It’s been a long offseason for NFL fans. There have been a lot of changes over this time bu most teams are coming back looking strong. Many individual divisions are up for grabs and it will be interesting to see which teams rise up to the challenge; the first week of the regular season is going to be one of the most exciting in a long time.
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With so many great games coming up, it’s an amazing time to be an NFL fan. Fantasy football players are going to have a lot of fun this season, as are sports bettors. With so much being shaken up in the offseason, it truly feels like any team could break out this year. If you enjoy sports betting, you should make sure to manage your bankroll extremely carefully as there are a lot of great matchups and value plays expected throughout the season as we learn who the true NFL leaders are this year. Here are some of the best matchups to look forward to in week 1.
New Orleans Saints vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Of course, one of the biggest stories of the year is Tom Brady’s departure from his long time team, the New England Patriots. In the twilight of his career, Brady has shown that he is ready for a new chapter and brought back Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski in the process. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have by any measure been one of the worst teams in the league since their inception in 1976. Brady has brought new energy to this squad and given Tampa Bay fans a lot of hope for an explosive season. His first regular-season game with this team will give us a full picture of what to expect for the rest of the season.
On the opposite side of the field, we have another story of an elite-tier quarterback looking to make the most of his last years in the league. Drew Brees is by any measure one of the best quarterbacks of all time and has faced Brady on numerous occasions throughout his career. In the last few seasons, the Saints have been absolutely on fire, and Brees is playing like he wants another championship. As a week one game, this is a matchup made in heaven. This will likely be the most entertaining and competitive event of the week and will garner the attention of the entire NFL. In many ways, this will set the tone for the season for both teams.
Buffalo Bills vs New York Jets
The AFC East looks like it’s completely up for grabs in the wake of Tom Brady’s departure. All of the Patriots longtime rivals, the Bills, the Jets and the Dolphins are looking at this moment as their opportunity to shine. Out of the three, the Bills by far have the best chance of claiming the division as their own. This week one matchup between the Jets and the Bills will show us who is ready to step up in the AFC East and that team will get their first division win for the season. By any account, this is an important game for this division.
However, the Patriots will be no pushover this year. Their recent acquisition of the dynamic quarterback Cam Newton will prove to be a hard puzzle to solve for the Bills. Newton is in many ways, the complete opposite threat to Tom Brady. He is a mobile quarterback, utilizing his exceptional playmaking abilities and natural speed to be a multi-layered threat. The Patriots will inevitably run a completely different scheme to that which both the Bills and Jets are used to. Both the Jets and the Bills need to bring their A-game in this first matchup to set the tone for the season. This should be a very exciting match.
Minnesota Vikings vs Green Bay Packers
Longtime rivals are coming head to head in week one. While the Packers have long had the edge against the Vikings, they know they can’t take this for granted. In their last meeting on December 23rd, 2019, the Packers defeated the Vikings 23-10. However, the Vikings used their top pick on the LSU wide receiver Justin Jefferson and he is expected to have his first full game in their opener. Across three seasons with the LSU Tigers, Jefferson racked up over 2,400 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns meaning he should be a big threat when working with the Vikings’ quarterback, Kirk Cousins. The matchup between the Packers and Vikings is a great way to start the season. This game is for all the fans of pure, aggressive football.
