The Atlanta Falcons and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will battle it out in Week 1 of the NFL 2016 regular season on Sunday, with both teams knowing how important a win to start the season could be. Today's game has a scheduled start time of 1 p.m. ET and takes place at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. The game can be watched on TV on the Fox network or online through live stream via the link below.
This will be an important season for the Atlanta Falcons and for quarterback Matt Ryan. He has thrown more than 4,000 yards for the past five straight seasons, however, last season he threw the second fewest touchdowns and second most interceptions of his career.
With this being the fourth year of his five year contract with the Falcons after leading Atlanta to the 2012 NFC Championship Game, he knows he still has much to prove. His team are just 18-30 since he signed that five year contract, and that is way below expectations for himself and his team.
Ryan has said, "We have to create some explosive plays. We are getting the ball down the field a little bit and that will help us out. We have to be a little bit more consistent. There is no question about that."
He also said, "What I need to do is do my job as best I can and not worry about what everyone else thinks about what you're getting paid. This is something that comes up for every quarterback. It doesn't matter. It doesn't affect the outcome of games. For me, the things that are important are the things that affect the outcome of games. That's what I focus on."
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 Atlanta Falcons and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers facing off from 1 p.m. ET. The game can be watched on TV on the Fox network or online through live stream by clicking here.
