NFL Week 1 schedule: 5 teams that need to win the most

It’s only Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season, but there are a few teams who need to win more than most for a variety of reasons.

5. Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens draw the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Monday night to start their season, and it’s a good assignment. The Raiders haven’t made the playoffs in each of head coach Jon Gruden’s three years at the helm, and Baltimore, in a tough AFC North, can take advantage of a bad team for an early win. However, should the Ravens lose, they get the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 2 on short rest. Handling business in Vegas is key for John Harbaugh’s club.

4. New York Giants

The NFC East is wide open, and the Giants have a chance to take the crown this year. To do so, they need to handle the winnable games on their schedule, particularly at home. In Week 1, Big Blue welcomes in the Denver Broncos, who are still looking for a winning campaign under third-year head coach Vic Fangio. Teddy Bridgewater is one of the weaker quarterbacks New York will face, and with the game at MetLife Stadium, this is a key tilt.

3. Carolina Panthers

Sam Darnold could get his revenge right here. The Panthers are playing host to the New York Jets, and we’ll see the debut of head coach Robert Saleh and quarterback Zach Wilson. Carolina is one of the many teams the NFC realistically fighting for a playoff berth, and for Darnold, what better way to get rolling than by beating his former team? If the Panthers are going to make any noise in 2021, it must start with a win over the lowly Jets.

2. Washington Football Team

We talked about the Giants above, but Washington is the defending NFC East champ and looks stronger on paper  this fall. While quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick isn’t ideal, he’s a major upgrade over Dwayne Haskins, Alex Smith and the other signal-callers we saw in the nation’s capital last year. This weekend, Washington welcomes in the Los Angeles Chargers, and while Justin Herbert and Co. are formidable, this is a getable game for the Football Team.

1. New England Patriots

This is simple. The Patriots are at home against the Miami Dolphins, who might be their chief competition to make the playoffs as a wild card in the stacked AFC. Losing at Gillette Stadium to Miami would be a brutal way to start the season, immediately putting head coach Bill Belichick in a tough spot. Of course the Patriots could rally and get revenge come Week 18 in Miami, but this is an important contest.