The 10 Most Exciting Games on the 2020 NFL Schedule

Time to overreact to sports news that wouldn't typically be considered a big deal! The NFL Schedule is out, which has sports fans everywhere dreaming of that live game feeling that will hopefully have returned by the time Week 1 rolls around in early September. Here are the 10 games that caught my eye the most upon the release of the schedule.

10. Patriots at Chiefs - Week 4 (Sun. 10/4 - 4:25 - CBS)

While the Pats and Chiefs are trending in opposite directions, they've got a few things in common. They're both building towards the future while trying to remain competitive in the present. They've also each got the advantage of having one of the league's best coaches roaming the sidelines. In what could be the passing of the AFC Dynasty torch, it should be fun to see what plans Bill Belichick has to slow the superpowered Mahomes-led offense and how the Brady replacement (whether that's youngster Jarrett Stidham or veteran journeyman Brian Hoyer) handles the Arrowhead atmosphere under center for New England.

9. Browns at Steelers - Week 17 (Sun. 1/3 - 1:05 - CBS)

These two teams do not like each other. The feuds that began with the Vontaze Burfict incident in 2017 and the Miles Garrett-Mason Rudolph beef spilled over from last season, combined with the fact that Cleveland and Pittsburgh could very well be fighting for a Wild Card spot in the AFC North behind Baltimore, should make this Week 17 matchup the must-watch of the early slate in that first week of January.

8. Bengals at Washington - Week 11 (Sun. 11/22 - 1:05 - CBS)

The two crown jewels of the 2020 NFL Draft, Joe Burrow and Chase Young will meet for the first time as professionals in just Week 11. While this game may not carry major implications on the outcome of the 2020 season, it should provide a great look at the two best players in the newest draft class and perhaps reveal which team has come away with the better pick. Besides, among an otherwise run-of-the-mill 1:00 window in Week 11, this matchup will be as good a time as ever to check up on the future stars of the league.

7. Saints at Raiders - Week 2 (Mon. 9/20 - 8:15 - ESPN)

The Raiders will start their new era in Las Vegas in 2020, and what better scenario could they have asked for than a Monday Night-er against the high-octane Saints offense that only got better this offseason. With Derek Carr back at the helm alongside stud running back Josh Jacobs and speedy new wideout Henry Ruggs III, Oakl- er... um... Las Vegas should have a chance to establish themselves as one of the league's most exciting teams in brand new Allegiant Stadium and in front of the whole country.

6. 49ers at Cowboys - Week 15 (Sun. 12/20 - 8:20 - NBC)

In the classic battle of unstoppable force and immovable object, the Dallas offense, which added CeeDee Lamb after averaging the most yards per game last season, meets the San Francisco defense which answered its second-place finished in the yards allowed category in 2019 by adding Javon Kinlaw to its fierce defensive line. In what's sure to be one of the most evenly-matched and well-played games of the season, look for the Cowboys and 49ers to add to their list of classic clashes in this playoff picture-altering game.

5. Vikings at Saints - Week 16 (Fri. 12/25 - 4:30 - FOX)

Any time an NFL game is added to the NBA's slate of Christmas Day festivities, it's a win. In what will be the first Friday game since Christmas Day of 2009 (and just the 11th since the AFL/NFL merger), New Orleans will host a Vikings against whom they've played some instant classics with over the last few seasons. Although the man who ended the Saints season in 2018 no longer suits up for Minnesota, Drew Brees and the Saints will be eager to return the favor on national TV to Mike Zimmer's club, who also bounced Sean Payton's from the playoffs last season.

4. Chiefs at Saints - Week 15 (Sun. 12/20 - 4:25 - CBS)

Albeit in different ways, the Chiefs and Saints, who each placed in the top 5 in the league in points per game in 2019, each bolstered their offense heading into the 2020 campaign. Kansas City may have finally found their perfect back in draftee Clyde Edwards-Helaire while New Orleans signed Emmanuel Sanders to pair with reigning NFC Offensive Player of the Year Michael Thomas on their receiving corps, both moves that should alone spark interest in this contest. Besides, barring a Super Bowl meet-up, this may be the only time we ever see Drew Brees oppose Patrick Mahomes, with the teams not scheduled to meet again until 2024. Enjoy it while it lasts.

3. Buccaneers at Saints - Week 1 (Sun. 9/13 - 4:25 - FOX)

If you had to pick one NFL quarterback to go up against Tom Brady in his Buccaneer debut, it would probably be Drew Brees. The leader of what figures to be one of the only NFC offenses that'll be able to consistently keep pace with Brady's Bucs, Brees will have the chance to spoil TB12's first impression and send the GOAT back to TOMpa Bay 0-1. That said, this game goes far beyond the quarterbacks, With the aforementioned Sanders now in the fold in New Orleans, the Saints offense will have to start the 2020 season right where they left off in 2020 if they have any chance to outplay the receiving trio of Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and OJ Howard that's now joined by Rob Gronkowski. Expect a lot of points, not a lot of defense, and then get ready to do it again in Week 8.

2. Texans at Chiefs - Week 1 (Thurs. 9/10 - 8:20 - NBC)

The last two NFL Kickoff games have featured a combined 38 points, so the NFL was likely looking for a season-opening matchup in 2020 that would prove a bit more entertaining. By pitting the up-tempo Texans against the prolific defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs, they seem to have done just that. While this game may not look quite as fun on paper as it would've a few months ago when Houston still had DeAndre Hopkins, the quarterback play of DeShaun Watson and Mahomes should make for a better-than-good contest to pair with the adrenaline of opening night.

1. Chiefs at Ravens - Week 3 (Mon. 9/28 - 8:15 - ESPN)

Although Kansas City has gotten the better of Baltimore in each of their first two meetings, Mahomes and Lamar Jackson have already put together a few battles for the ages. Expect no different in 2020 when their paths cross on Monday Night in Baltimore, where Mahomes will play afront the Raven faithful for the first time. The outburst of scoring and plethora of highlight-reel plays between two historically high-powered offenses should help this game draw comparisons to the Week 11 MNF game in 2018 between Kansas City and the Rams that many consider the best regular season game of all-time.

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