Fansided

NFL schedule release: 10 best games of 2017

By John Buhler

Feb 5, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; New England Patriots running back Dion Lewis (33) against Atlanta Falcons cornerback Jalen Collins (32) during Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; New England Patriots running back Dion Lewis (33) against Atlanta Falcons cornerback Jalen Collins (32) during Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 21, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) scrambles away from New England Patriots outside linebacker Dont’a Hightower (54) during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 21, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) scrambles away from New England Patriots outside linebacker Dont’a Hightower (54) during the second half at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /

4. New England Patriots at Oakland Raiders

They didn’t play last year, nor did they finish in the same place in their respective divisions a year ago. That being said, when the New England Patriots make their way to the Bay Area to play the Oakland Raiders this fall, this could be the best game in the AFC this season.

Before Raiders quarterback Derek Carr got hurt, Oakland was in mix for home-field advantage in the 2016 AFC Playoffs with the Patriots. Oakland would wind up finishing second in the AFC West and falling on the road to the Houston Texans in the AFC Wild Card round.

All that aside, many felt that Oakland posed the biggest threat to New England in the AFC playoff picture. Carr has quickly become a star at quarterback. His charismatic leadership style has made him a more jovial Aaron Rodgers in the AFC. The Raiders defense is still suspect, but Oakland plays with a damn-the-torpedoes style of ball, so they’re never out of any game under head coach Jack Del Rio.

With this game being in Oakland, the Raiders have a real chance to had the Patriots a rare regular season loss. Not to say that it will be a change of guard type of game, but the Raiders would be one of the favorites in the AFC to unseat New England as the best team in the conference. The Tennessee Titans are a compelling on the rise team as well in the AFC South.

Should New England and Oakland play up to their potential, this meeting in Oakland will likely decide the upper echelon of the AFC playoff picture. If Oakland somehow got home-field advantage over New England in the AFC Playoffs, we could be looking at the Raiders representing the AFC in Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis this February.

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