Ranking Top NFL Games in 2017 That FSU Fans Should Watch
By Jason Parker
The NFL announced its 2017 regular season schedule on Thursday – and here are some of the top games FSU fans will want to watch this coming season.
While there is no doubt that the first sports love for our readers here at Chop Chat is FSU athletics, our love of those who wore the garnet and gold does not stop just because they have moved on to the professional game. The main example of that is with the NFL, where dozens of former Seminoles take the field each Sunday…and some Thursdays and Mondays, too.
Thursday, the NFL announced the regular season schedule for the 2016 season – kicking off on September 7th when the New England Patriots celebrated their non-deflated Super Bowl championship win against the Kansas City Chiefs and ending with 16 games on New Years Eve that will have a role in deciding who makes the postseason.
But what we care about are the games that involve former FSU greats – names like Jameis Winston, Devonta Freeman and even Sebastian Janikowski, who it seems is never going to retire. After a careful look at the week-by-week schedule in 2017, here are the top NFL games that fans of the Seminoles should pay attention too.
Week 1 (September 10th-11th)
Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redskins – These NFC East rivals have a combined five former ‘Noles on their roster as of now, thanks to gang green acquiring Timmy Jernigan from the Baltimore Ravens.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Miami Dolphins – Jameis Winston and Roberto Aguayo get a return to Hard Rock Stadium, site of their comeback win over the Hurricanes in 2014. If Dalvin Cook finds his way to Tampa, it would mean his pro debut would come in his hometown.
Week 3 (September 24th-25th)
Baltimore Ravens “at” Jacksonville Jaguars- Once again, the Jaguars play a home game across the pond in London – allowing FSU football fans to have an excuse to wake p at 9:30 in the morning to watch NFL football.
Oakland Raiders at Washington Redskins – With the acquisition of E.J. Manuel in the offseason, the future Las Vegas Raiders currently have four former Seminoles on their roster, making this one of the games this season that will have six or more former Noles playing.
Week 5 (October 5th)
New England Patriots at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jameis and friends get a chance to see if they are ready for primetime…when they play in primetime against the world champs in a game that could go far toward determining if Winston is ready to be elite.
Florida State Seminoles Football
Week 7 (October 22nd-23rd)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Buffalo Bills – Winston is going to have fun facing a former teammate who is also one of the rising stars in the league, defensive back Ronald Darby, when these teams meet in Western New York.
Atlanta Falcons at New England Patriots – It was so good watching Devonta scoring the first touchdown last year in the Super Bowl. It would be even nicer to see him to it when Atlanta can actually hold on to a lead.
Week 8 (October 29th-30th)
Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – The NFC South seems to provide Seminoles fans the perfect chance to see former stars facing off with each other, such as this game between Jameis and Kelvin Benjamin.
Week 9 (November 5th-6th)
Oakland Raiders at Miami Dolphins – This primetime, NBC national telecast will give those four Bay Area Noles a chance to return back to the Sunshine State this season against a Miami team that finally added a former Nole when they signed linebacker Lawrence Timmons.
Week 12 (November 23rd-27th)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons – Jameis and company will get a chance to take on Devonta and friends inside the brand new Mercedes-Benz Stadium…if it actually is completed it time for the 2017 season. The Falcons return the favor by heading to Tampa three weeks later.
Week 16 (December 23rd-25th)
Oakland Raiders at Philadelphia Eagles – On Christmas night, you get a chance to watch a seven Seminole match up as well as a rematch of Super Bowl XV as the silver and black move one game closer to the slot machines.