NFL Network deciphers the 2020 schedule; But it’s Dr. Fauci who knows better whether it will stick

The NFL took center stage last night. With all the off-season movement and free agency signings, fans eagerly awaited the release of the 2020-21 NFL week-by-week and team-by-team rundown. 

Last night, they got it. The NFL Network spent three solid hours announcing, breaking down and dissecting the slates. The league owned network engaged coaches and football executives, getting their takes on how the matchups stack up team by team:

SCHEDULE FOLLOWS

• Kurt Warner said that the first week of the NFL season consists of a handful of exciting matchups between teams featuring superstar QBs, Deshaun Watson (Houston Texans) vs. Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) and Tom Brady (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) vs. Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints).

• New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick talked with NFL Network host Rich Eisen about the Patriots schedule.The Pats face the toughest slate based on 2019 opponent winning percentage. Belichick emphasizes how training camp and preseason games will determine how his team prepares for its early matchups against the Miami Dolphins and Seattle Seahawks. Although the Patriots lost Tom Brady to the Buccaneers in free agency, Belichick has confidence in Brian Hoyer and Jarrett Stidham. Kudos to Eisen who got the inscrutable faced coach to break into a semi-smile when discussing some lighter moments.

• San Francisco 49ers heads John Lynch (General Manager) and Kyle Shanahan (Head Coach)
  appreciate that their team was given five primetime games for the 2020-21 season, four of these being at home. The Super Bowl participants are also pumped to once again have a Week #17 matchup with division rival Seattle at home.

• Host Eisen discussed the LA Rams schedule with head coach Sean McVay who looks forward to playing in their new state-of-the-art SoFi stadium. He believes it’s ideal that the Rams are given a bye in Week #9

• Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is confident that starting QB Ben Roethlisberger will be ready to go and healthy for the season. Tomlin says he is honored to host the Baltimore Ravens on Thanksgiving night.

• Baltimore Ravens RB, Mark Ingram, emphasizes how the team must start the season strong when facing a divisional rival in the Cleveland Browns. Ingram also identifies the tough Week #3 matchup with the Chiefs. The Ravens have the easiest strength of schedule based on 2019 opponent winning percentage.

• Deion Sanders maintains that it is “unbelievable that the Jets are immediately thrown into the fire” starting the season against the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers. He believes that the Jets have one of the toughest schedules by far.

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians embraces the five primetime games the team will play. He says the goal is for the Bucs to “get into the playoffs and see what happens.” Arians likes the fact that the Buccaneers have several home games throughout the last few weeks of the 2020-21 season.

• Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid enjoyed himself for a few weeks after the Chiefs won the Super Bowl, but now he is social-distancing and getting prepared for the upcoming season virtually. Reid thinks of it as a positive that the Chiefs play the Buccaneers and Dolphins later in the season. It avoids playing in Florida in hot months like September and October.

• From a television perspective, the biggest off-season movement to date was made by CBS. The contract of longtime commentator Dan Fouts was not renewed. The Tiffany Network is replacing him with Charles Davis, who previously worked for Fox. So expect another move. Who’ll succeed Davis at Fox? Charles partnered with Kevin Burkhardt.

• The point was also made on the NFL Network that it’s impossible to assess late season games now because of unanticipated injuries that occur earlier in the year. What the schedule does allow coaches and administrators to do now is prepare travel details, particularly coast-to-coast trips. The Patriots, for instance, have three straight road games, two in Los Angeles against the Rams and Chargers, followed by the Dolphins.

• ESPN’s Monday Night team hasn’t been confirmed yet. Whether Joe Tessitore and Booger McFarland will partner again is a big question. ESPN tried and failed to get Tony Romo and Peyton Manning.

Week 1

Thursday, Sept. 10
Texans at Chiefs, 8:20p (NBC)

Sunday, Sept. 13
Seahawks at Falcons, 1:00p (FOX)
Browns at Ravens, 1:00p (CBS)
Jets at Bills, 1:00p (CBS)
Raiders at Panthers, 1:00p (CBS)
Bears at Lions, 1:00p (FOX)
Colts at Jaguars, 1:00p (CBS)
Packers at Vikings, 1:00p (FOX)
Dolphins at Patriots, 1:00p (CBS)
Eagles at Redskins, 1:00p (FOX)
Chargers at Bengals, 4:05p (CBS)
Buccaneers at Saints, 4:25p (FOX)
Cardinals at 49ers, 4:25p (FOX)
Cowboys at Rams, 8:20p (NBC-SNF)

Monday, Sept. 14
Steelers at Giants, 7:15p (ESPN)
Titans at Broncos, 10:10p (ESPN)

Week 2

Thursday, Sept. 17
Bengals at Browns, 8:20p (NFLN)

