PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 13: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates his 32-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on November 13, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
NFL Games in Week 1
Sunday
Raiders at Titans, 1 p.m. ET on CBS
Ravens at Bengals, 1 p.m. ET on CBS
Steelers at Browns, 1 p.m. ET on CBS
Jaguars at Texans, 1 p.m. ET on CBS
Jets at Bills, 1 p.m. ET on CBS
Cardinals at Lions, 1 p.m. ET on FOX
Falcons at Bears, 1 p.m. ET on FOX
Eagles at Washington, 1 p.m. ET on FOX
Buccaneers at Dolphins, moved to Week 11 due to Hurricane Irma
Colts at Rams, 4:05 p.m. ET on CBS
Panthers at 49ers, 4:25 p.m. ET on FOX
Seahawks at Packers, 4:25 p.m. ET on FOX
Giants at Cowboys, 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC
Monday
Saints at Vikings, 7:10 p.m. ET on ESPN
Chargers at Broncos, 10:20 p.m. ET on ESPN
1. The Houston Texans are playing at home… in Houston
Sports is fun entertainment and oftentimes serves as a momentary distraction allowing all of us fans to put our minds at ease—unless you’re like me and sit on pins and needles just about every time your favorite team gets down in the game. Still, fandom in sports and sports in general can be beautiful to watch because it inherently unifies people around a common ideal allowing many to ignore differences and disappointments facing us all. The city of Houston is in the midst of a major rebuild after it was ravaged by Hurricane Harvey, but the Texans are playing at home and that is something to cheer. For a little over three hours tomorrow, the residents of Houston can rally around something other than recovery efforts that will continue throughout the season. Go Texans! #HoustonStrong
2. Derek Carr has some unfinished business
Derek Carr will be playing in his first meaningful game since suffering a broken fibula last December. At the time of Carr’s injury, the Raiders looked poised for a long postseason run and a potential Super Bowl berth. Instead, their run was short-lived, as the Carr-less Raiders lost in the AFC Wild Card Round to the Houston Texans. In the offseason, Carr signed a $125 million contract extension—which briefly made him the highest paid player in the NFL based on average. Raiders brass is clearly betting big on Carr… that payout starts tomorrow.
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PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 13: Ezekiel Elliott #21 of the Dallas Cowboys celebrates his 32-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on November 13, 2016 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
NFL Games in Week 1
Sunday
Raiders at Titans, 1 p.m. ET on CBS
Ravens at Bengals, 1 p.m. ET on CBS
Steelers at Browns, 1 p.m. ET on CBS
Jaguars at Texans, 1 p.m. ET on CBS
Jets at Bills, 1 p.m. ET on CBS
Cardinals at Lions, 1 p.m. ET on FOX
Falcons at Bears, 1 p.m. ET on FOX
Eagles at Washington, 1 p.m. ET on FOX
Buccaneers at Dolphins, moved to Week 11 due to Hurricane Irma
Colts at Rams, 4:05 p.m. ET on CBS
Panthers at 49ers, 4:25 p.m. ET on FOX
Seahawks at Packers, 4:25 p.m. ET on FOX
Giants at Cowboys, 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC
Monday
Saints at Vikings, 7:10 p.m. ET on ESPN
Chargers at Broncos, 10:20 p.m. ET on ESPN
1. The Houston Texans are playing at home… in Houston
Sports is fun entertainment and oftentimes serves as a momentary distraction allowing all of us fans to put our minds at ease—unless you’re like me and sit on pins and needles just about every time your favorite team gets down in the game. Still, fandom in sports and sports in general can be beautiful to watch because it inherently unifies people around a common ideal allowing many to ignore differences and disappointments facing us all. The city of Houston is in the midst of a major rebuild after it was ravaged by Hurricane Harvey, but the Texans are playing at home and that is something to cheer. For a little over three hours tomorrow, the residents of Houston can rally around something other than recovery efforts that will continue throughout the season. Go Texans! #HoustonStrong
2. Derek Carr has some unfinished business
Derek Carr will be playing in his first meaningful game since suffering a broken fibula last December. At the time of Carr’s injury, the Raiders looked poised for a long postseason run and a potential Super Bowl berth. Instead, their run was short-lived, as the Carr-less Raiders lost in the AFC Wild Card Round to the Houston Texans. In the offseason, Carr signed a $125 million contract extension—which briefly made him the highest paid player in the NFL based on average. Raiders brass is clearly betting big on Carr… that payout starts tomorrow.