The 2017 NFL season kicks off Thursday night, with the Kansas City Chiefs taking on the New England Patriots in Massachusetts at 8:30 p.m. ET. The Patriots, coming off their historic comeback victory in Super Bowl LI, are facing a few "moving parts," ESPN noted: Wide receiver Julian Edelman is out with a season-ending knee injury, while tight end Rob Gronkowski is making his return following a back injury last year. Meanwhile, recently signed running back Rex Burkhead is making his season debut.
Week 1 continues Sunday with 13 games, including match-ups between the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants, the Seattle Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers, and the Arizona Cardinals and the Detroit Lions. On Monday, the New Orleans Saints will battle the Minnesota Vikings, while the Los Angeles Chargers will face the Denver Broncos.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.