Top 10 games to watch during the 2021 NFL season

A look astatine 10 apical games to ticker crossed the NFL successful 2021.

Chiefs astatine Ravens, Week 2 — The league’s apical dual-threat quarterbacks look disconnected arsenic Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson conscionable successful a showdown betwixt AFC heavyweights. The Chiefs won 34-20 successful Week 3 of past season, and Jackson called Kansas City the Ravens’ “Kryptonite” aft Baltimore fell to 0-3 to Mahomes & Co. (Sept. 19, 6:20 p.m., NBC)

Buccaneers astatine Patriots, Week 4 — The GOAT returns to wherever it each began successful Tom Brady’s archetypal showdown against his aged team. Whether it’s Cam Newton oregon Mac Jones who starts astatine QB for New England, Brady is definite to person a raucous homecoming from the Foxborough faithful arsenic the Hoodied Genius plots to halt him. (Oct. 3, 6:20 p.m., NBC)

Bills astatine Chiefs, Week 5 — The AFC’s 2 apical contenders conscionable successful a rematch of past year’s title game, won 38-24 by Kansas City. The Bills’ Josh Allen looks to instrumentality different gigantic leap pursuing an MVP-caliber play successful 2020, portion cornerback Tre’Davious White and the Buffalo secondary look their biggest trial of the year. (Oct. 10, 6:20 p.m., NBC)

Lions astatine Rams, Week 7 — The 2 players progressive successful the offseason’s biggest blockbuster commercialized conscionable face-to-face for the archetypal time. The crippled volition code whether Sean McVay’s commercialized of backmost Jared Goff for seasoned Matthew Stafford has paid off, portion Detroit is seeking its archetypal winning play successful 4 years. (Oct. 24, 2:05 p.m., FOX)

Saints astatine Seahawks, Week 7 — Perennial NFC heavyweights quadrate disconnected astatine midseason. Will New Orleans beryllium adjusted to beingness without Drew Brees? And volition Seattle beryllium connected way for a 4th consecutive double-digit-wins season? The bid betwixt the teams is tied 8-8 and the past 3 games were decided by 1 people oregon less. (Oct. 25, 6:15 p.m., ESPN)

Packers astatine Chiefs, Week 9 –– In a imaginable Super Bowl preview, 2 of the past 3 MVPs look disconnected arsenic Mahomes battles Aaron Rodgers. The matchup is simply a nonstop effect of adding a 17th crippled to the schedule, with the AFC West champion taking connected the NFC North champion. (Nov. 7, 2:25 p.m., FOX)

Chargers astatine Broncos, Week 12 — Broncos manager Vic Fangio goes against his erstwhile protegee, ex-Broncos linebackers manager Brandon Staley, present Los Angeles’ caput coach. It’s a revenge crippled for the Chargers, who blew a three-touchdown pb successful the 2nd fractional past twelvemonth successful Denver and mislaid connected the last play. (Nov. 28, 2:05 p.m., CBS)

Bills astatine Buccaneers, Week 14 — Allen gets different marquee trial against the potent Tampa Bay D, which has proven susceptible of shutting down high-flying offenses. And it’s a late-season, cross-conference litmus trial for Brady and the Tampa Bay offense, which scuffled astatine times passim the 2020 regular season. (Dec. 12, 2:25 p.m., CBS)

Jaguars astatine Jets, Week 16 — Both teams volition apt beryllium eliminated from playoff contention for weeks, but the gathering of the 2 apical picks successful the 2021 draught can’t beryllium overlooked. No. 1 prime Trevor Lawrence and caller manager Urban Meyer instrumentality connected No. 2 prime Zach Wilson and caller manager Robert Saleh, with some franchises trying to found an identity. (Dec. 26, 11 a.m., CBS)

Browns astatine Steelers, Week 17 — This late-season AFC North showdown pits the division’s established powerfulness (Ben Roethlisberger and Pittsburgh) against its up-and-coming unit (Baker Mayfield and the Browns). Cleveland soundly bushed Pittsburgh 48-37 successful past year’s chaotic paper round, the Browns’ archetypal playoff triumph since 1995. (Jan. 3, 6:15 p.m., ESPN)