Best and worst Thursday Night Football matchups on 2020 NFL schedule

The NFL’s 2020 schedule has been released, and that means we know what Thursday Night Football matchups we should look forward to watching. The Thursday schedule can be ugly at times with the short week, but there are some potentially fun matchups on the schedule this year. We break down the best and worst of this year’s TNF slate here.

Studs

Week 2: Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns

Neither one of these teams were good in 2019, but this battle between Ohio teams has a lot to offer. We’ll get to see Joe Burrow take on another No. 1 overall pick. Burrow will have a top-notch receiver in A.J. Green and a few other talented, young targets as well. People will want to see whether Baker Mayfield and the Browns can live up to the hype after they fell flat on the national stage so many times in 2020.

Week 9: Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers stopped the Packers from reaching the Super Bowl last season by beating them handily in the NFC title game. Aaron Rodgers gets a revenge game against the team that ended his last championship run, and he’ll return to the scene of the crime. Even if San Francisco swept Green Bay last year, Rodgers tends to rise to the occasion under the lights. If the 49ers are as good as they were in 2019, there will be plenty of eyes on this one.

Week 11: Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks

The Cardinals managed to take a game from the Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. Now Kyler Murray has DeAndre Hopkins to bolster its offense. Expect Arizona’s offense to look a lot better this time around. Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray can both spin it from the pocket and make plays with their legs. They’re two of the more exciting dual-threat quarterbacks in the league and could shine in a shootout.

Week 13: Dallas Cowboys at Baltimore Ravens

The hype surrounding the the Cowboys is real this year because of their combination of a star-studded receiving corps and a top-notch ground game. Dak Prescott has lethal weapons everywhere, but the Ravens have a sturdy secondary and improved their defensive line and linebacker group this offseason. Lamar Jackson is one of the most electric players we’ve seen at the quarterback position in recent memory. Watching Dallas’ passing attack against one of the more unique unique rushing teams should be fun.

Week 16: Minnesota Vikings vs. New Orleans Saints

The Vikings unexpectedly knocked the Saints out of the playoffs on the road last season. New Orleans will want to finish the season on a high note, and time is running out for Drew Brees, who signed a two-year, $50 million contract this offseason. This could end up being a must-win game for the Saints now that Tom Brady is with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Can they bounce back with a win against a Minnesota team that’s moved on from Stefon Diggs?

Sneaky Good matchup

Week 6: Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills

The reigning champs are expected to dominate in 2020 after retaining all their key skill players and adding talented prospects to their roster this offseason, but the Bills could be posed to rise to the top of the AFC East now that the New England Patriots have lost Tom Brady. Josh Allen’s receiving corps doesn’t stack up to Patrick Mahomes’, but it’s been bolstered by the addition of Stefon Diggs. Buffalo’s defense is nothing to scoff at and could make this matchup interesting at New Era Field.

Duds

Week 3: Miami Dolphins at Jacksonville Jaguars

This could be somewhat interesting if Tua Tagovailoa plays, but that’s not a given at this point. Do people really want to see Ryan Fitzpatrick duke it out with Gardner Minshew? Neither team will be a contender, and there won’t be much star power.

Week 4: Denver Broncos vs. New York Jets

It’s possible Drew Lock and his recent additions could make a run at a wild card berth. It’s possible an improved offensive line will give Sam Darnold a boost. But until we see otherwise, it’s hard to get excited about this matchup.