NFL Week 1: 5 teams to watch on Sunday
The NFL season is underway, and somehow the New England Patriots are, by record, the worst team in the league. That may not last, so while it’s true, stare at that and try too figure out how it could possibly be.
Meanwhile, there are a dozen games scheduled to kick of on Sunday. Of those games, there are five teams that both have something to prove while being certain or potential contenders.
5. Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia wasn’t done any favors by the schedule makers. The Eagles start on the road against the Washington Redskins before traveling to take on the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Can the Eagles rise up and beat a decent Redskins team? Some believe Philadelphia can contend in the NFC East, and if that’s the case, taking care of the weakest team in the division is a must. Will Carson Went take a big leap forward, or be mediocre again in 2017?
4. Carolina Panthers
Last year, Carolina was the most disappointing team in the league. After going 15-1 in 2015 and reaching Super Bowl 50, the Panthers fell to 6-10 and dead last in the NFC South. On Sunday, the Panthers take on the San Francisco 49ers and head coach Kyle Shanahan in his head-coaching debut. If Carolina and rookie running back Christian McCaffrey are going places in 2017, beating a rebuilding 49ers team is a must.
3. Oakland Raiders
The Raiders have been getting plenty of love throughout the offseason. Is Oakland deserving of it? The Raiders had the worst defense in football in terms of yards per play last season, and did little to upgrade the unit. Will the offense led by Derek Carr and Amari Cooper be able to carry them to another 11-12 wins, or is Oakland in for a rude awakening? The contest against the up-and-coming Tennessee Titans should give us a good idea.
2. Houston Texans
Houston is going to be a fascinating team to keep tabs on throughout the season. The Texans have won the AFC South each of the last two years with 9-7 efforts in each. With Tennessee on the rise, can Houston capture another division crown with a third different — and mediocre — quarterback in as many years, this time with Tom Savage? This week’s opponent is the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are tough defensively. How does Savage look in this one?
1. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks might be the favorite to reach the Super Bowl in the NFC, and getting the Green Bay Packers in Lambeau Field for Week 1 is one hell of a litmus test. Will Seattle be able to shut down Aaron Rodgers and earn a victory, or does Green Bay get an all-important win and hold a tiebreaker that could come back to haunt Seattle later on?
