NFL Unveils Complete 2016 Schedule

The NFL released the complete 16-game schedule for each of the 32 teams on Thursday, and there are numerous marquee matchups throughout the season.

NFL Releases Complete 2016 Schedule

The opening game of the 2016-17 season will be a Super Bowl rematch between the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos.  The Broncos will have to address the quarterback situation as both Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler are now gone and the projected starter right now is Mark Sanchez. Everybody knows that having Sanchez as your QB is one of the worst things you can do to your offense.

Since the Broncos’ 24-10 victory in Super Bowl 50, Super Bowl MVP Von Miller has trolled 2015 MVP Cam Newton on numerous occasions, once on Saturday Night Live and once this past week.  Miller took Newton’s photo of himself playing water polo and Miller used photoshop to pretend he forcing a fumble on a sack.  Miller had 2.5 sacks in the Super Bowl, causing two fumbles.  Shortly after the game he posted a video of kryptonite cleats, as a reference to Newton’s ‘Superman’ moniker.

The NFL is also taking a page out of the NBA’s playbook and has two separate games scheduled on Christmas Day, an intense AFC North meeting between the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers.  That game is scheduled for a 4:30 kickoff on CBS.

The second Christmas game will be an 8:30 kickoff in Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City when they host the Broncos.  In addition to the Christmas games, the league will also continue it’s Thanksgiving Day games with the usuals Detroit and Dallas playing at home.

The Vikings will take on the now depleted Lions roster that is without Calvin Johnson for the first time since 2006.  Dallas will take on NFC East rival Washington on Thanksgiving, with kick off scheduled for 4:30 EST.

The third and final Turkey Day game will be between the Steelers and Indianapolis Colts.  The Steelers will be without talented, deep-threat Martavis Bryant, while the Colts will try to protect quarterback Andrew Luck so he doesn’t miss extended time this season.

The first game back in Los Angeles will occur in Week 2 when the Rams take on the Seattle Seahawks.  The Seahawks will look to make whoever the Rams take with the first pick in the draft uncomfortable whether it is Carson Wentz or Jared Goff.

There are several other marquee games that feature a quarterback facing his former teammates.  If Robert Griffin III wins the starting Cleveland Browns’ job, he will face the Washington Redskins in Week 4 in D.C..  Washington traded three first round picks among others to acquire RGIII in the 2012 NFL Draft before benching him last season in favor of Kirk Cousins.

Brock Osweiler will return to Denver on Monday Night Football in Week 7 face his former squad after bolting for the Houston Texans in free agency.  Osweiler was the heir apparent to Peyton Manning in Denver, but he was benched in favor of Manning late in the season and Manning led the Broncos to a Super Bowl victory, with a little help from his defense.  According to Denver Post writer Troy Renck, Broncos’ linebacker Brandon Marshall issued a warning to his former teammate.

Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints will travel to take on the San Diego Chargers in Week 4. Brees left San Diego in 2006. This will be his first game back in San Diego since he left.

You can see the complete NFL schedule here