| The football junkie’s dream come true would be to
attend the game of his choice every week of the NFL season. If I were to make my plans for
the entire season right now, here are the games I would select. Week One:
Tennessee at Buffalo
Does anyone remember "Home run, throw back" from last season’s playoffs?
I guarantee you that Bills fans have not forgotten. The hometown fans will want blood.
Week Two: Atlanta at Denver
The perfect opportunity to see how Jamal Anderson and Terrell Davis are faring in their
comebacks from injury.
Week Three: Denver at Oakland
None of the games this week jumps out at me. When in doubt, go with a rivalry game.
Hatred is always worth watching in football.
Week Four: Jacksonville at Indianapolis
I think these two teams will play again later in the season in the AFC title game.
Week Five: Tampa Bay at Washington
Rematch of last season’s stirring playoff game. These two clubs should battle the
Rams for a spot in the Super Bowl.
Week Six: Seattle at Carolina
This matchup is interesting because the two head coaches figure to get more out of
their teams than you might otherwise expect.
Week Seven: Jacksonville at Tennessee
Can Jacksonville finally get over the hump against the Titans?
Week Eight: Miami at N.Y. Jets
Washington-Jacksonville is a better game, but I’ll be seeing plenty of those
teams, so I’ll go with Dolphins-Jets to see how these two clubs are faring without
Jimmy Johnson and Bill Parcells.
Week Nine: Tennessee at Washington
See, I told you I’d see plenty of Washington. This will be a chance to see if
Tennessee is playing up to last season’s postseason success and if the Redskins are
living up to the hype created by all their offseason additions.
Week 10: Minnesota at Green Bay
Both of these teams are at a crossroads. Will they continue to decline or turn it
around? Either way, Lambeau Field is my favorite place to watch a game, and Brett Favre
and Randy Moss are always exciting to watch.
Week 11: Kansas City at San Francisco
This is based on the guess that Steve Young will play again this season. If he does, I
want to see just how much better the 49ers are with him than they were when he was hurt
last season.
Week 12: Washington at St. Louis
Possible NFC title-game preview.
Week 13: Tennessee at Jacksonville
Yeah, I know I will have watched the same matchup in Week Seven, but this rivalry is
about to get burn-your-fingers hot.
Week 14: Green Bay at Chicago
Every football fan should go to this rivalry at least once a year. Plus, it seems
appropriate to go to a Bears-Packers game in December in the elements at Soldier Field.
Week 15: Philadelphia at Cleveland
This will give me an opportunity to check out the progress of QBs Donovan McNabb and
Tim Couch. It will also give me a chance to see the always-entertaining Dawg Pound.
Week 16: St. Louis at Tampa Bay
The Buccaneers try to gain a measure of revenge for last season’s NFC title game.
Week 17: Buffalo at Seattle, or N.Y. Jets at Baltimore
I figure at least one of these two games will have wild-card ramifications for both
teams. |
