Each NFL Weeks Most Overrated/Underrated Games
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu from Getty Images
Yesterday, we dove into college football’s 2023 schedule.
Today, we dive into the NFL’s.
Now, before we go week by week, the underrated games are the ones that are going to end around 4 P.M. on RedZone that all happen at the exact same time. That’s the peak part of NFL Sunday every single week.
But I guess we can dive a little deeper.
Here’s each game to avoid and which game to keep an eye on for 18 weeks.
Week 1
Overrated: Bills vs Jets
Much like college football and Deion, I am excited to see Aaron Rodgers on the Jets.
But much like college football, Deion, and Colorado, I just do not think the Jets are as good as the Bills.
I know the NFL has a preseason, but it’s going to take some time for a new offense and new QB with new weapons to gel, and the Bills don’t have that problem.
Underrated: Dolphins vs Chargers
Two high octane offenses with home run threats all over the field.
This is my kind of football.
Week 2
Overrated: Vikings vs Eagles
The Vikings have a talented roster and a good coach, but we saw this same matchup play out last year.
The Eagles are better across the board, at home, and playing their first home game of the season.
Night night, Minnesota.
Underrated: Ravens vs Bengals
After last year’s great (if not heartbreaking) playoff game in Cincy, it’s just natural to be excited for the rematch.
Add in Lamar Jackson who was missing from last year’s matchup, and it’s even better.
Week 3
Overrated: Eagles vs Buccaneers
There weren’t many games that would be considered overrated this week, so I went with the one that for some unknown reason is on Monday Night Football.
THIS was the game the NFL decided America just, had to see. A stacked roster vs a disaster roster who has giant question marks at quarterback and coach.
Cool!
Underrated: Colts vs Ravens
Anthony Richardson’s electricity (assuming he’s the day 1 starter which, I don’t know who else would be considering the Colts roster) vs Lamar Jackson’s electricity.
Must see TV.
Week 4
Overrated: Chiefs vs Jets
The Jets were a decent team last year who had horrible QB play.
Now, they have Aaron Rodgers. So they’ll be a good team. Maybe even really good!
They still aren’t the Chiefs.
Underrated: Vikings vs Panthers
The Panthers opening three weeks are against the Falcons, Saints and Seahawks.
Week 4 they take on the Vikings, and this should be the game that starts to answer the question on if it was worth it for the Panthers to trade up for Bryce Young, as it’ll be their second straight game against a playoff opponent.
They paid a hefty price.
Week 5
Overrated: Giants vs Dolphins
The Giants easily overperformed last year, and while they improved the roster overall, I think we can expect some bounce back.
A game in the scorching heat of Miami against that offense doesn’t bode well for them.
Underrated: Jets vs Broncos
In the Rodgers vs Wilson era when they were in Green Bay and Seattle, there were some weird games that were fun and stupid.
Why can’t they carry over into the AFC?
Week 6
Overrated: Broncos vs Chiefs
I think the Broncos, now that they have better coaching and hopefully Russell Wilson understanding his limitations more, will be a better team this year than last year.
But the Broncos have not beaten the Chiefs since 2015.
I don’t see that changing now.
Underrated: Cowboys vs Chargers
The Cowboys fantastic defense against the Chargers great offense.
Add in the fact that the Chargers new offensive coordinator is Kellen Moore, the former coordinator for the Cowboys, and you get another added layer to what should be a fun Sunday Night Football matchup.
Week 7
Overrated: Jaguars vs Saints
Again, not a ton of games to consider overrated this week, and I guess someone has to play on Thursday Night Football.
(Or maybe they don’t and we can scrap Thursday Night Football because there’s too many games and they usually suck).
But nobody needs to see the Saints on primetime television.
We don’t deserve that. We’re good people.
Underrated: Chargers vs Chiefs
With the Kellen Moore hire helping the Chargers offense, I am high on them this year.
And while I’m not sure they can compete with the Chiefs for the AFC West title, this would be the week to make a statement.
Week 8
Overrated: Chiefs vs Broncos
I said it earlier.
I will believe this game is important once the Broncos actually beat them.
Underrated: Texans vs Panthers
Any time you get the first overall pick and second overall picks facing off against each other, it’s worth watching.
I expect the Panthers to win, but this will be around the halfway point of the year and so we’ll have a good idea of what we’ll get from Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud.
Week 9
Overrated: Cowboys vs Eagles
Unlike everyone else on planet Earth it seems, I think the Cowboys are a good football team and that Dak Prescott is a good quarterback.
Despite that, that team ain’t beating the Eagles. Especially in Philadelphia.
Underrated: Seahawks vs Ravens
By week 9, the Ravens new offense from Todd Monken should be really starting to gel, and with those playmakers on Baltimore against the Seahawks stud wide receiver core, this could be quite a shootout.
