Piece by: Tyler Deakin
NFL fans, rejoice! More football will be played than ever before in 2021 after the league announced the addition of a 17th game for every team this season. Each team receives one non-conference matchup, with AFC teams hosting NFC teams. There’s no extra bye week, which means several NFL records (with an asterisk) could be broken this season. Enough of all that though, let’s dig into the best week 18 matchups! Here are 5 matchups that I’m excited about.
1. Kansas City Chiefs vs. Green Bay Packers
Could this game be a Super Bowl LVI preview? It’s possible, as both teams are established Super Bowl contenders. This game has huge playoff implications, and the outcome could decide the No. 1 seed in both conferences. I hope this game turns into a shootout so fans could see Aaron Rodgers & Patrick Mahomes duke it out for all the glory.
2. Indianapolis Colts vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This is another game with huge playoff implications as the Bucs look to repeat as Super Bowl Champions next year. The Colts should give them a run for their money though, as they have playoff aspirations of their own. Winning this game would be a huge boost for the Colts as they look to establish themselves as Super Bowl contenders. Meanwhile, the Bucs would benefit from winning this game & potentially securing the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
3. Baltimore Ravens vs. Los Angeles Rams
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson shredded the Rams defense for 5 passing TDs in a 45-6 win the last time these two teams met in 2019. I expect this game will be a lot closer this time around, as both teams have improved since then. This game will probably decide playoff seeding for several teams in each conference. I’m looking forward to watching Matt Stafford & Lamar Jackson battle head to head, a rare matchup that I’m not sure we’ve seen yet.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Seattle Seahawks
This is a great matchup of desperate contenders loading up for one last ride in 2021. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger will retire after this year, and Seahawks QB Russell Wilson could be nearing the end of his Seattle tenure as well. Both teams have huge ranges of outcomes in 2021, but both teams are likely playoff contenders in their divisions. Regardless, I think this game will be decided by the QB who has the ball last in the 4th quarter.
5. New England Patriots vs. Dallas Cowboys
These were two mediocre teams last year who should emerge as playoff contenders in 2021. The Patriots spent this offseason spending money in free agency, while the Cowboys get QB Dak Prescott back in 2021. I don’t believe either of these teams are amongst the top contenders; however, I do expect both teams to be fighting for a playoff spot in Week 18. This game could be a shootout as well, since neither team had a great defense last year.
Closing Thoughts
There’s no telling how the 2021 NFL season will shake out, but all of these matchups look like they will be fun to watch. I like the idea of having non-conference games to end the season, as this lets NFL fans watch rare matchups against contenders from each conference. It’s possible that one of these matchups could be a Super Bowl LVI preview too, which would be exciting. The players will complain about playing a 17-game schedule without an extra bye week, but as a fan I believe more football to watch is always a good thing. Here’s to hoping that all NFL players stay healthy & productive for an exciting Week 18 in 2021.