WEEK 1 MATCHUPS
PITTSBURGH AT CLEVELAND
No team wants to distance itself from last season more than the Cleveland Browns. They get a chance to prove their many offseason maneuvers paid off when they host their archrivals. Pittsburgh star RB Le’Veon Bell’s continued holdout means James Conner will start.
SAN FRANCISCO AT MINNESOTA Minnesota spent big on Kirk Cousins after he played two seasons under the franchise tag in Washington. San Francisco was in QB purgatory a year ago, then pulled off an October deal to get Jimmy Garoppolo — 7-0 in NFL starts — from the New England Patriots.
CINCINNATI AT INDIANAPOLIS Indianapolis QB Andrew Luck is finally back. When healthy, he is elite, although the roster under new coach Frank Reich appears anything but. Cincinnati DE Carlos Dunlap and DT Geno Atkins will try to wreak havoc on Luck.
WASHINGTON AT ARIZONA
New Arizona coach Steve Wilks made his reputation as a defensive coordinator with the Carolina Panthers, and he’s expected to have the Cardinals playing a more physical style. New Redskins QB Alex Smith isn’t prone to mistakes, but he doesn’t have a ton to work with.
JACKSONVILLE AT N.Y. GIANTS
If the Giants are healthy and second overall draft pick Saquon Barkley is the second coming of LT — LaDainian Tomlinson, not Lawrence Taylor — they could be dangerous. The first test is massive. After being 10 minutes from making the Super Bowl, the Jaguars are among the AFC favorites.
CHICAGO AT GREEN BAY
Chicago hired Chiefs offensive guru Matt Nagy as coach, but it’s All-Pro LB Kahlil Mack and the defense who likely will carry the Bears. No question who will carry the Packers: QB Aaron Rodgers returns from his shoulder woes.
HOUSTON AT NEW ENGLAND
Like so many teams, the Texans are hoping to stay away from the injury bug that ruined them last season. More than ever, the spotlight in New England will be on defensive improvement.
TAMPA BAY AT NEW ORLEANS
The host Saints are looking pretty jazzy after strong drafts and personnel moves helped them nearly make the NFC title game last season. It’s hard to say the same about the Buccaneers with starting QB Jameis Winston suspended the first three games.
KANSAS CITY AT L.A. CHARGERS
Los Angeles lost its first four games last year before winding up 9-7 and barely out of the postseason. For the Chiefs, a road win against the presumptive AFC West favorite would provide a massive boost.
DALLAS AT CAROLINA
There are big questions in big D, including whether QB Dak Prescott can replicate his great rookie season of 2016 with RB Zeke Elliott in the backfield (presumably) all season. There are fewer queries in Carolina.
SEATTLE AT DENVER
The teams that fought it out for the 2013 NFL crown now have that also-ran look, with roster makeovers greatly to blame. Seattle’s once-masterful defense is in rebuild mode.
BUFFALO AT BALTIMORE
This could have been a glimpse of two rookie QBs taken in the first round, Buffalo’s Josh Allen against Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson, but neither will start.
N.Y. JETS AT DETROIT
Opening week means two Monday night games, and this is the first. Jets QB Sam Sam Darnold is the only one of the five first-round passers in this year’s draft who will start the first week, and his potential is great.
L.A. RAMS AT OAKLAND
The Monday nightcap features Jon Gruden in his second stint as Raiders coach. He returns by taking on an opponent with perhaps the most talented roster in the NFL.