Week 3 in the NFL is here, and you might be entering the weekend with your own preferences regarding which games to focus on, and which to place on the backburner.
Most of you have your favorites and fantasy players to track. But in case you’re completely neutral or need help breaking ties with regard to what to watch, we’ve ranked all 16 games from most appealing to least enticing.
1. Broncos at Seahawks (Sunday, 4 p.m. ET, CBS): We’re sort of obligated to place a Super Bowl rematch here, but don’t be surprised if this thing is over by the end of the third quarter. The Super Bowl wasn’t a good game, and this might not be much better. Seattle is too strong at home and looking to bounce back.
2. Redskins at Eagles (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX): The two more respectable NFC East teams do battle in Kirk Cousins’ debut start in place of Robert Griffin III. It’s a matchup that matters as far as the standings go, plus it’s DeSean Jackson’s return to Philadelphia. Expect a lot of points in what could be the game of the week.
3. 49ers at Cardinals (Sunday, 4 p.m. ET, FOX): Arizona can make a huge statement — and possibly take sole possession of first place in the league’s strongest division — with a home victory over the somewhat frazzled ‘Niners. There might not be fireworks here, but we’re talking about two very good football teams, and this might have an impact on the final standings.
4. Chargers at Bills (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS): Both teams are coming off impressive victories, and San Diego has historically performed well traveling across the country. It’s a fun matchup in a fun spot between two fun teams, and neutral fans will certainly be pulling for the constantly-trampled-on Bills.
5. Packers at Lions (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX): Detroit has played Green Bay well of late, and that Packers defense is a bit of a mess. At Ford Field, this should be a close, high-scoring matchup between two of the game’s most powerful offenses.
6. Ravens at Browns (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS): If the Browns want to make a statement that they plan on competing in the AFC North, now’s the time. At home a week after beating the mighty Saints, they can’t fall on their face. Expect another exciting matchup within that division.
7. Bears at Jets (Monday night, ESPN): The Bears are a fun team and the Jets have a solid defense that could put up a fight at home. Two big-time markets, and you get the feeling this will come down to the wire.
8. Steelers at Panthers (Sunday night, NBC): Neither team is a big-time Super Bowl contender, and the Greg Hardy story might become irritating considering it’s national TV. Still, not hating on a Cam Newton vs. Ben Roethlisberger quarterback matchup.
9. Buccaneers at Falcons (Thursday night, CBS/NFL Network): The Bucs just lost to the Rams and Atlanta was easily taken care of by Cincinnati. The NFC South is a bit of a mess, though, so both teams are still very much in it. Plus, the Falcons are always entertaining.
10. Titans at Bengals (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS): Cincinnati is for real on both sides of the ball and A.J. Green looks as though he’ll be healthy enough to suit up. Only risk is this could be a blowout because the Bengals don’t lose at home and the Titans came back to earth in an ugly loss last week.
11. Chiefs at Dolphins (Sunday, 4 p.m. ET, CBS): Sorry, but the return of Branden Albert just isn’t enough to get us going here. Kansas City’s roster is a disaster with all of those injuries and the Dolphins should cruise at home. No star power and no buzz, though, so why is it a late-afternoon game?
12. Texans at Giants (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS): Ryan Fitzpatrick and Eli Manning don’t exactly move the needle nowadays, but if you’re a rubbernecker who can’t look away from a good wreck, watching Manning and that offensive line go up against J.J. Watt and Co. should be entertaining.
13. Cowboys at Rams (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX): Two obvious non-playoff teams, regardless of the fact they both bounced back with victories in Week 2. There’s just not a lot to this, especially with St. Louis down so many guys.
14. Vikings at Saints (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX): With no Adrian Peterson, the Vikes are more boring than usual. Plus, look for the pissed-off Saints to crush Minnesota back at the Superdome after an 0-2 start.
15. Raiders at Patriots (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS): Everyone knows the Patriots are going to demolish the NFL’s worst team at home. Nobody should watch this, especially Oakland fans.
16. Colts at Jaguars (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS): Indy is way better than 0-2. Jacksonville might actually be worse than 0-2. Regardless, expect a blowout, and a fairly mundane game.
