The 2021 NFL season hit the ground running and after the first two weeks if there’s one thing that all football fans can agree on it’s the fact that it has not disappointed one bit. All across the board the action has been exactly everything all sports fans who bet on NFL have been wanting to see and as week 3 of the season approaches, there’s no better time than right now to talk about some of the best matchups that are upon us for this upcoming weekend.
From an AFC West matchup that has all the fixings to be a preview of what we can expect happening in the postseason to Tom Brady’s first real test of the season, let’s get to previewing the two best games for the upcoming week in the 2021 NFL season.
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Since the beginning of the season, the Kansas City Chiefs have always looked upon as the favorites to win not only the AFC West division, but the AFC Conference in itself and make yet another trip to the Super Bowl, the third in as many years. Led by QB Patrick Mahomes, who is also seen by most NFL fans and experts as the front runner for the 2021 NFL season MVP award, and with the likes of Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill and Clyde Edwards-Helaire on offense as his main go to weapons, the Chiefs will be looking to bounce back into the win column by defeating their division rivals Los Angeles Chargers, especially after their heartbreaking defeat against the Ravens in a game that is already being called a candidate for game of the season. While for some people the fact that the Chiefs are not 2-0 right now might already call for concerns, the fact is that a win at home against a direct rival like the Chargers might be exactly what the Chiefs need to step on the gas once again and put their division and the AFC on notice.
Across the field from the Chiefs will be Justin Herbert’s Chargers, one of the teams that is expected to be a true thorn on the side of the Chiefs and their aspirations to run the AFC once again, alongside the Bills, Browns and the surprisingly good Raiders. The Chargers will also be looking to score a commanding win to put them 2-1 for the season after suffering a loss against the Cowboys in week 2. The Chargers’ offense is one full of dynamic playmakers that fit perfectly into Herbert’s QB playing style. With players like Mike Williams and Keenan Allen receiving and Austin Ekeler rushing the ball on offense, and a defense with the likes of Derwin James, Joey Bosa, Nasir Adderley and Asante Samuel Jr. commanding the secondary, if there is a team right now that could put a definite scare on the Chiefs is this one.
With both teams in dire need of a win, the main factor that might end up tipping the scale in favor of Mahomes and the Chiefs is the fact that they’ll be playing at Arrowhead Stadium, a place where they already dispatched the Browns in Week 1. So, while this game will be an all-out brawl with points being scored all over, take the Chiefs to win.
Los Angeles Rams vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This is a matchup that most NFL pundits are already seeing as a preview of how the NFC Conference Championship game will look like when the time comes. On the one hand, we have the Los Angeles Rams, who are coming into the game riding on a perfect 2-0 record after taking down the likes of the Chicago Bears in week 1 and the Indianapolis Colts in week 2. Everywhere you look around the Rams roster, this team just looks stacked as ever. With two of the best defenders in the league in Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey commanding the defense and an offense led by the former Lions QB Matthew Stafford who moved to LA to prove to all doubters that he has what it takes to be a top-tier QB and a championship-winning QB if there was ever a team that could put up a true fight to trump the Buccaneers in the NFC, it’s them. Stafford, helped out by players like Cooper Kupp, Van Jefferson, Robert Woods, and Darrel Henderson Jr. is running an offense that has absolutely no issue with running through any defense that’s in their way.
But if you want to talk about stacked rosters, then look no further than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tom Brady’s Bucs managed to bring back all the starters from their Super Bowl title run last season, making this team both the biggest threat in the NFL this season as well as the team to beat. Coming into this game with a 2-0 record, just like the Rams, after routing the Cowboys in Week 1 and the Falcons in week 2, the Bucs are ready for anything that the Rams may have coming for them. This offense has looked all sorts of good with the likes of Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, Leonard Fournette, Rob Gronkowski, and a rejuvenated Antonio Brown all playing perfect fiddles to Tom Brady’s masterful playing. And on defense, the likes of Lavonte Davis, Shaquil Barret, and Mike Edwards have been putting NFL offenses on blast, showing that this team can play just as good on offense as they can on defense.
It’s hard to take a favorite here because of the level of talent and intensity that both teams bring to the table, but given that the Rams will be at home and that Brady has yet to face a defense as strong as LA’s, taking the Rams if Stafford and company can hold it down on offense might be a good way to go here.