Sunday, Sept. 20
Giants at Bears, 1:00p (CBS)
Falcons at Cowboys, 1:00p (FOX)
Lions at Packers, 1:00p (FOX)
Vikings at Colts, 1:00p (FOX)
Bills at Dolphins, 1:00p (CBS)
49ers at Jets, 1:00p (FOX)
Rams at Eagles, 1:00p (FOX)
Broncos at Steelers, 1:00p (CBS)
Panthers at Buccaneers, 1:00p (FOX)
Jaguars at Titans, 1:00p (CBS)
Redskins at Cardinals, 4:05p (FOX)
Ravens at Texans, 4:25p (CBS)
Chiefs at Chargers, 4:25p (CBS)
Patriots at Seahawks, 8:20p (NBC-SNF)

Monday, Sept. 21
Saints at Raiders, 8:15p (ESPN)

Week 3

Thursday, Sept. 24
Dolphins at Jaguars, 8:20p (NFLN)

Sunday, Sept. 27
Bears at Falcons, 1:00p (FOX)
Rams at Bills, 1:00p (FOX)
Redskins at Browns, 1:00p (FOX)
Titans at Vikings, 1:00p (CBS)
Raiders at Patriots, 1:00p (CBS)
49ers at Giants, 1:00p (FOX)
Bengals at Eagles, 1:00p (CBS)
Texans at Steelers, 1:00p (CBS)
Jets at Colts, 4:05p (CBS)
Panthers at Chargers, 4:05p (CBS)
Lions at Cardinals, 4:25p (FOX)
Buccaneers at Broncos, 4:25p (FOX)
Cowboys at Seahawks, 4:25p (FOX)
Packers at Saints, 8:20p (NBC-SNF)

Monday, Sept. 28
Chiefs at Ravens, 8:15p (ESPN)

Week 4

Thursday, Oct. 1
Broncos at Jets, 8:20p (NFLN)

Sunday, Oct. 4
Cardinals at Panthers, 1:00p (FOX)
Colts at Bears, 1:00p (CBS)
Jaguars at Bengals, 1:00p (CBS)
Browns at Cowboys, 1:00p (FOX)
Saints at Lions, 1:00p (FOX)
Vikings at Texans, 1:00p (FOX)
Seahawks at Dolphins, 1:00p (FOX)
Chargers at Buccaneers, 1:00p (CBS)
Steelers at Titans, 1:00p (CBS)
Ravens at Redskins, 1:00p (CBS)
Giants at Rams, 4:05p (FOX)
Patriots at Chiefs, 4:25p (CBS)
Bills at Raiders, 4:25p (CBS)
Eagles at 49ers, 8:20p (NBC-SNF)

Monday, Oct. 5
Falcons at Packers, 8:15p (ESPN)

Week 5

Thursday, Oct. 8
Buccaneers at Bears, 8:20p (FOX/NFLN)

Sunday, Oct. 11
Panthers at Falcons, 1:00p (FOX)
Bengals at Ravens, 1:00p (CBS)
Jaguars at Texans, 1:00p (CBS)
Raiders at Chiefs, 1:00p (CBS)
Broncos at Patriots, 1:00p (CBS)
Cardinals at Jets, 1:00p (FOX)
Eagles at Steelers, 1:00p (FOX)
Bills at Titans, 1:00p (CBS)
Rams at Redskins, 1:00p (FOX)
Dolphins at 49ers, 4:05p (FOX)
Colts at Browns, 4:25p (CBS)
Giants at Cowboys, 4:25p (CBS)
Vikings at Seahawks, 8:20p (NBC-SNF)

Monday, Oct. 12
Chargers at Saints, 8:15p (ESPN)

Week 6

Thursday, Oct. 15
Chiefs at Bills, 8:20p (FOX/NFLN)

Sunday, Oct. 18
Bengals at Colts, 1:00p (FOX)
Lions at Jaguars, 1:00p (FOX)
Falcons at Vikings, 1:00p (FOX)
Redskins at Giants, 1:00p (FOX)
Ravens at Eagles, 1:00p (CBS)
Browns at Steelers, 1:00p (CBS)
Texans at Titans, 1:00p (CBS)
Dolphins at Broncos, 4:05p (CBS)
Jets at Chargers, 4:05p (CBS)
Packers at Buccaneers, 4:25p (FOX)
Rams at 49ers, 8:20p (NBC-SNF)

Monday, Oct. 19
Cardinals at Cowboys, 8:15p (ESPN)

Week 7

Thursday, Oct. 22
Giants at Eagles, 8:20p (FOX/NFLN)

