Mark your calendars: Here’s the Top 10 games to watch on the 2023 NFL slate, starting with a primetime showdown in Week 1.
Week 1
Bills at Jets
Sept. 11, 6:15 p.m. on Monday Night Football, ESPN
After losing in the divisional round the past two seasons, Josh Allen and the Bills begin another year with Super Bowl-or-bust expectations against a future Hall of Fame QB, Aaron Rodgers, making his New York debut for the much-hyped Jets.
Week 2
Vikings at Eagles
Sept. 14, 6:15 p.m. on Thursday Night Football, Amazon Prime
Minnesota’s magical 2022 ended with a letdown loss to the Giants in the wild card round, but Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson remain a tantalizing tandem. It’s the home opener for Philly, whose D should still be elite with the likes of Fletcher Cox and Darius Slay.
Week 4
Chiefs at Jets
Oct. 1 at 6:20 p.m. on Sunday Night Football, NBC
Aaron Rodgers will have gone through the Buffalo, Dallas and New England defenses by the time the Jets host the Chiefs. New York’s offense will need to be in rhythm to compete with Patrick Mahomes & Co., who should be viewed as a favorite to repeat.
Week 5
Jets at Broncos
Oct. 8 at 2:25 p.m., CBS
After Sean Payton ripped 2022 Broncos coach and current Jets OC Nathaniel Hackett for “one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL” in July, everybody from Denver to New York circled this game. Watch for Rodgers to come out slinging.
Week 9
Cowboys at Eagles
Nov. 5 at 2:25 p.m., FOX
The first of two showdowns between the NFC East heavyweights (they also square off in Dallas in Week 14) could also be a primer for the conference championship game. Dak Prescott against Jalen Hurts is sure to deliver top-quality theatre.
Week 11
Philadelphia Eagles at Kansas City Chiefs
Nov. 20 at 6:15 p.m. on Monday Night Football, ESPN
The Super Bowl LVII rematch is the top game to watch this year. Kansas City erased a 10-point halftime deficit to win 38-35. Nick Sirianni and the Eagles stewed on that loss all offseason. Hurts vs. Mahomes is a highlight reel waiting to happen.
Week 13
Bengals at Jaguars
Dec. 4 at 6:15 p.m. on Monday Night Football, ESPN
Joe Burrow meets Trevor Lawrence in a duel between the No. 1 overall picks in the 2020 and ’21 drafts, respectively, and two QBs who faced each other in the national championship game. Cincinnati is a Super Bowl contender, while Jacksonville is on a big upswing.
Week 14
Bills at Chiefs
Dec. 10 at 2:25 p.m., CBS
While the Bengals warrant mention, it’s the Bills and Chiefs who have been the masterclass of the AFC over the past several seasons. The Bills split their last four matchups, but K.C. won both playoff games — a divisional OT thriller and the AFC championship game.
Week 16
Ravens at 49ers
Dec. 25 at 6:15 p.m. on Monday Night Football, ABC
Lamar Jackson could well have Baltimore in the mix for the AFC’s top seed at this point in the season, while San Francisco — losers of two straight NFC title games — will have found out if second-year QB Brock Purdy is a fluke or, possibly, franchise QB.
Week 17
Bengals at Chiefs
Dec. 31 at 2:25 p.m., CBS
This matchup might decide home field advantage in the AFC Championship, and could be a preview of that game, too. Kansas City beat Cincinnati 23-20 in last year’s AFC title game at Arrowhead, denying the Bengals a second straight Super Bowl appearance.
