Week 2 of the 2017 NFL regular season is here, and you might be entering the weekend with your own preferences regarding which games to focus on, and which to place on the backburner.
Most of you have your favorites and fantasy players to track. But in case you’re completely neutral or need help breaking ties with regard to what to watch, we’ve ranked all 16 games from most appealing to least enticing.
1. Packers at Falcons (Sunday night, NBC): One of the best matchups of the 2017 season. Two of the league’s best offenses featuring two of its best and most decorated quarterbacks. Atlanta beat the Pack twice at home last year (once in the playoffs) in games that contained 65 points each. We’ll certainly be entertained.
2. Cowboys at Broncos (Sunday, 4 p.m. ET, FOX): Just a great matchup between that tough, deep and talented Dallas offense and that phenomenal Denver defense.
3. Vikings at Steelers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX): Can Sam Bradford and that offense do what they did to the Saints against an NFL-level defense? That alone is cool, but there’s also extra pressure on the Steelers after a dud opener.
The Kenny Golladay hype is real pic.twitter.com/o0435bcem9
— QB List (@TheQBlist) September 11, 2017
4. Lions at Giants (Monday night, ESPN): The Lions are always dramatic and the desperate Giants should have Odell Beckham Jr. back. Expecting a close game with major NFC playoff implications.
5. Titans at Jaguars (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS): Remember when the two annual meetings between these teams used to be the worst parts of the schedule? That’s changed. Marcus Mariota and the exciting Titans are trying to avoid 0-2 against a team that simply dominated in Week 1. Should be close and dramatic.
6. Texans at Bengals (Thursday night, NFL Network): There’s something wonderful about a Week 2 matchup between teams that embarrassed themselves in Week 1. You can smell the desperation, and desperate football is usually fun to watch.
Tyreek Hill throwing out savage peace signs on his way to the end zone ✌️ pic.twitter.com/SGSDPlzgEL
— Justin Grasso (@JGrasso_) September 8, 2017
7. Eagles at Chiefs (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX): The Eagles still don’t do much for me, but I’m interested to see how Alex Smith, Kareem Hunt, Tyreek Hill and the Chiefs follow up that stunner in Foxboro. Especially sans Eric Berry.
8. Patriots at Saints (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS): Going to the Superdome is never easy and Drew Brees is still Drew Brees. The fact both teams are 0-1 makes this interesting, but I do fear a blowout.
9. Browns at Ravens (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS): Another look at DeShone Kizer and another chance to see if the Ravens defense is for real. Worth some of your time, but only stick around if it’s close.
10. Redskins at Rams (Sunday, 4 p.m. ET, FOX): How will Jared Goff follow up the best performance of his young career? Plus, Aaron Donald debuts against home-run swinger Kirk Cousins. Could be epic if it’s close.
11. Dolphins at Chargers (Sunday, 4 p.m. ET, CBS): I only need the wacky Chargers on RedZone and then during the final 10-12 real-time minutes. Jay Cutler’s Miami debut helps here, though.
12. 49ers at Seahawks (Sunday, 4 p.m. ET, FOX): Nobody outside of the Pacific Northwest will watch this game, and I’m OK with that.
LeSean McCoy STILL. GOT. IT.pic.twitter.com/360WY3xUd5
— Def Pen Sports (@DefPenSports) September 10, 2017
13. Bills at Panthers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS): There are a lot of connections between the two teams but once the whole “Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane came from Carolina” thing wears off, we’ll be stuck looking at a pair of non-playoff teams coming off overrated Week 1 victories.
14. Jets at Raiders (Sunday, 4 p.m. ET, CBS): You’ll have plenty of opportunities to watch the exciting Raiders this season, so don’t waste your time here. If the Jets aren’t going to try for our sake, why should be try to watch them?
15. Cardinals at Colts (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX): File this in the “Matchups that would have been amazing two years ago but now sort of suck” folder. Without Andrew Luck and David Johnson, this is a bore.
16. Bears at Buccaneers (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX): Yes, it’s a first chance to see the revamped Tampa Bay offense, but the Bears just make me feel sad right now. And that’s not how I want to feel while watching football.
