The Green Bay Packers and the Jacksonville Jaguars will square off at EverBank Field in Jacksonville on Sunday as the NFL 2016 regular season gets into full swing. The game has a scheduled start time of 1 p.m. ET and can be watched on TV on the Fox network. The game can also be watched online through live stream via the link below.
The Packers are overwhelming favorites to win this game, with pundits unanimously believing Aaron Rodgers will lead Green Bay to an opening game victory over the constantly struggling Jaguars.
However, on the other hand the Jaguars will be hoping to pull off a shock victory that could inspire their team on to a successful season.
Some have touted that this Jaguars team has a better chance at doing something this season than the teams of the past few years, and an opening day win against such an established team as the Packers would cement that belief into their team.
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 Green Bay Packers and the Jacksonville Jaguars 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.
