Arizona Cardinals

Best Games to Watch for NFL Week 1

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 8:12 p.m. ET

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NFL Week 1 is finally here! Make sure to check out these must watch Week 1 games.

Football is finally back! The NFL Week 1 schedule is full of fun and interesting matchups. While many football hungry fans will watch as many of these games as possible, it is always better to watch the most fun and exciting games.

Which games of NFL Week 1 will be the best to watch? Let’s take a look.

5. Oakland Raiders at New Orleans Saints

As part of the early slate of games on Sunday, the Oakland Raiders will travel to take on the New Orleans Saints. This is a fun NFL Week 1 matchup that could quickly become an exciting shootout.

The Saints are an exciting, yet unbalanced team. Their defense was awful last season, allowing a league-high 29.8 points per game. However, Drew Brees leads an offense that is still fully capable of putting up points. New Orleans’ offense put up 403.8 yards per game last season, the second highest total in the entire NFL. Simply put, this team has big-time shootout potential each and every week.

The Raiders appear to be a much more complete team than the Saints this season. They have assembled incredible young talent led by Derek Carr, Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper in recent years, and did a great job of putting veterans around them this off season. Oakland is one of the best young teams in the NFL. They are certainly a team to watch this season.

Between the shootout potential, one of the biggest stars in the league in Brees, and a ton of young and exciting talent, this one has a chance to be incredibly exciting. Definitely mark this game down as one to watch.

Nov 22, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) and Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) look on prior to facing the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

4. Cincinnati Bengals at New York Jets

If it were not for an injury to starting quarterback Andy Dalton, the Cincinnati Bengals would have been legitimate Super Bowl contenders last season. This is a complete team that has a ton of ability on both sides of the ball.

With Dalton back and fully healthy, the Bengals are set up to succeed in 2016. Their defense is still loaded with talent, and while the losses of Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu may hurt the offense, they are set up well to replace them.

A.J. Green is still there to dominate on one side, while Brandon LaFell and rookie Tyler Boyd appear primed and ready to compete opposite of him. Add in their impressive running back duo of Jeremy Hill and Giovanni Bernard, and the Bengals’ offense is in good shape.

The hosting New York Jets also bring back a lot of familiar faces from a great team last season. Led by an incredible defensive line, their defense is set up to be dominant this season.

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Offensively, their wide receiver duo of Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker are as good as it gets. Their size and ability on the outside is top-notch and they will remain the focal point of the Jets’ offense.

Getting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is the key here. Fitzpatrick was incredible for the Jets last season. The contract dispute over the off season was not ideal, but he is a stable player for the team at quarterback.

The Jets also added veteran running back Matt Forte to the mix this off season. Forte may not be as talented as he used to be, but he is still an extremely capable back who will make a difference.

This should be a fun and close match-up between two strong teams. Make sure to have this game squarely on your radar on Sunday.

August 26, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) shakes hands with wide receiver Jordy Nelson (87) before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

3. Green Bay Packers at Jacksonville Jaguars

Perhaps a bit of undervalued gem here. The Jacksonville Jaguars have not exactly been must see TV in recent years, but I see their NFL Week 1 matchup against the Green Bay Packers as just that.

The Jaguars have assembled an impressive collection of talent on both sides of the ball. Blake Bortles led an explosive offensive unit last season, and the defense may not be far behind. Allen Robinson is one of the best young wide receivers in the NFL, and his running mate Allen Hurns is a great player as well. It will also be extremely interesting to see the Jaguars’ new look defense in action.

Last year’s third overall pick Dante Fowler Jr. has looked great in the preseason and will make his regular season debut on Sunday. Rookie defensive back Jalen Ramsey and linebacker Myles Jack will also figure heavily into the mix. As of course will major free agent defensive line addition Malik Jackson. The Jaguars’ offense was already exciting, but now their defense is worth watching as well.

The Packers have commonly been on the best teams in the NFC in recent years. Aaron Rodgers is well on his way to becoming one of the best quarterbacks in the history of the game, and it will be exciting to see him get his number one weapon in Jordy Nelson back. The Packers’ organization is a well-oiled machine that will undoubtedly keep plugging along. The Jaguars have an exciting mix of players, but the Packers are always tough to beat.

One way or another, this should be a fun game to watch.

Jan 24, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) take the field before the AFC Championship football game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

2. New England Patriots at Arizona Cardinals

In the first Sunday Night Football telecast of the season, the New England Patriots will travel west to take on the Arizona Cardinals. This matchup pits the two teams who lost in the AFC and NFC Championship Games last season.

These are two veteran teams who are obvious Super Bowl contenders for the 2016 season. With star defensive back Tyrann Matheiu expected to play, the Cardinals appear fully healthy and ready to compete on Sunday night.

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The Patriots are relatively healthy, but they are not going to be at full strength. As you know, Tom Brady will begin serving his four-game suspension this week, with Jimmy Garoppolo set to get his first career start. Garoppolo is the key to this game for the Patriots. If he can come and be efficient for the Patriots, they have a chance. If Garoppolo looks like a guy making his first career start, the Cardinals will likely prove to be too much for the Pats to handle.

While the Cardinals are loaded on both sides of the ball, never count out a Bill Belichick team. He will undoubtedly have this team as ready to play as possible. The Patriots have a strong defense, and guys like Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman should be able to make Garoppolo’s job easier.

Chandler Jones making his Cardinals’ debut after being traded to the team from New England this off season is a story to watch as well.

This matchup between two Super Bowl contending teams is certainly one to watch.

Sep 13, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr (13) runs after a reception against Dallas Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr (39) in the second quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

1. New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys

There are four inter-divisional games in Week 1, but this one stands out as the most interesting. Heated rivals in what appears to be a wide open NFC East, this game could have major division implications.

The New York Giants spent a lot of money to fix their defense this off season. This Week 1 game will be our first opportunity to see if it was money well spent. The pressure will be on Olivier Vernon, Janoris Jenkins and Damon Harrison to fix what was an awful Giants’ defense last season.

Eli Manning leads a strong Giants’ offense that should be back for more success in 2016. Odell Beckham is always must see TV and rookie receiver Sterling Shepard will be fun to watch as well.

For the Cowboys, a bulk of the intrigue will be surrounding their rookie backfield. Ezekiel Elliott will make his first career start. Elliott is an extremely talented back who should be able to pile up a ton of yardage behind the best offensive line in the NFL.

Elliott will likely be great, but rookie Dak Prescott is much more of an unknown. Prescott is being forced into action after Tony Romo suffered another major back injury. Prescott has looked great in the preseason, and undoubtedly has a ton of upside, but he is an extremely raw player.

I could see him being an impact player for Dallas, but he also may not be ready. This really could go either way. Regardless, it will be fun to watch. The Giants and Cowboys always seem to play fun and interesting games that go down to the wire. That alone is worth watching, but there is even more intrigue to this game than usual.

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