Each NFL Weeks Most Overrated/Underrated Games
Photo from the Minnesota Vikings
After talking about college football for about two weeks straight, I figured it’s only fair I now talk about the NFL.
Even though it’s not as fun.
But I do obviously still enjoy it, and I feel that people should be informed on which games are worth watching and which games will be overhyped.
Let’s get to it.
Week 1
Overrated: Broncos vs Seahawks
This is the first ever Monday Night Football game of the season, so they put this thing on primetime. They’re expecting a fun one.
And why not? It’s Russell Wilson’s return to Seattle after they traded him to the Broncos.
But is it really worth being tired Tuesday morning to watch a Broncos team play a Seahawks team they are much, much better than?
I don’t think so, and I’m a Seahawks fan.
Underrated: Packers vs Vikings
The Packers have no receivers for the back to back MVP while the Vikings have a new offensive coach and loads of weapons for Kirk Cousins to deal with.
This could be a potential upset on opening week, and a statement for the Vikes.
Which is a guarantee that it will all go wrong, but watch it anyway.
Week 2
Overrated: Packers vs Bears
Another primetime game that has no business being on primetime.
Yeah yeah yeah I know. The Packers and Bears are historic rivals.
But the Bears are simply a bad football team, and the Packers should breeze through this.
After all, Aaron owns them…
Underrated: Dolphins vs Ravens
Lamar Jackson vs a Dolphins team that has Jaylen Waddle and added Tyreek Hill.
This should be an explosive game.
Week 3
Overrated: Browns vs Steelers
Another primetime game.
This one has the Browns who will not have Deshaun Watson take on one of the best defenses in the NFL.
No bueno.
Underrated: 49ers vs Broncos
The Niners will finally have a running QB who can add another layer to an already dynamic Kyle Shannahan offense.
And we get to see it on Sunday Night Football against Russell Wilson, who doesn’t typically lose to the Niners.
Week 4
Overrated: Chiefs vs Buccaneers
This game should be good, but it’s overrated simply for what else is on this week.
Underrated: Bills vs Ravens
Arguably the two best teams in the AFC in a game that most likely will affect seeding in the playoffs and they get stuck at 1 P.M. for the RedZone crowd to see a view bits and pieces.
How is that possible?
Thankfully, I live in Maryland and can watch this in full.
Others may not be so lucky.
But the NFL just had to give us that Mahomes vs Brady storyline on Sunday Night Football instead…
Week 5
Overrated: Dolphins vs Jets
There really aren’t many overrated games this week, so I’ll pick the game that’s around when Zach Wilson is scheduled to return and if he does I’m sure he’ll struggle because he simply isn’t very good.
Underrated: Bengals vs Ravens
Sunday Night Football between two teams who did their fair share of trash talking last year.
But now the Ravens are healthy again.
And I bet Humphrey, Peters and that secondary want blood for what Ja’Maar Chase did to them last year.
Week 6
Overrated: Commanders vs Bears
Another week that doesn’t have many overrated games, but watching Carson Wentz face off against the putrid excuse the Bears are considering an offense during Thursday Night Football seems cruel.
Underrated: Vikings vs Dolphins
The Chargers play the Broncos and the Chiefs play the Bills and those games should be incredible, but the fact is those games are being very fairly hyped.
Many people expect big jumps for the Vikings and Dolphins this year, so this should be a fun one to watch and it’s in the smattering of 1 P.M. games.
Week 7
Overrated: Chiefs vs 49ers
It’s a rematch of the 2020 Super Bowl, but I don’t think it will necessarily be a good game.
Trey Lance is exciting, but who knows if he’s actually very good.
We know Mahomes is. And the roster gap either doesn’t exist or is not grand enough to matter otherwise.
Underrated: Colts vs Titans
I was going to put the Browns vs Ravens on here as it is, as of right now, the first game for Deshaun Watson and the Baltimore crowd would be ruthless considering his sexual assault scandal.
However, I think he will be suspended for the whole season, so that game will just be awful.
The Colts and Titans are clearly the two best teams in the AFC South, and this is the last time they face off.
It could be crucial for the division.
Week 8
Overrated: Packers vs Bills
The Packers seem like they’re going to take a step back, and the Bills seem to just be getting better.
And it’s in Buffalo.
I don’t see this going well for the Pack.
Underrated: Raiders vs Saints
Both these teams are considered potential wild card teams, so a loss for either here could prove devastating.
This is a midseason game that doesn’t look like much, but is pretty meaningful by season’s end.
Week 9
Overrated: Rams vs Buccaneers
Yeah, this was a super exciting playoff game last year.
It shouldn’t have been.
