After waiting for weeks and months, the 2021 NFL regular season is finally here. There are a ton of great games and matchups over the now 18-week season. Some of these matchups will be featured on Monday, Sunday, and Thursday night football this season.
For the first time in a few years, we will not have annual MNF doubleheader to open the season. But we will still get an exciting Week 1 Monday night matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and Las Vegas Raiders.
Outside of that game, we will look over the entire MNF schedule and highlight the best, worst, and sneaky good matchups in the 2021 season.
Best matchups
Week 6: Buffalo Bills at Tennessee Titans
The last time these squads played each other in the regular season, the Titans defeated the Bills 42-16 in Week 5 last season. However, these two teams are the class of their respective divisions and could see each other in the playoffs. The Bills are trying to make it back to the AFC title after finishing 13-3, led by the duo of Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs. Meanwhile, the Titans still have their core of Ryan Tannehill, A.J. Brown, and Derrick Henry still intact.
Week 13: New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills
This was a tough decision as I wanted to list the Week 5 matchup between the Colts and Ravens as one of the best games on the MNF slate. However, this game could have late-season playoff implications in the AFC and AFC East.
By this point of the season, we will know where the Patriots and Bills stand. The Bills swept the season series from the Pats last season en route to winning the division. Bill Belichick’s crew does not want to get swept again and miss out on the postseason. They want to get back to playoffs and take back the division, which was theirs for so many years.
Worst matchups
Week 9: Chicago Bears at Pittsburgh Steelers
If Justin Fields is not starting for the Bears at this time, then this game will not have a lot of energy around it. The Steelers are looking to have a better season after starting last year 11-0 before failing flat on their face to finish up the 2020 season. This game will bring in the ratings based on the two matchups, but there aren’t many intriguing storylines.
Week 2: Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers
If Aaron Rodgers is not in Green Bay by time training camp begins, then this game will have no major excitement. Now granted, Jared Goff and new head coach Dan Campbell will be making their primetime debuts for the Lions. But if there’s no Rodgers and Jordan Love is under center, then this game could honestly go either way in terms of results.
Sneaky good matchups
Week 4: Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers
This is one of two sneaky matchups on Monday Night Football this season. Last season, these two AFC West division rivals played each other down to the wire in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Justin Herbert will be entering Year 2 after a phenomenal rookie season that no one saw coming. Last season, the Chargers finished with a record of 7-9, while the Raiders have a record of 8-8. This will also be the Raiders’ second MNF game in four weeks, with the first happening in Week 1.
Week 10: Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers
Anytime we get two NFC West rivals on the same field in primetime, especially the Rams and Niners, we are in store for a good game. Los Angeles has a new quarterback under center in Matthew Stafford and could be a favorite to go to the Super Bowl.
The Niners will be looking to stay healthy and bounce back after a tumultuous last season. It will be interesting to see who will be the starting quarterback for San Fran by time we reach Week 10. Will it be Jimmy Garoppolo or rookie Trey Lance? If Lance is starting, then it means that Jimmy G struggled under center.
Full list of 2021 MNF matchups
Week 1: Baltimore Ravens at Las Vegas Raiders, 8:15 p.m. ET
Week 2: Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers, 8:15 p.m. ET
Week 3: Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys, 8:15 p.m. ET
Week 4: Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers, 8:15 p.m. ET
Week 5: Indianapolis Colts at Baltimore Ravens, 8:15 p.m. ET
Week 6: Buffalo Bills at Tennessee Titans , 8:15 p.m. ET
Week 7: New Orleans Saints at Seattle Seahawks, 8:15 p.m. ET
Week 8: New York Giants at Kansas City Chiefs, 8:15 p.m. ET
Week 9: Chicago Bears at Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:15 p.m. ET
Week 10: Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers, 8:15 p.m. ET
Week 11: New York Giants at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8:15 p.m. ET
Week 12: Seattle Seahawks at Washington Football Team, 8:15 p.m. ET
Week 13: New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills, 8:15 p.m. ET
Week 14: Los Angeles Rams at Arizona Cardinals, 8:15 p.m. ET
Week 15: Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears, 8:15 p.m. ET
Week 16: Miami Dolphins at New Orleans Saints, 8:15 p.m. ET
Week 17: Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:15 p.m. ET