David's Top 10 Thursday Night Matchups For 2020

The Nation Football League schedule has been released and now we can start breaking it down. This is a good time to do it in a time of no live sports. They will return, I promise you but for now, we just have to stay safe and be patient. As I stated, we will be breaking down the NFL schedule in various ways over the next few days, plus in the coming week, be sure and look out for my top win totals plays, my previews of the NFC East, NFC North, NFC West, and AFC West. Busy, busy. Today, I will take a look at the Top 10 Thursday Night games that have been scheduled this year, so let’s get after it.

10) Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns, September 17th

This may not look like it will be a great game because of the names of the teams but it sill will make our list. The Bengals were the worst team in the league last year but we do get our first look at QB Joe Burrow, who was taken 1st overall in the draft. It will be interesting to see what he brings to the NFL table this year and it will be a tough test as the Browns do have a solid defense. Cleveland is an improved team again and they should be fighting for a playoff spot all year. It should be a very close game between a couple of AFC North rivals.

9) Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans, November 12th

This should be one of the best games in the AFC South this year. The Colts have a new quarterback in Philip Rivers and an improved defense. They are the favorites to win the division this year but the Tennessee Titans may have something to say about that. Tennessee did win the division last year and made it all the way to the AFC Title game before bowing out to Kansas City. These two teams are the class of the division this year and that should make for a very intriguing and hard-fought Thursday nighty game.

8) Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Chicago Bears, October 8th

This is the 5th week of the season and by now we should have a feel for just how good this Tampa Bay team really is. Tom Brady has given the city of Tampa plenty of hope, but he also has some very good weapons in Rob Gronkowski, Mike Evans, and Chris Goodwin. It will be interesting to see if the Bucs’ strong offense will be able to crack a tough Bears’ defense. The Chicago offense is still a work in progress, so they will have to win with defense. Can the Bears slow down Brady and company enough to get the win? We shall see.

7) Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs, September 10th

This one should be a fun game as the Houston Texans travel to Arrowhead Stadium to grapple with the world champion, Kansas City Chiefs. The Texans made some questionable moves in the offseason but still, this will be a battle of Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes and you can’t go wrong there. Thursday night games have been rather sleepy at times the last few years but this one will not be. Look for plenty of points between these teams.

6) Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks, November 19th

The Arizona Cardinals may still be a year away from being a serious contender in the NFC West but make no mistake, this is a much-improved team this year. Kyler Murray is in his 2nd season and he now won’t be running for his life with an upgraded offensive line. Murray threw for 3722 yards last year and that was without a ton of weapons at the skill positions. This year they have added DeAndre Hopkins, who is usually always good for at least 1000 yards receiving. The Seahawks will again challenge the Niners for the NFC West title as they have another solid team on their hands. The battle between Murray and Russell Wilson will be fun to watch.

5) Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers, November 26th

This is always are barnburner within the AFC North. Baltimore did win easily at home last year but the game here in Pittsburgh went to OT before the Ravens eventually won it. The Ravens will again be a beast in the AFC this year but the Steelers are a team that usually always plays well at home. Pittsburgh should have a solid offense while the defense is improved and we all know what the Ravens are capable of, especially on offense. Four of the last five games here in Pittsburgh have been decided by four points or less and that makes this one of the better Thursday night games of the year.

4) Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers, November 5th

The Green Bay Packers probably had the worst draft of all the teams this year but they are still a playoff-caliber team. Aaron Rodgers will make sure of that. This is also the 9th week of the season and by now, the Packers should be settled in and playing well. Green Bay has a very tough test against a San Francisco team that is just as good as last year’s squad that made it all the way to the Super Bowl. The Packers will be looking for revenge for a 17 point loss to the Niners in the NFC title game last year. Strap yourself in for what should be a great game.



3) Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills, October 15th

The Kansas City Chiefs are involved in another Thursday night game while this is the Bills’ first of the year. The Chiefs are favored to repeat as World Champions this year and why not as they still have an explosive offense led by Patrick Mahomes plus an improved defense. This will be a tough test for the reigning champs as the Bills are no slouch. Buffalo runs the ball very well and they have one of the best defenses in the league. Those are two ingredients for success in the NFL. This one should be a doozy.



2) Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints, December 25th

The Minnesota Vikings had one of the best drafts in the league this year and they are a serious threat in the NFC. The Vikings have one of the best offenses around and their defense has been upgraded mightily. The defense will need to step up as they are facing a New Orleans team that has one of the best offenses in the league. The gap in the NFC South closed a bit when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers got Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski in the offseason. Still, New Orleans is the class of the division and they could be headed for an eventual super bowl berth. This is a late-season game and it could have major implications for the playoffs. Add it all up, plus the fact that this game is on Christmas and you get the 2nd best Thursday night game of the year.

1) Dallas Cowboys at Baltimore Ravens, December 3rd

Both teams played on Thursday night last week, so there is no short week for either team and that should make this the top Thursday night game of the year. The Dallas Cowboys have upgraded their team in the offseason, especially on offense with the addition of WR Ceedee lamb. The Cowboys could have three 1000-yard receivers in Lamb, Michael Gallup, and Amari Cooper. The defense has also been upgraded and they will need it against one of the most powerful offenses in the league. The Ravens will again be in play for the AFC Title as they have many of their core players back from last year and they have added RB JK Dobbins. You can bet that both offenses will shine in this one in what should be the best TNF game of the year and one of the best in the league overall.