Sunday, Oct. 25
Lions at Falcons, 1:00p (FOX)
Steelers at Ravens, 1:00p (CBS)
Saints at Panthers, 1:00p (FOX)
Browns at Bengals, 1:00p (CBS)
Packers at Texans, 1:00p (FOX)
Chargers at Dolphins, 1:00p (CBS)
Panthers at Saints, 1:00p (FOX)
Bills at Jets, 1:00p (CBS)
Cowboys at Redskins, 1:00p (FOX)
Seahawks at Cardinals, 4:05p (FOX)
Chiefs at Broncos, 4:25p (CBS)
49ers at Patriots, 4:25p (CBS)
Buccaneers at Raiders, 8:20p (NBC-SNF)

Monday, Oct. 26
Bears at Rams, 8:15p (ESPN)

Week 8

Thursday, Oct. 29
Falcons at Panthers, 8:20p (FOX/NFLN)

Sunday, Nov. 1
Patriots at Bills, 1:00p (CBS)
Titans at Bengals, 1:00p (CBS)
Raiders at Browns, 1:00p (FOX)
Colts at Lions, 1:00p (CBS)
Vikings at Packers, 1:00p (FOX)
Jets at Chiefs, 1:00p (CBS)
Rams at Dolphins, 1:00p (FOX)
Jaguars at Chargers, 4:05p (CBS)
Saints at Bears, 4:25p (FOX)
49ers at Seahawks, 4:25p (FOX)
Cowboys at Eagles, 8:20p (NBC-SNF)

Monday, Nov. 2
Buccaneers at Giants, 8:15p (ESPN)

Week 9

Thursday, Nov. 5
Packers at 49ers, 8:20p (FOX/NFLN)

Sunday, Nov. 8
Broncos at Falcons, 1:00p (CBS)
Seahawks at Bills, 1:00p (FOX)
Ravens at Colts, 1:00p (CBS)
Texans at Jaguars, 1:00p (CBS)
Panthers at Chiefs, 1:00p (FOX)
Lions at Vikings, 1:00p (CBS)
Bears at Titans, 1:00p (FOX)
Giants at Redskins, 1:00p (FOX)
Raiders at Chargers, 4:05p (FOX)
Dolphins at Cardinals, 4:25p (CBS)
Steelers at Cowboys, 4:25p (CBS)
Saints at Buccaneers, 8:20p (NBC-SNF)

Monday, Nov. 9
Patriots at Jets, 8:15p (ESPN)

Week 10

Thursday, Nov. 12
Colts at Titans, 8:20p (FOX/NFLN)

Sunday, Nov. 15
Buccaneers at Panthers, 1:00p (FOX)
Texans at Browns, 1:00p (FOX)
Redskins at Lions, 1:00p (FOX)
Jaguars at Packers, 1:00p (FOX)
Eagles at Giants, 1:00p (FOX)
Bengals at Steelers, 1:00p (FOX)
Bills at Cardinals, 4:05p (CBS)
Broncos at Raiders, 4:05p (CBS)
Jets at Dolphins, 4:05p (CBS)
Seahawks at Rams, 4:25p (FOX)
49ers at Saints, 4:25p (FOX)
Ravens at Patriots, 8:20p (NBC-SNF)

Monday, Nov. 16
Vikings at Bears, 8:15p (MIN)

Week 11

Thursday, Nov. 19
Cardinals at Seahawks, 8:20p (FOX)

Sunday, Nov. 22
Titans at Ravens, 1:00p (CBS)
Lions at Panthers, 1:00p (FOX)
Eagles at Browns, 1:00p (FOX)
Patriots at Texans, 1:00p (CBS)
Packers at Colts, 1:00p (FOX)
Steelers at Jaguars, 1:00p (CBS)
Falcons at Saints, 1:00p (FOX)
Bengals at Redskins, 1:00p (CBS)
Chargers at Broncos, 4:05p (CBS)
Cowboys at Vikings, 4:25p (FOX)
Chiefs at Raiders, 8:20p (NBC-SNF)

Monday, Nov. 23
Rams at Buccaneers, 8:15p (ESPN)

Week 12

Thursday, Nov. 26 (Thanksgiving Day)
Texans at Lions, 12:30p (CBS)
Redskins at Cowboys, 4:30p (FOX)
Ravens at Steelers, 8:20p (NBC-SNF)

Sunday, Nov. 29
Raiders at Falcons, 1:00p (CBS)
Chargers at Bills, 1:00p (CBS)
Giants at Bengals, 1:00p (FOX)
Titans at Colts, 1:00p (CBS)
Browns at Jaguars, 1:00p (CBS)
Panthers at Vikings, 1:00p (FOX)
Cardinals at Patriots, 1:00p (FOX)
Dolphins at Jets, 1:00p (CBS)
Saints at Broncos, 4:05p (FOX)
49ers at Rams, 4:05p (FOX)
Chiefs at Buccaneers, 4:25p (CBS)
Bears at Packers, 8:20p (NBC-SNF)

