The NFL’s opening week absolutely ripped. The Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills made another masterpiece. A full dozen of the 16 games were one-possession affairs. Emeka Egbuka made a star’s entrance down in Atlanta; Chris Boswell made a hero’s cape from a Terrible Towel. Apologies to fans on the losing sides, but overall, that was quite a good hang.
All 18 weeks of the regular season eventually funnel into one flattened, final outcome. Each Sunday should also be appreciated on its own, though — we pledge all kinds of capital to this fandom, and the rewards usually hit on time. This recurring rankings piece will sort the NFL weekend offerings by different criteria. Week 2: This Time It’s Personal, or, our favorite revenge angles dotting the Sunday lineup.
Week 2 viewing guide
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GameTime (ET)TVStream
Browns @ Ravens
1 p.m.
CBS
Seahawks @ Steelers
1 p.m.
Fox
Bears @ Lions
1 p.m.
Fox
Eagles @ Chiefs
4:25 p.m.
Fox
Falcons @ Vikings
8:20 p.m.
NBC
In-market CBS and Fox games are available for free over the air. Out-of-market viewers can stream games with NFL Sunday Ticket from YouTube TV. “Sunday Night Football” is free over the air on NBC and streams on Peacock.
5. Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens
Joe Flacco returns to the Ravens’ nest. It’s the former Super Bowl MVP’s first time in Baltimore as an opposing quarterback. This meetup is definitely more reunion than revenge, and there seems to be nothing but love between him and successor Lamar Jackson.
But just imagine if Flacco swoops in and starts insisting that real good crab comes from the Cuyahoga River. Does “January Joe” have enough juice in mid-September for a seismic upset? Almost certainly not, though Baltimore’s unpredictability can’t go understated. The real, uncut animosity comes into focus when we zoom all the way out. The Ravens are celebrating their franchise’s 30th anniversary on Sunday … against the very city, name and colors that they ditched overnight. Cruelty or coincidence?
4. Seattle Seahawks at Pittsburgh Steelers
DK Metcalf insists that it’s just another game. Mike Macdonald’s crew might feel otherwise. Metcalf demanded a trade this offseason as he sought a new contract. Pittsburgh gleefully obliged to land and then extend a No. 1 receiver. Macdonald is obsessed with defense, and it will be cool to see what he throws at Metcalf, Aaron Rodgers and the new Steelers scoring punch.
Remember, Metcalf made a superhero catch to propel the black and yellow’s game-winning drive last Sunday. With another big game, he’d send his current team to 2-0 and his former one to 0-2.
3. Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings
J.J. McCarthy and Michael Penix Jr. have been under the lights before, of course. These two were tethered two years ago in the College Football Playoff title game, which McCarthy’s Michigan won 34-13. The Wolverines quarterback threw for a modest 140 yards (10-of-18 passing), but he pushed through without a turnover and with a national championship. Penix passed for 255 yards (27-for-51) and a touchdown but added a pair of interceptions, and he didn’t get much help from Washington’s ground game or defense.
They face off again this weekend for “Sunday Night Football,” each as a recent first-round pick and ascending pro. Fittingly, Penix did all he could to engineer a game-tying drive last weekend … before Younghoe Koo’s kick sailed wide right. And fittingly, McCarthy is coming off Monday’s comeback win in Chicago with a winner’s glow … despite finishing 29th in quarterback EPA per play.
2. Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions
Ben Johnson and Amon-Ra St. Brown used to make work easier for each other. The former schemed up sets with clean passing looks and ample targets, while the latter sped past corners and found space in coverages. Maybe they carpooled together, or saved preferred cereals for each other in the team dining hall. They are no longer co-workers, which was inevitable once Johnson got a head-coaching job for a rival organization. Promotion of a lifetime or ultimate betrayal?
Well, St. Brown wants Lions fans to boo their former offensive coordinator on Sunday. “Week 2 is going to be so crazy. I promise you. It’s going to be so electric,” he said this week. Twist our arms, why don’t ya? It sure seems like the Lions missed Johnson’s play calling last week, and an 0-2 hole will look particularly awkward for either side.
1. Philadelphia Eagles at Kansas City Chiefs
Super Bowl LIX went to Philly in February. Super Bowl LVII was claimed by K.C. in 2023. Naturally, this card sells itself. Patrick Mahomes spent much of last year’s title match running from pressure or sprawled across the turf. Here’s his chance to reinstall momentum and reassert dominance. The Kansas City crowd will be bellowing, though Eagles fans travel especially well.
The Chiefs need to avenge both their spoiled three-peat effort and their bummer in Brazil. Jalen Carter is in the business of riling up opponents right now. This is the Fox slot for “America’s Game of the Week,” but it also might be football’s grudge match of the year.
Updated Week 2 odds
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(Photo of Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Carter: Chris Graythen / Getty Images)