The Cleveland Browns and the Philadelphia Eagles go head to head in Week 1 of the NFL 2016 regular season, and both teams will be desperate to get things off to a winning start today. The game has a scheduled start time of 1 p.m. ET and takes place from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The game can be watched on the CBS network or online through live stream via the link below.
There is a background story to today's game that adds an extra interest level to the match up. Fans will of course remember that Cleveland traded the 2nd overall pick in the draft to Philadelphia, before going on to sign RGIII, who himself was a former second overall pick. The Eagles meanwhile went on to draft Carson Wentz and convinced Minnesota that Sam Bradford was worth a first and fourth.
So today's result will allow one franchise to gain a degree of boasting rights over which one came out on top in the draft battles.
However, above and beyond those bragging rights, gaining a win to kick start the season will be more important and potentially could decide which direction each team heads this season.
Earlier this week, on NFL Thursday Night Football, the season opener took place between the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers. The re-match of last season's Super Bowl was a hard-fought affair, but ultimately the result came out the same as Super Bowl 50, with the Broncos taking the win.
However, Thursday's game was a much closer match up than last season's showcase game, and by the end Denver only won the game by a single point in a 21-20 victory.
Early-on in the game especially, fans could feel the intensity that Carolina entered the re-match with, and if there was any doubt that the Panthers were out for revenge, that was confirmed right away as the Carolina defense began super aggressively, successfully disrupting Trevor Siemian. By half time the Broncos quarterback had only completed 8 of 12 passes for 92 yards, throwing one interception in the process.
The impressive Panthers went in at half time with a healthy 17-7 lead, however, things it proved to be a game of two halves, and the Broncos emerged vastly improved for the second half. In particular, the Broncos' defense showed signs of the form that took them all the way to Super Bowl glory last season.
Although Cam Newton had a strong first half, he was hit hard in the third quarter by DeMarcus Ware as he suffered his first sack of the season. Newton went down injured, and although he returned to the action, he looked a different player after that incident.
The Broncos went on to sack Newton three times in the second half as the Panthers' offense was put under intense and repeated pressure. The Carolina offense was so effectively shut down that they only managed to score three points through the entire second half.
Denver turned the screw in the fourth quarter and went into the final minutes with a 21-20 lead. The Panthers managed one final dramatic sustained drive, but a 50-yard field goal attempt went wide at the death to hand the Broncos an opening day win, and leave the Panthers to ponder what more they must do to defeat Denver.
Fans were left breathless by the final whistle, and many commented that this was the dramatic game they wish they had in last season's Super Bowl.
Week 1 continues Sunday with the Cleveland Browns and the Philadelphia Eagles facing off from 1 p.m. ET. The game can be watched on TV on the CBS network or online through live stream by clicking here.