Monday, Nov. 30
Seahawks at Eagles, 8:15p (ESPN)

Week 13

Thursday, Dec. 3
Cowboys at Ravens, 8:20p (FOX/NFLN)

Sunday, Dec. 6
Saints at Falcons, 1:00p (FOX)
Lions at Bears, 1:00p (FOX)
Colts at Texans, 1:00p (CBS)
Bengals at Dolphins, 1:00p (CBS)
Jaguars at Vikings, 1:00p (CBS)
Raiders at Jets, 1:00p (CBS)
Redskins at Steelers, 1:00p (FOX)
Browns at Titans, 1:00p (CBS)
Rams at Cardinals, 4:05p (FOX)
Giants at Seahawks, 4:05p (FOX)
Eagles at Packers, 4:25p (CBS)
Patriots at Chargers, 4:25p (CBS)
Broncos at Chiefs, 8:20p (NBC-SNF)

Monday, Dec. 7
Bills at 49ers, 8:15p (ESPN)

Week 14

Thursday, Dec. 10
Patriots at Rams, 8:20p (FOX/NFLN)

Sunday, Dec. 13
Broncos at Panthers, 1:00p (CBS)
Texans at Bears, 1:00p (CBS)
Cowboys at Bengals, 1:00p (FOX)
Packers at Lions, 1:00p (FOX)
Titans at Jaguars, 1:00p (CBS)
Chiefs at Dolphins, 1:00p (CBS)
Cardinals at Giants, 1:00p (FOX)
Vikings at Buccaneers, 1:00p (FOX)
Colts at Raiders, 4:05p (CBS)
Jets at Seahawks, 4:05p (CBS)
Falcons at Chargers, 4:25p (FOX)
Saints at Eagles, 4:25p (FOX)
Redskins at 49ers, 4:25p (FOX)
Steelers at Bills, 8:20p (NBC-SNF)

Monday, Dec. 14
Ravens at Browns, 8:15p (ESPN)

Week 15

Thursday, Dec. 17
Chargers at Raiders, 8:20p (FOX/NFLN)

Saturday, Dec. 19 or Sunday, Dec. 20
Bills at Broncos, TBD (TBD)
Panthers at Packers, TBD (TBD)
Texans at Colts, TBD (TBD)
Jets at Rams, TBD (TBD)
Lions at Titans, TBD (TBD)

Sunday, Dec. 20
Buccaneers at Falcons, 1:00p (FOX)
Jaguars at Ravens, 1:00p (CBS)
Patriots at Dolphins, 1:00p (CBS)
Bears at Vikings, 1:00p (FOX)
Browns at Giants, 1:00p (CBS)
Seahawks at Redskins, 1:00p (FOX)
Eagles at Cardinals, 4:05p (FOX)
Chiefs at Saints, 4:25p (CBS)
49ers at Cowboys, 8:20p (NBC-SNF)

Monday, Dec. 21
Steelers at Bengals, 8:15p (ESPN)

Week 16

Friday, Dec. 25
Vikings at Saints, 4:30p (FOX/NFLN)

Saturday, Dec. 26 or Sunday, Dec. 27
49ers at Cardinals, TBD (TBD)
Buccaneers at Lions, TBD (TBD)
Dolphins at Raiders, TBD (TBD)
Broncos at Chargers, TBD (TBD)
Browns at Jets, TBD (TBD)

Sunday, Dec. 27
Giants at Ravens, 1:00p (FOX)
Bengals at Texans, 1:00p (CBS)
Bears at Jaguars, 1:00p (FOX)
Falcons at Chiefs, 1:00p (FOX)
Colts at Steelers, 1:00p (CBS)
Panthers at Redskins, 1:00p (CBS)
Rams at Seahawks, 4:05p (CBS)
Eagles at Cowboys, 4:25p (FOX)
Titans at Packers, 8:20p (NBC-SNF)

Monday, Dec. 28
Bills at Patriots, 8:15p (ESPN)

Week 17

Sunday, Jan. 3
Dolphins at Bills, 1:00p (CBS)
Saints at Panthers, 1:00p (FOX)
Packers at Bears, 1:00p (FOX)
Ravens at Bengals, 1:00p (CBS)
Steelers at Browns, 1:00p (CBS)
Vikings at Lions, 1:00p (FOX)
Titans at Texans, 1:00p (CBS)
Jaguars at Colts, 1:00p (CBS)
Chargers at Chiefs, 1:00p (CBS)
Jets at Patriots, 1:00p (CBS)
Cowboys at Giants, 1:00p (FOX)
Redskins at Eagles, 1:00p (FOX)
Falcons at Buccaneers, 1:00p (FOX)
Raiders at Broncos, 4:25p (CBS)
Cardinals at Rams, 4:25p (FOX)
Seahawks at 49ers, 4:25p (FOX)