The Rams should have blown the Bucs out of the water, and this time around the Bucs are just getting older while Stafford gets even more comfortable with the Rams.
Underrated: Titans vs Chiefs
This may seem like a Chiefs blowout, but we’ve spent about 3 years now sort of sleeping on the Titans.
I mean, this team had the first seed in the AFC last year despite not having their best offensive player for half the season.
I think the Chiefs will still win, but betting lines have them as 6 point favorites right now, and that’s very big for a good Titans team.
Week 10
Overrated: Cowboys vs Packers
These are two historic franchises.
They are also two franchises that I feel a hefty majority of America is absolutely sick of hearing about.
Neither of these teams are winning the Super Bowl. Let’s dial it back with all the talk.
Underrated: Chargers vs 49ers
Both the Chargers and 49ers are expecting to be playoff teams this year, and both are in very tough divisions.
Every loss can be crucial to hosting a playoff game, or potentially heading somewhere quite cold and difficult.
Week 11
Overrated: Raiders vs Broncos
Some people think the Raiders will compete for the AFC West, and while I think they could fight for a playoff spot, I really just don’t see a division fight happening.
The Broncos are definitely better. I expect this to not be very close.
Underrated: Commanders vs Texans
There aren’t many sneaky good games this week, so we’re going to go with one that is guaranteed to be trash.
But remember that matchup between the Dolphins and Bengals in 2019 that was guaranteed to be bad and ended up being a nail biter?
This is my pick for that.
Two bad teams facing off could still be fun!
Week 12
Overrated: Giants vs Cowboys
The 4:15 Thanksgiving game is always my least favorite.
You’re either eating dinner, or have eaten dinner and want to get a nap in before the Thursday night CFB rivalry game, whatever it may be.
And when it’s a matchup like this?
No thank you, I’m full.
Underrated: Steelers vs Colts
This is the same boat as the Saints-Raiders and Vikings-Dolphins games I mentioned earlier.
Except this one is within the conference, so a loss could be very hurtful to playoff chances.
Week 13
Overrated: Bills vs Patriots
Was the playoff game last year not enough to know this won’t be a good game?
The Bills are really good, and the Patriots have a 2nd year QB with three different offensive play callers who don’t have offensive coaching experience.
The Pats are a disaster this year.
Underrated: Titans vs Eagles
Two playoff teams last season who got better this offseason and are going completely under the radar.
I’d watch it.
Week 14
Overrated: Chiefs vs Broncos
There is a chance, this late in the season, that this game could be insanely important for the AFC West title.
But I think the Chiefs are better, and I really don’t like when the media pedals narratives that football games are QB vs QB when there is a whole team around them.
Mahomes vs Wilson for years to come is already bugging me, let alone in crunch time.
Not to mention, I think the Chiefs are just flat out better.
Underrated: Ravens vs Steelers
Ravens-Steelers games aren’t really underrated, but there’s not a lot left and they’re always fun.
So they get the nod.
Week 15
Overrated: Rams vs Packers
I don’t think there’s a chance the Packers beat the Rams.
Not a chance.
Underrated: Colts vs Vikings
I’m probably sounding like a broken record, but I don’t care.
These games between questionable playoff teams are really fun to watch when your team isn’t in them.
Week 16
Overrated: Broncos vs Rams
I’ve seen enough of Aaron Donald vs Russell Wilson to know how this goes.
And no. I don’t think being behind a better offensive line will help things.
Underrated: Jaguars vs Jets
I don’t like when the NFL gives us primetime games between one good team and one bad team.
What’s the point?
But god I love it when they give us two bad teams in primetime.
The sweet, sweet smell of garbage.
Week 17
Overrated: Broncos vs Chiefs
See what I said earlier in this post.
Underrated: Jets vs Seahawks
Read what I said earlier about games between two bad teams potentially being fun.
This is week 17 between two rebuilding teams, so by this point we should see where the direction is heading for both squads and if they are on the right path or still lagging behind.
It’s a good litmus test for both.
Week 18
Overrated: The NFL
There really aren’t any overrated games this week, so I’ll take this time to say that, while I enjoy the NFL, it’s clear that college football is more fun and it also helps massively that I don’t have to go to work the day after staying up late to watch it.
Boo you, Sundays.
Underrated: Cowboys vs Commanders
It’s the last week of the year, meaning Commanders fans will likely be super annoyed with Carson Wentz.
I can’t wait to see what his finale is on another underwhelming season.
And that’s that. You have your pathway.
A lot of these could end up being wrong and if they are, just keep it to yourself.
Nobody wants to hear it.
Be on the lookout for my super duper correct playoff predictions that will come eventually.
