The drama of the NFL is what drives it to be the billion dollar behemoth that it is. The force behind that drama is the matchups we get week in and week out. 2017 is no different. There are so many juicy games for this year I had to break them down into 3 Top 10 categories: NFC, AFC and Inter-conference games.
Here are my 10 best games in the NFC this year
Patriots vs Steelers (Week 15)
Mike Tomlin got out classed and out coached in last years AFC championship game. Losing you star RB in that game didn't help either. This years rematch takes place late in the season in the Steel City. Both teams are predicted to win their respective divisions so with the game being played late in the year, home field advantage will certainly be on the line when they meet. With both future Hall of Fame QBs on the back end of their careers these matchups should be cherished , and with the fire power they posses on the offensive end don't be surprised if this turns into a shoot out.
Patriots vs Raiders (Mexico City, Week 11)
I know most people have Steelers vs Pats for an AFC title rematch, but I think this will determine the AFC when its all said and done. But first these two meet for a tilt in Mexico City. I will say it till I'm blue in the face, the Raiders would have been in the AFC championship if Carr didn't suffer that season ending injury. If both teams remain healthy till then it should be a classic as the young gun slinger gets his chance to show the GOAT that his time is now.
Raiders vs Titans (Week 1)
A new age of QBs is dawning in the NFL, the old guard is on its way out and the young signal callers are growing before our eyes. Two of the most promising QBs meet in Week 1 when Carr and the Raiders meet Mariotta and the Titans in Tennessee. Both quarterback's are coming off season ending leg injuries so this will be a good test to see how far they've come. This will also mark the return of Marshawn Lynch to the NFL, and the league is a better place with Beast Mode in it!
Embed from Getty ImagesSteelers vs Chiefs (Week 6)
The Chiefs two most painful loses last year can arguably be said to have come at the hands of the Pittsburgh Steelers. A 43-14 primetime beating in Pittsburgh and that ugly 18-16 loss in the Divisional round with that controversial holding call in Kansas City. The Chiefs know that if they are too get New England in the AFC they have to handle the Pittsburgh problem first, that chance comes in Week 6 at Arrowhead.
Texans vs Patriots (Week 3)
Besides the 1st Half of Super Bowl LI, the only time the Patriots looked mortal was in their Divisional game against the Texans. Houston went toe to toe with New England and they had Brock Osweiler as their QB. This season they return to Foxboro with a new QB and JJ Watt back on a defense that gave the Patriots fits last year in the playoffs.
Raiders vs Chiefs (Week 7 & 14)
The AFC West if you ask most is the toughest division from top to bottom in the NFL. Kansas City went unbeaten in the division last year taking the crown, while Oakland went 3-3 with 2 of those loses coming at the hands of the Chiefs. The Raiders know to prove that their hype is warranted have to take control of the division from Kansas City. They get there first crack at it at home in Week 7.Embed from Getty Images
Titans vs Texans (Week 4 & 13)
If Marcus Mariotta and the Titans want to take that next step and get to the playoffs they will have to dethrone the division champs in the Houston Texans. The Texans hope they have found their own QB of the future in Deshaun Watson and in part stave off losing control of the division to the Titans.
Broncos vs Chiefs (Week 8 & 17)
Last season for the Denver Broncos didn't go as planned when it came to defending their Super Bowl championship. To add insult to injury their division rival in Kansas City not only took the AFC West title from them but swept them in the process. Although their QB situation still remains unsettled, their stingy defense remains in tact and hope that will help them get back in the AFC West race and hopefully steal the division crown from the Chiefs and return it to the Mile High city.
Ravens vs Steelers (Week 4 & 14)
If their is one division rivalry that seems to deliver year in and year out its Baltimore vs Pittsburgh in the AFC North. It took one late game drive on Christmas night by the Steelers to determine the division winner. Expect nothing different this season as their Week 14 match up in primetime could very well determine who wins the North this year
Texans vs Steelers (Week 16)
Yes this is a match up of division winners and yes it features the Steelers high powered offense vs the Texans stingy defense, but I'm interested in this Christmas afternoon tilt to see who is the better Watt on the field that day as JJ's little brother TJ is now a member of Pittsburgh.
