinator. Can Joe Brady turn Darnold’s career around and push this team to the next level?

An athletic and versatile defense in Carolina will challenge every offense on their schedule. Seeing how Jameis performs against so much speed and coverage athletes is one key aspect. Another is the running back showdown between All Pros Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara.

8:20 p.m. ET, NBC

Of course we had to include the Tom Brady revenge game against Bill Belichick. The Buccaneers have the pressure of a defending champion on their back and every team will bring their best effort to dethrone them. The energy around this game will be phenomenal.

Belichick will pull out all stops to push the Patriots to win and embarrass Brady. Seeing the elaborate scheme he puts together will be a treat to watch. And this could be the game of the year if Cam Newton or Mac Jones put together a star performance for the Patriots offense.

The other aspect of this game is to see how the Patriots’ new additions perform. No team has added more talent to their roster this offseason. There’s an expectation around the organization of a return to the playoffs, and winning this game can go a long way to reaching that goal.

8:20 p.m. ET, FOX/NFL Network

This is one of the most fun rivalries in the NFL and it just got more interesting as Matthew Stafford now leads the Rams’ offense in this Thursday night matchup. The Rams will be more dynamic with Jared Goff’s departure than ever before, and we’re expecting Sean McVay to unleash the best of his scheme. Seattle, after their secondary was dreadful in 2020, has a lot to prove in this game.

The NFC West is deep again with everyone back to full health. Each team has flaws so these intra-divisional games will be as vital as any across the league. The Rams will view this as a must-win game in their quest for a playoff berth.

Russell Wilson has a great supporting cast, but must again compensate for a lacking defense. This may end up as a high-scoring shootout with two quarterbacks orchestrating big play after big play. We’re here for that roll of highlights.

8:20 p.m. ET, FOX/NFL Network

The last time we saw the Ravens play the Dolphins, Lamar Jackson racked up five passing touchdowns and a perfect passer rating en route to a 59-10 win. Miami players were asking for trades out of a tanking situation, and things were bleak. The times have changed quickly in Miami.

The Dolphins now have an exciting blend of speed and playmakers on both sides of the ball. Their vast amounts of draft assets have been cashed in, and it’s time to see what Tua Tagovailoa can do with a solid playmaker corps. There’s no better test than the powerhouse Ravens.

Baltimore must show a developed passing attack as they’re pushing Jackson to the next level as a thrower. Miami’s talented secondary is as opportunistic as any in the NFL. Will the Ravens’ investments at receiver be enough to throw all over Brian Flores’ defense, or will Jackson still be lacking when games are close? 

This Thursday night showdown is one of those games that’ll sway opinions either way.

1 p.m. ET, FOX

Every football fan should love to watch the 49ers offense. Kyle Shanahan creates a beautiful game-plan that tortures defenses and keeps them off-balance each week. And now he has an incredibly gifted playmaker at quarterback to turn his offense into an absolute nightmare.

Trey Lance may not play this game, but even Jimmy Garoppolo keeps this game interesting as everyone wants to see if this franchise can return to Super Bowl contender status. The receiver play on the 49ers is ascending and underrated, and the Jaguars will have to be wise beyond their youth to slow their attack. Seeing how Urban Meyer’s teams respond to big games will be fascinating after he built a reputation for being a legendary motivator in college. 

Trevor Lawrence and Meyer’s offense will be another main attraction. The Jaguars suddenly have a surprisingly good corps of playmaking themselves. This should be around when Lawrence finds his stride in the NFL and early development takes place. 

4:25 p.m. ET, CBS

We can’t forget about the Bills. Buffalo has a number of interesting games with the Jets, Dolphins, and Saints, but facing the defending champs is huge. This is a gut check game for a team that feels ready for another Super Bowl push. The organization is also ready to beat Brady as many times as they possibly can before he retires.

Josh Allen must reproduce his breakout 2020 season, and the Bills’ defense needs a bounce back year after seeing a dip last year. Those storylines will be carefully watched all year. Positive results on both means they could enter this game as the early favorite in the AFC even over Kansas City.

Tampa Bay also needs to stay focused. The final month of the season is make-or-break time, and the Bucs found their stride around this time last year. Taking this game seriously and starting to lock in their playoff positioning will be a priority.

8:20 p.m. ET, NBC

The NFC North could look drastically different if Aaron Rodgers is traded. This won’t be that interesting of a game if he is, but right now we’ll assume he’ll be a Cheesehead in 2021. Chicago going to Green Bay with Justin Fields possibly starting with playoff hopes on the line to face Rodgers and the Packers will be a huge deal.

Green Bay has almost accidentally won 26 games over the last two regular-seasons despite overlooking offensive needs. Rodgers has made the most out of a decent, but lacking surrounding cast. Another season with 11 or more wins would be the result of another incredible season from the 37-year-old.

Meanwhile, Chicago needs to win this year and make the playoffs. Matt Nagy must get the most out of his offense now that he has two starting-caliber quarterbacks on the roster. Giving Fields the keys and a friendly scheme can get Chicago to be a scary threat come playoff time.

8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN

A late-season Monday Night Football showdown between bitter rivals is always good even if there’s not much at stake. The Steelers feel like a fast-fading franchise, but it’s also critical to remember they began the 2020 season 11-0. A healthy Ben Roethlisberger will keep them competitive all year long.

Cleveland will be hoping to clinch a playoff seed as they compete with Pittsburgh and Baltimore. The margin for error will be tiny for all three teams this season. We’d love for this game to determine who makes the postseason.

Baker Mayfield and Nick Chubb complement each other as well as Kevin Stefanski’s offense could hope. Pittsburgh’s defense must show an improved secondary. This will be the perfect stage for all parties to leave their best performance on the field.