Despite the fact that the Tremendous Bowl rematch between the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers does not occur till virtually midway by way of the season, NFL followers will probably be handled to 2 playoff rematches within the opening weekend.
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs will start their quest for an unprecedented third straight Tremendous Bowl title once they host the Baltimore Ravens within the opener on September fifth, whereas the Los Angeles Rams play the Detroit Lions within the Sunday night time sport on September eighth. .
Two Week 1 playoff rematches are among the many 9 on this yr’s common season schedule, which the league launched Wednesday night time.
The Ravens-Chiefs matchup is a rematch of final season’s AFC Championship Recreation, which Kansas Metropolis gained 17-10. Kansas Metropolis heads to San Francisco on Oct. 20 after defeating the 49ers 25-22 within the second time beyond regulation sport in Tremendous Bowl historical past. It is also the second straight season the Chiefs can have a Tremendous Bowl rematch after dropping to the Philadelphia Eagles in a Monday night time sport final season.
Kansas Metropolis then travels to Buffalo on Nov. 17 in what’s changing into an annual matchup. Will probably be the fifth straight yr that the 2 groups have met within the common season. The Payments gained three straight within the common season, however the Chiefs gained all three video games within the playoffs.
The Rams’ Matthew Stafford and Detroit’s Jared Goff will face their former groups for the third time, together with the playoffs. The Lions gained their first playoff sport in 32 years, defeating the Rams 24–23 in an NFC wild-card sport.
The NFC Championship Recreation rematch between the 49ers and Lions does not happen till Dec. 30 in San Francisco, the ultimate Monday night time sport of the season.
After the Rams sport, the Lions will host Tampa Bay on Sept. 15 in a rematch of the divisional spherical win by Detroit.
Different playoff rematches are Baltimore at Houston on Christmas Day, Philadelphia at Tampa Bay on Sept. 29 and San Francisco at Inexperienced Bay on Nov. 24.
The NFL launched the total roster for its one hundred and fifth season after revealing 4 worldwide video games and each of its Christmas Day video games on Wednesday. The schedule has been launched on the second Thursday in Might for the previous couple of years, however this yr it was barely delayed.
Though a message was despatched to groups late final week that the schedule could be launched Wednesday night time, it wasn’t finalized till Monday morning.
Hans Schroeder, govt vice chairman of NFL Media, mentioned conferences had been held over the weekend to fine-tune issues.
The 5 quarterbacks within the first spherical of the draft influenced among the last selections.
“On the finish of final week we had been actually closing in and we had one thing we had been actually proud of on Friday,” he mentioned. “Sunday night time we had a four-hour zoom and we had an eventual winner. It was similar to Friday, however we preferred a number of issues extra. We used each minute to maintain enhancing it.”
The league introduced earlier Tuesday that Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets will open the season on “Monday Evening Soccer” in San Francisco on Sept. 9. The Jets opened at +5.5, based on ESPN BET betting odds that might match Rodgers’ largest. Week 1 as an underdog as a beginning quarterback. The Packers had been +5.5 on the Seahawks in Week 1 of the 2014 season (Seattle gained 36-16).
Different benefits embrace:
Kirk Cousins’ first sport with the Atlanta Falcons will probably be at house on September 8 once they host Russell Wilson and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons throughout the offseason.
Wilson will make his Steelers debut after being launched in Denver. It should additionally mark the return of Arthur Smith, who’s the Steelers’ offensive coordinator after being fired because the Falcons’ coach.
Caleb Williams, Chicago’s high total decide in final month’s draft, will make his Bears debut in opposition to Tennessee. Chicago then heads to Houston for a Sunday night time sport on September 15 in opposition to the Texans and reigning AP Offensive Rookie of the 12 months CJ Stroud.
The highest two draft picks may meet on Oct. 27 in Washington when the Bears tackle the Commanders and Jayden Daniels.
Together with the “Thursday Soccer” opener and Thanksgiving Day, the 14 groups will play a number of Thursday video games.
The league adjusted its coverage final season to permit groups to make multiple Thursday night time look.
Six groups – the Jacksonville Jaguars, Titans, Colts, Cardinals, Panthers and Chargers – won’t have a brief rotation Sunday by way of Thursday.
The Panthers are the one crew this season with out a prime-time sport, Carolina’s first since 2011. The Falcons and Cardinals had been the one groups to go with out a prime-time sport final season. one from the beginning of the 17-game schedule in 2021.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