Week 10
Overrated: Broncos vs Bills
It’s like we didn’t learn our lesson from all of those primetime games the Broncos had last year.
Underrated: Lions vs Chargers
I don’t know.
The games this week, at least on paper, aren’t that interesting.
This one might be fun.
Week 11
Overrated: Eagles vs Chiefs
Will this game be good?
Probably!
But I’m already sick of the entire 8 days leading up to it, as it’s on Monday Night Football, hearing things like “Super Bowl rematch” and “revenge game for the Eagles.”
It’s just a week 11 game between two teams that are going to be really good.
It doesn’t need to be overhyped any more than that.
Underrated: Jets vs Bills
Their first matchup is overhyped.
This one might be crucial for postseason places, and will have Rodgers and his new offense fully put together and figured out.
Week 12
Overrated: Dolphins vs Jets
This has nothing to do with the game itself, but it has everything to do with the fact that Black Friday and the Saturday after Thanksgiving are for college football rivalry week, and the NFL just decided “Hey enjoy some Aaron Rodgers.”
No. I will not.
Underrated: 49ers vs Seahawks
Once again, nothing about the game at all.
But these two face off on Thanksgiving night and, with the Seahawks adding throwback uniforms this season, have a chance to have easily the best uniform matchup of the year if they both decide to go the throwback route.
Make it happen.
Week 13
Overrated: 49ers vs Eagles
The Niners roster and coaching is fantastic, but the QB room is still Sam Darnold, Brock Purdy and Trey Lance.
And that’s supposed to make me believe they can compete with the Eagles?
Not happening.
Underrated: Seahawks vs Cowboys
There are three wild card slots in each conference.
I’m comfortable in saying the Niners and Eagles are the best teams in the NFC West and East, meaning the Seahawks and Cowboys will be fighting for wild card spots or better seeding.
This could be quite an important game.
Week 14
Overrated: Bills vs Chiefs
These are two of the top teams in the AFC, but the Bills seem to be going backwards while the Chiefs continue a dominant run.
This game is going to be hyped up very high, and I don’t think the Bills are as good as they were the past two years to keep it interesting this time around.
Underrated: Jaguars vs Browns
Just like I said above, the Browns might be fighting for a playoff spot come the nitty gritty, and the Jags will have a chance to lock up the division by this point.
Again, an important game for both.
Week 15
Overrated: Eagles vs Seahawks
The Eagles in NFC games sort of feel like Georgia in SEC games.
Sure, they’ll play some good teams throughout the season, and they’ll probably lose one or two of the games.
But odds are, they’ll blow by a lot of the tougher opponents simply because they’re significantly better than them.
The Seahawks should be a playoff team, but they aren’t the Eagles.
Underrated: Jets vs Dolphins
I do think the Bills are the best team in the East, so this Jets and Dolphins matchup could crucial to the wild card.
Hell, maybe it keeps one of them out of the playoffs entirely…
Week 16
Overrated: Patriots vs Broncos
Picture this.
It’s Christmas Eve on a Sunday night. You’re around your family and/or friends. Enjoying your time. Having some fun.
And hey, there’s football on! Perfect!
So you sit down, put it on, and get to watch Mac Jones and that wildly boring offense to take you into Christmas Day.
Barf.
Underrated: Ravens vs 49ers
Picture this.
It’s Christmas night. You’re around your family and/or friends. Enjoying your time. Having some fun.
And hey, there’s football on! Perfect!
So you sit down, put it on, and get to watch Lamar Jackson go up against Kyle Shanahan’s brilliant offensive schemes to finish out your Christmas Day.
That rules.
Week 17
Overrated: Bengals vs Chiefs
There is the possibility that we hear more from the Mayor of Cincinnati with some trash talk, or Bengals players or fans calling it “Burrow-head” again, or whatever they called it.
I don’t want any of that stuff.
Just let the game speak for itself.
Underrated: Lions vs Cowboys
Two teams vying for a playoff spot, in a primetime game on Saturday night, with the whole world able to watch it.
Sometimes, the NFL schedule makers get them exactly right.
Week 18
Overrated: Chiefs vs Chargers
As a game, it’ll probably be fantastic.
But the way the schedule is set up, it’s leaving the possibility that this matchup is for the AFC West title, and I just simply don’t believe that’ll be the case.
I think the Chiefs will have it clinched and not much to play for.
Sort of ruins a potentially fun matchup.
Underrated: Jaguars vs Titans
Spoilers, I do think the Jaguars will win the AFC South.
However, the past few years we have had continuous doubts of the Titans, who were easily winning that division before Ryan Tannehill got hurt.
It’s not impossible that this game, much like last year, is for the division championship.
