Are you living your best life? If you weren’t before, you will start now. Why, you ask? Simple, it’s because the NFL … wait for it …

RELEASED THE FULL SCHEDULE FOR THE 2019 SEASON!!

That’s right! No longer must we wander in the darkness, wondering when our teams will play each of their 16 games. We’ve come out into the daylight, folks, and while the sun is bright, let it shine on us with a heavenly glow that only the NFL can provide.

Relax, I’m kidding. I find it completely ridiculous that the league milks literally everything it does and squeezes until every last dollar falls into the bucket. And “schedule release day” is no different. Sure, it’s nice to be able to make some travel plans if you so desire, but the amount of carrying on I see on social media is quite frankly embarrassing for people who claim to be grownups with full-time jobs and families.

(You can discuss this on the BSL Board here.)

But that’s a different conversation for another time.

Let’s get real and dip into this schedule. Allow me to break down some sexy matchups that are coming in the fall.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH

Packers at Bears — Week 1

I’m a sucker for nostalgia. And with the NFL celebrating its 100th season, there’s nothing that gets the heart pumping like watching two of the league’s original teams face off for the Thursday night kickoff game. I can hear the bells and John Facenda’s voice in my mind from those old NFL videos featuring endless black and white footage.

What makes this even better is that we’re not being forced to watch the damn Patriots raise another championship banner. Truly a victory for the entire country.

Saints at Rams — Week 2

The NFL knows what we want, don’t they? Just months after what was arguably the most controversial finish in NFC championship game history, these teams have been thrown together again. However, the Saints won’t have the advantage of thousands of their screaming fans in an enclosed environment to give them the advantage.

Nope, this one will be held in the Coliseum, which doesn’t feature the sort of decibel levels reserved for fighter jets. Jared Goff won’t have any trouble getting signals to his teammates.

Bears vs. Raiders in London — Week 5

Remember when the Raiders traded their best defensive player to the Bears last season? Seems like half a lifetime ago, but Khalil Mack will undoubtedly be ready to shovel a few heaps of regret on Jon Gruden. Let’s see if the Raiders’ offseason bounty will be enough to escape with a win across the pond.

Steelers at Browns — Week 11

Cleveland won the offseason (at least so far). But, while everyone is jumping on the Browns bandwagon, they might want to buckle up for a bumpy ride. You see, the Steelers are an organization known for reloading at the skill positions and staying in the mix every season. So, people might now want the put down the anointing oil for a second.

The NFL is making us wait until Week 11 to watch these teams play each other, but it will be in primetime on a Thursday night. Delicious.

Bears at Rams — Week 11

The Rams disgraced themselves during a Sunday night game in Chicago 2018. They get the Bears in their own house for another Sunday night shot at redemption. This would have been a playoff matchup last season if it wasn’t for a kicker (who shall not be named) missing a field goal late. Oh, what could have been.

Chiefs vs. Chargers in Mexico City — Week 11

Week 11 is shaping up to be epic. Every primetime game is a doozy and this one is no different. If you remember, the Chiefs and Rams were all set to play on a Monday night south of the border last season before issues with the stadium turf forced the game to Los Angeles. The Chiefs have another ticket to Mexico in the fall, so let’s see if they can take care of business against another team from L.A.

Here’s hoping there isn’t a Shakira concert to mess things up again.

Cowboys at Patriots — Week 12

Two teams featuring owners with a lecherous streak. Can’t think of anything more American than that. More on Robert Kraft later.

Steelers at Jets — Week 16

Le’Veon Bell was once a happy running back in Pittsburgh. Then he became dissatisfied and decided to sit out an entire season rather than accept franchise tag-level money. Now, he’s with the Jets and would obviously like nothing more than to throw a monkey wrench in his former team with playoff considerations likely on the line. This is drama, folks. It’s what gets us to watch. It’s why the NFL is the best drama on television.

Chiefs at Patriots — Week 14

This will be the third time these teams face off in a little over 12 months. And there’s no reason to believe this one won’t be as entertaining as the first two. And I’m just going to go ahead and put my money on New England to pull out another close win. Nothing would make me happier than to be wrong, but I won’t be.

Ravens at Browns — Week 16

Come on, you didn’t think I’d get through this list without mentioning the Ravens, did you? I can’t think of a more watchable game than watching Lamar Jackson take on Baker Mayfield at such a critical point of the season. The AFC North race will probably be the most entertaining in the league in 2019. Every yard will be critical. Bring it.

AROUND THE NFL

Russell gets his money

Russell Wilson never says controversial things to the media. Never seems to get rattled during critical moments in games. His social media is filled with images of him spending time with his family or him out in the community doing good deeds.

And yet, the Seahawks quarterback just conducted business like a Wall Street shark. I never knew he had it in him. He set an arbitrary April 15 deadline to get a new contract extension, or else he would never sign one going forward. Wow. And what’s even more amazing, the organization caved.

This is the same organization that made Kam Chancellor miss regular season games before giving him a new contract. They refused to give Earl Thomas the money he wanted last year.

But when Wilson came knocking, and the Seahawks opened their wallets to the tune of $140 million, making Russell the league’s highest-paid player. It must be damn good to be a quarterback.

However, I will take umbrage with how he announced his new deal. He can enjoy lying in bed with his wife Ciara all he wants, but he doesn’t need to share the video with the world. We don’t need or want to see that, even though I will admit it’s kind of a boss move.

Robert Kraft video

Speaking of things nobody needs to see, I can’t think of anything that’s less in the public’s interest than the videotape of the Patriots owner doing whatever he (allegedly) did in that Florida spa.

Why are prosecutors trying to release it? What could be gained? Let some poor jury watch it and allow them to have trash cans at the ready.

Welcome to the bigs

The Browns were a laughingstock just a few months ago. But add a quarterback, a few wins and some wide receiver help and voila, Cleveland is the toast of the league. So much so that the Browns will play in four primetime games in 2019.

The eyes of a curious and expectant nation are upon thee, fair Cleveland. Here’s hoping you don’t pee the bed on network television.

Baltimore’s strange road

Pro Football Talk pointed out that the Ravens are the only team in the NFL this season to alternate home and road games. That’s happened only three times since the league implemented the 16-game schedule in 1978.

At first glance, it’s a bit of a bummer to not have a stretch of multiple weeks at home, especially in December. However, you balance that out with an advantageous road schedule that could keep the team from a losing streak.

So, in other words, I have no idea what to expect. But hey, it’s going to be interesting.

Worst kept secret?

At this point, nobody is doubting the Cardinals are going to take QB Kyler Murray with the No. 1 pick in the draft, right? The new coaching staff is built for him and the team is continuing to give a seemingly obvious cold shoulder to Josh Rosen, the incumbent at the position.

Kudos to Rosen for showing up for the Cardinals’ offseason program and acting like a professional. He’ll find a new home somewhere and will probably be the better for it.

Sid Saraf
Sid Saraf

NFL Analyst

Currently a Mobile Editor at Yahoo, Saraf spent 5.5 years (Oct. 2010 – Feb. 2016) working for FOX Sports as an NFL Editor and Writer. Prior to that, Saraf worked for CBS Interactive for 4.5 years (May 2006 – Oct. 2010) as a Staff Editor.

X