2020 NFL schedule takeaways, power rankings and more
The 2020 NFL schedule is out, and there are significant takeaways for every division. Here’s our top 10 heading into the summer.
10. Chicago catches an early break
The Chicago Bears should be thrilled. They might not lose until deep into October.
Here’s how the first six weeks play out:
- at Detroit Lions
- vs. New York Giants
- at Atlanta Falcons
- vs. Indianapolis Colts
- vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (TNF)
- at Carolina Panthers
The Bears draw perhaps the NFC’s three worst teams and have the Colts at home and the Buccaneers — a good team — at Soldier Field on a short week. While the Falcons could prove a tough out, it’s not impossible to see Chicago winning in Atlanta.
9. Cowboys and Eagles meet in Week 16 once more
Last year, the NFC East was decided in the season’s penultimate week. It might happen again.
The Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles clashed at The Linc last December with the home team winning ugly. Looking at the division, it’s hard to see the Eagles or Cowboys not walking away with the crown. The first matchup comes Week 8 in Philadelphia, with Dallas getting to host the rematch this time around. It could be one of the league’s best games of the year.
8. Cards got dealt a bad hand by schedule makers
The NFL must have seen Kliff Kingsbury’s house and decided his life is too easy.
Arizona has one of the rare three-game road trips on its schedule, facing the Carolina Panthers, New York Jets and Cowboys in Weeks 4-6. The Cardinals also travel to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football before heading to New England for a cross-country tilt at 1 p.m. ET with the Patriots. Oh, and they open up at Levi’s Stadium with the San Francisco 49ers. Not ideal.
7. Burrow vs. Tua gives us great matchup for future
In Week 13, the Cincinnati Bengals and Miami Dolphins clash at Hard Rock Stadium for what should be the first of many NFL contests between Joe Burrow and Tua Tagovailoa.
Drafted only four slots apart, and hailing from rival SEC schools, this has the makings of a great rivalry for 15 years. Hopefully this is the beginnings of something special. Maybe one of these teams surprises and is in the race.
6. Texans have the start from hell
Houston has endured a tough run. The Texans blew a 24-0 lead in the Divisional round, traded DeAndre Hopkins and extended Laremy Tunsil on an absurd deal over the past four months. The schedule release only added to their misery.
Houston’s first three games next season: at Kansas City, vs. Baltimore and at Pittsburgh. Rough. If the Texans are 1-2 going into a home date with the Minnesota Vikings — another hard game — they should be thrilled.
5. AFC East could collectively have a long year ahead
Nobody knows who is winning the AFC East. Regardless, they probably won’t be a top seed.
The division will play the NFC West and AFC West, making it a gauntlet for all four teams. New England not only draws those eight foes but also gets a road date with Deshaun Watson and Houston, along with the Ravens coming to Gillette Stadium.
The key to winning the division is always playing well within it, but that’s doubly true for the AFC East in 2020.
4. Browns have favorable schedule in Stefanski’s first year
If the Cleveland Browns underperform again, it won’t be because the schedule gods hate them.
Cleveland starts in Baltimore but then plays three of four at home with the Bengals, Washington Redskins and Indianapolis Colts coming in. They also get to stay by Lake Erie in Weeks 8-11 before a Week 12 trip to face the underwhelming Jacksonville Jaguars. The last game of the regular season also has the Browns welcoming in the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Things went right for Cleveland here.
3. Broncos are improved, but a brutal beginning awaits
Denver is a popular pick to reach the postseason for the first time since 2015. However, schedule does it no favors. The Broncos’ start with the Tennessee Titans on Monday night before going to Pittsburgh on a short week.
Then it’s back to Denver for a meeting with Tom Brady and the Buccaneers before going cross-country for a Thursday night affair against the Jets. The next week it’s back to the East Coast for the Patriots. A challenging start for Drew Lock and Co.
2. Bucs and Saints are getting us kicked off right
When Brady signed with Tampa Bay, everyone began thinking about his matchups with Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints. Luckily, the NFL isn’t making us wait. The NFC South rivals will meet Week 1 in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
The winner has a significant leg up in the divisional race, giving us the most impactful game of the opening weekend.
1. Week 3 could have a major impact on the postseason
It’s not often September gives us a weekend which means so much come January. Yet that’s what we have in Week 3.
On Sept. 27, the Texans and Steelers meet in Pittsburgh in the early afternoon. The Cowboys visit the Seahawks in the late window. On Sunday night, it’s the Green Bay Packers and Saints in the Superdome. Then, on Monday night, the Chiefs invade Baltimore with Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes meeting for the third time in their young careers.
A quartet of great games, all of which could have massive playoff implications.
Power rankings
Top 10 quarterbacks not in the Hall of Fame (must be eligible)
1. Ken Anderson, Cincinnati Bengals
2. Phil Simms, New York Giants
3. John Hadl, Los Angeles Chargers
4. Boomer Esiason, Cincinnati Bengals
5. Jim Hart, St. Louis Cardinals
6. John Brodie, San Francisco 49ers
7. Steve McNair, Tennessee Titans
8. Randall Cunningham, Philadelphia Eagles
9. Joe Theismann, Washington Redskins
10. Earl Morrall, Baltimore Colts/Miami Dolphins
Quotable
"“I prescribe to the approach of competitive fairness within our game, and that is everybody gets an opportunity. Our game is extremely competitive. It’s one of the things that make football at this level so attractive to our fans. I’m committed to preserving and protecting that, and so all teams getting an opportunity to start on the same footing is a core element of that.”"
– Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin on when teams can reopen their facilities
As teams go through OTAs and minicamps over the next six weeks, the league must consider all facets of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the NFL is looking to begin the process of opening team facilities on Friday, Tomlin’s point is one to be strongly considered.
The league wants normalcy — and so does everyone on the globe — but it most move as slow as the slowest state with an NFL team. Otherwise, certain clubs will enjoy an unfair advantage.
Podcast
Random stat
1971 was the only year of the decade in which one of the Oakland Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers or Minnesota Vikings didn’t play in their respective conference title game.
Info learned this week
1. NFL schedule speaks volumes on level of coronavirus concern
There was a belief the NFL would have non-conference games leading the schedule to provide cushion for a delayed season. Not the case.
The league revealed its schedule on Thursday night and didn’t deviate from its typical ways. There were plenty of divisional bouts throughout the slate, while inter-conference games were spread out over regular season.
Whether it’s short-sighted or not, the NFL backed up what its message has been all offseason. Full steam ahead.
Of course, coronavirus and how it’ll play out in the United States from now until Labor Day is anybody’s guess. It could rage on or begin sputtering. Maybe the NFL has incredible timing and snuck in the Super Bowl before the country went into a virtual lockdown and starts its 2020 season as we’re going back to a new normal. It remains to be seen.
For now, commissioner Roger Goodell clearly believes the league will play a full 17-week campaign. How the NFL — and the country — navigates the next few months will be fascinating to watch.
Here’s to health and safety for all.
2. Super Bowl LV odds paint lopsided picture
Free agency and the draft are over. The schedule is out, and so are the Super Bowl odds.
BOVADA has the Chiefs (+600) as slight favorites to win it all, edging out the Ravens (+650). After those AFC superpowers? Seven NFC teams, led by the 49ers (+800) and Saints (+1000). The Patriots and Bills share the third-best odds out of the AFC (+2200).
Those lines are reminiscent of the early ’90s NFC when Dallas and San Francisco were outpacing the rest of their conference at a comical rate. Barring a shock, Kansas City and Baltimore will enter the season as prohibitive favorites to see each other in the AFC Championship Game.
Meanwhile, the NFC is anybody’s guess. Even with the new playoff format, there will be quality teams home for the postseason.
The AFC may have the two best teams, but the NFC has incredible depth.
3. Saints move on from Warford in surprise move
Larry Warford is 28 years old and a three-time Pro Bowler. He’s now a free agent.
After taking center Cesar Ruiz in the first round of the NFL Draft, the Saints decided to cut bait with their star veteran, saving $7 million in cap space. Warford has been to Orlando each of the past three campaigns, and should draw heavy interest on the market.
The question is what type of interest? With free agency’s crux long over and the draft behind us, many teams will only be offering one-year pacts. However, this might be perfect for Warford. If he plays well again in 2020, the former Kentucky Wildcat can hit the open market alongside the Patriots’ Joe Thuney as top available guards next offseason when the cap is schedule to skyrocket.
In the meantime, one lucky team will gain a Pro Bowler in May.
4. Patriots appear committed to Jarrett Stidham
Cam Newton doesn’t appear the answer in Foxborough.
Many have long connected the dots on Newton heading north for the Patriots, and while it would make sense, the reality is different. Despite Stidham being a former fourth-round pick with only four career passes — including a pick-six — Bill Belichick apparently believes in the youngster.
Additionally, The Athletic reports New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels wasn’t high on Newton when he interviewed for the Carolina job.
At 23 years old, Stidham has the most unenviable task in football. The Auburn product has to replace Tom Brady, the best quarterback of all time in most estimations. He’ll be doing so without a star-studded cast around him, largely relying on an aging Julian Edelman, second-year man N’Keal Karry and Mohamed Sanu.
Stidham appears to have his chance. If he thrives, give both he and Belichick all the credit.
5. Clowney continues to wait for a deal
Jadeveon Clowney remaining a free agent is one hell of an upset, yet here we are.
The rumors haven’t stopped flying about a potential deal with the Eagles or a return to the Seahawks, but no deal has been brokered. If Clowney and his representation are waiting for a team to come in heavy with a multi-year offer, they would be advised to give up the pipe dream.
It’s been written in this space before, but Clowney’s best path forward is to sign a one-year deal, work his tail off through the summer and dominate come the fall. If Clowney can stay healthy and post his first double-digit sack season, he’ll cash in come 2021.
Nobody likes waiting, but for Clowney, he doesn’t have a choice if he wants the big money.
History lesson
In 1979, the Rams met the Buccaneers in the NFC Championship Game. Los Angeles won 9-0 to reach its first Super Bowl.
Tampa Bay quarterbacks Doug Williams and Mike Rae completed 4-of-26 attempts for 54 yards.
Luckily, the passing game has come a long way in the 40 years since.
Parting shot
On Wednesday night, I received a phone call. My cousin, the closest I’ve been to a brother, died.
He was 31 years old. He died of an apparent drug overdose.
If you think someone you love is struggling, reach out. Tell them you care. Tell them they’re loved.
If you’re struggling, let me say this: somebody cares. Somebody out there would be crushed by losing you. Someone out there will never forgive themselves for staying silent one day too long.
Far too often in life our pride or machismo gets in the way. We don’t want to feel weak or vulnerable. I’d like to think I was there for my cousin, but I know in the final years, I wasn’t. I didn’t do my part to make sure things were good.
Maybe it wouldn’t have mattered. Maybe it would have made all the difference.
I hope he never doubted he was loved. Do yourself a favor, and erase someone’s doubt today.