The beginning of a new NFL season brings with it plenty of unknowns. And while Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season usually has people looking for the best games to watch, it’s also important to know which games you might want to avoid. If you haven’t been paying attention to the NFL preseason or free agency, you might not be aware of which NFL teams just aren’t worth watching. So let’s take a look at the five games on this weekend’s schedule that you’ll probably want to skip past while channel surfing.
5. Denver Broncos at New York Giants (4:25 p.m. EST)
The Giants have been pretty bad for the last four seasons, and not too much has changed to inspire that they’ll change that in 2021. While there is reason to hope that quarterback Daniel Jones will continue to progress, the offensive line woes seem likely to remain, making life hard for him and the rest of the offense. Meanwhile, the Broncos present some interesting potential with Teddy Bridgewater winning the QB battle, but there are so many questions remaining about their health and ability to compete in the AFC West that fans are definitely in wait-and-see mode.
4. Philadelphia Eagles at Atlanta Falcons (1:00 p.m. EST)
Both of these franchises have gone to the Super Bowl in the recent past, but you’d never know it at this point. The Falcons are coming off a 4-12 campaign and, while they did stock up on offensive weapons in the NFL Draft, their defense is probably going to prevent them from improving very much this season. The Eagles might benefit from how bad the NFC East has been, but that doesn’t mean they’re good. If Jalen Hurts improves this season, that’s probably the best they can hope for.
3. Minnesota Vikings at Cincinnati Bengals (1:00 p.m. EST)
No matter what they do and who they draft, the Bengals almost always seem to be in this general region. Hopefully, Joe Burrow’s ACL holds up and the offensive line finds a way to protect them both, but until there’s proof it might not be worth investing in them. The Vikings might not be terrible this season but they probably won’t be all that good either. They’ll go as far as their offense will take them, presuming everyone stays healthy.
2. New York Jets vs. Carolina Panthers (1:00 p.m. EST)
It usually goes without saying that the Jets are probably playing in a game that you can skip, and this season appears to be no exception. There’s some hype around QB Zach Wilson, but anyone who knows the Jets knows that we’ve been here before. And assuming that defense is as bad as it seems, it probably won’t matter either way. The Panthers probably aren’t a playoff contender this season, but the potential available for them might make them enjoyable down the road.
1. Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans (1:00 p.m. EST)
By all accounts, everyone seems to be in agreement that the Texans are destined to be the worst team in the NFL this season. That’s especially true if you presume Deshaun Watson doesn’t play quarterback for them at any point (a fair assumption). Even with Watson, this roster just looks depleted and this season seems to be all about getting the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Meanwhile, the Jaguars aren’t much better, but we suppose you might want to check in to see how Trevor Lawrence is doing. But if you’re looking to avoid a bad NFL game, this is the one to truly avoid.
