NFL Releases 2013 Team Schedules with Intriguing Matchups and TV Time
On Thursday, the 2013 NFL schedules for each team was released by the league. Ok, so the season is four months away, but it’s not too early to get ready for some interesting matchups.
Broncos QB Peyton Manning
If you’re a Denver Broncos fan, the team is on prime time five times this season. They will kick things off by hosting the Baltimore Ravens for Thursday’s opener on Sept. 5. For the Broncos, they’ll be reminded of the team that stood in their way to the Super Bowl with last season’s double OT loss.
The wound has not healed as Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker said of the game via The Associated Press, “It still bites on everybody. It’s tough to kind of relive that game, especially the opportunities I think we left on the field. It’s going to definitely fire us going into this year.”
The Ravens have gutted their team and Ray Lewis has retired. The Broncos seem like a team on the rise while the Ravens will work on their chemistry with new players, while carrying expectations that come as the reigning champions.
For the Broncos, they’re 7 to 1 to win the 2014 Super Bowl while the Ravens sit at 20 to 1.
In the second week, Denver hits the road for a Manning matchup: Broncos vs. the New York Giants. The brothers have only played twice against each other in their NFL careers and the big brother is 2-0 from his Indianapolis Colts days.
The Giants ended their 2012 season at 9-7 and no postseason play. For Week 1 of the 2013 season, they’ll kick off things for Sunday Night Football with a visit to the Dallas Cowboys. This should be a great game but already Giants veteran coach Tom Coughlin was grumbling his team didn’t play well on the road last season and looks for this first match up to be a challenge.
For 2014’s Super Bowl, the Giants are 20 to 1 for the win while the Cowboys are 25 to 1.
Redskins QB Robert Griffin III
Are you a Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III fan? Get ready for lots of RG3 in prime time: five games. Of course, he needs to recover from his knee surgery first but he is making great progress.
The Redskins will kick things off for the season’s Monday Night Football against the Philadelphia Eagles.
That team will have new look with coach Chip Kelly at the helm and in Week 3, it will be very interesting as former Eagles coach Andy Reid will return to Philly, now the skipper for the Kansas City Chiefs, to play a team that he coached for 14 seasons. The league thinks this will be an interesting match up and gave it a Thursday night slot.
Neither team really enters the season with a lot of expectations, just a lot of anticipation for change and improvements.
The Eagles are 30 to 1 for a Super Bowl win next season while the Chiefs sit at 45 to 1.
Other intriguing games
In Week 3, the Houston Texans will travel to play the Baltimore Ravens. This will be the return of Texans safety Ed Reed to his former team. It will be an interesting dynamic along with two talented AFC teams.
The Texans are another team that just can’t seem to get to the Super Bowl with steady, talented quarterback Matt Schaub.
Will this be their year? Maybe. The Texans are 16 to 1.
Tucked away at the end of the season, there’s the Atlanta Falcons at the San Francisco 49ers in Week 16. Both teams enter the season with high expectations and you can’t help but hope for veteran tight end Tony Gonzalez, it will be worth his while to return for a final season.
One question for the 49ers is, will Colin Kapernick hit a sophomore slump?
The Falcons are 12 to 1 to finally win a Super Bowl while the 49ers are 7 to 1 for 2014.
