![The NFL regular season begins on Thursday when the Falcons take on the Eagles. [Image Source: Flickr | Michael Tipton]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2018/9/3/660x290/b_502x220x82/the-nfl-regular-season-begins-on-thursday-when-the-falcons-take-on-the-eagles-image-source-flickr-michael-tipton_2089659.jpg "The NFL regular season begins on Thursday when the Falcons take on the Eagles. [Image Source: Flickr | Michael Tipton]")
Welcome to the NFL regular season! The season will begin on Thursday with a game between the Falcons and the Eagles.
While every team is excited to be in the new season, some games just look more exciting on the schedule. Here are the five most intriguing Week 1 matchups.
5. Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers
One of the most storied rivalries got a little more interesting with the Bears' recent trade to acquire 2016 Defensive Player of the Year, Khalil Mack.
Mack will look to help Chicago make the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons. In order for that to happen, they will also need to see the progression from second-year quarterback Mitchell Trubisky.
The team vastly improved his arsenal of targets by signing receivers Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel, tight end Trey Burton, and drafting receiver Anthony Miller in the second round.
Unlike Chicago, it has always seemed like a certainty in recent years that Green Bay would reach the postseason. They reached the playoffs eight straight seasons from 2009-16 but experienced a hiccup last year going 7-9. A healthy Aaron Rogers will go a long way towards becoming one of the better teams again as they went 3-6 when he was out with an injury in 2017.
4. San Francisco 49ers at Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings are seen as a Super Bowl contender while a strong ending to the 2017 season has 49ers fans believing they can be a playoff team.
After a brutal 1-10 start, the 49ers won their last five games as quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo improved to 7-0 in his career as a starter. Alfred Morris and Matt Brieda will see their workload increase at running back as Jerick McKinnon suffered a torn ACL.
While quarterback Kirk Cousins was the Vikings' most hyped addition, their defense also made improvements to a unit that allowed an NFL-low 15.8 points per game.
Former Pro Bowl defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson was signed, and cornerback Mike Hughes was selected in the first round.
3. Houston Texans at New England Patriots
The Texans have some major pieces returning from injury while the Patriots begin their quest to become the third team ever to advance to three straight Super Bowls.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson and edge rushers J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus all saw their 2017 seasons end prematurely due to injury. Watt and Mercilus are needed to remain healthy as Houston only had one player last season record more than three sacks (Jadaveon Clowney 9.5).
The Patriots’ defense will look to have more success in stopping Watson than they did last season. While New England won the game 36-33, Watson finished with 301 passing yards, 41 rushing yards, and two passing touchdowns. The Patriots allowed 4,020 passing yards during the 2017 season, third-most in the NFL.
2. Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers
Two AFC West rivals battle in out in a Week 1 matchup between teams that most prognosticators have battling it out for a division crown this season.
After five seasons and 76 starts under center with Kansas City, Alex Smith was traded to the Redskins. Enter 2017 first round pick Patrick Mahomes. Sporting News recently compared Mahomes to Phillip Rivers. He made one start in the last week of the season during his rookie year going 22-35 for 284 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception.
A 0-4 start kept the Chargers out of the playoffs last season despite going 9-3 in their previous 12 games. Mahomes may have trouble facing a Los Angeles team that features two of the best pass rushers in the league in Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram. The two combined for 23 sacks in 2017.
1. Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles
A rematch of the NFC Divisional Round playoff matchup between the Falcons and Eagles kicks off the season on Thursday.
Philadelphia went on to win that game 15-10, and of course, went on to win the Super Bowl.
The Falcons are looking to replicate their 2016 season on offense in the second season with Steve Sarkisian as offensive coordinator. Atlanta fell to 22.1 points per game in 2017, just one year after they led the NFL averaging 33.8. In their playoff game against the Eagles, they were held scoreless in the second half.
The Eagles will be without star quarterback Carson Wentz for at least Week 1, but they should have confidence in what Nick Foles brings to the table after he won Super Bowl MVP (on top of the fact they have a stacked roster). NBC Sports reported that Foles will get the nod in Week 1 as Wentz is still on the mend. Although not much should be read into it, Foles did struggle in the preseason as he didn’t throw a touchdown and had two interceptions.
