If we needed any proof that the NFL is the number league in Pro Sports today was it. Going up against the NBA Playoffs, the NHL Playoffs and Midseason Baseball the NFL releasing 18 pieces of paper was the top story and the top sports event of the day. The full NFL Schedule has been released with strategic leaks and promos hyping a Prime-Time spectacle on the NFL Network. Now the predictions and the intrigue begin for Football Fans and more importantly to the NFL and the Team Owners the Ticket and Ad Sales begin now that the games are out.
The schedule does create some great talking points and launching pads for the way too early predictions of the outcome of the season. The season Kickoffs with a rematch of the AFC Championship game from last season with the Baltimore Ravens going up against the Kansas City Chiefs on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on a special Thursday Night edition of NBC’s Sunday Night Football. The International games go to Brazil as the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles face off in an important matchup to start the season on Peacock.
Big matchups highlight the NBC Sunday Night schedule with NFC Playoff contenders the LA Rams facing off against the Lions in Detroit on week 1. Week 2 brings a battle of what could be the Next Generation of QBs in the NFL with Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears going to the Houston Texans and CJ Stroud. In week 5 the Dallas Cowboys in a must-win season take on the most interesting QB room in the league when they head to Pittsburgh to play Russell Wilson, Justin Fields and the Steelers. The New York Jets then host the Steelers in Week 7 in what is one of the Jet’s 6 Prime-Time games this season. The defending Champion Kansas City Chiefs will be in the Sunday Night Spotlight on the opening night, Week 3, Week 14 and a big potential Playoff matchup with the Texans visiting Kansas City. The Cowboys appear Weeks 5, 8 and 16 to show what the league thinks of the Cowboys status this year. Then of course Week 18 is open for the biggest game in an EPL style Decision Day schedule off all-divisional games.
Monday Night Football on ESPN, ABC and ESPN + has a more balanced lineup kicking off with the Jets heading out to face the San Francisco 49ers in the second primetime debut for Aaron Rogers. Week 2 features Kirk Cousins bringing the Atlanta Falcons to Lincoln Financial Field to take on the Philadelphia Eagles looking to show their status in the NFC. The Buffalo Bills end Week 6 taking on the Jets and hopefully a healthy Rogers at Met Life Stadium. The Battle of Texas comes to Monday Night on November 18th in Week 11 as the Texans travel to AT&T Stadium to take on the Cowboys. The Cowboys also host a Playoff hopeful Bengals on Monday Night to end Week 14 and in the final scheduled Monday Night game the Lions travel to the Bay to take on the 49ers in Week 17.
In other big games on the schedule the Las Vegas Raiders get to travel to Kansas City for the second straight year on a Holiday weekend as they follow last year’s Christmas Day game against Chiefs this time on Black Friday in an exclusive game to Amazon. They also feature the Rams going to the Niners in Week 15, the Cleveland Browns taking on the Bengals in Week 19 and of course a Wildcard game.
We’ll break down the schedule more throughout this week on the FiredUP Network. Stay tuned to the channel for more insights as the season gets closer.
