NFL Schedule 2020: Giants, Steelers, Broncos, Titans Kick Off Monday Night Football
One of the best parts of the NFL’s opening week each year is the “Monday Night Football” doubleheader. The annual tradition continues in Week 1 of the 2020 season.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Giants kick off “Monday Night Football” with a 7:15 p.m. EDT start time. The Denver Broncos are set to host the Tennessee Titans at 10:10 p.m. EDT to conclude the Week 1 schedule.
All eyes will be on the quarterbacks in the first game. Second-year signal caller Daniel Jones will make his first Week 1 start for the Giants. Ben Roethlisberger is set to be back under center for the Steelers, coming off elbow surgery that cost him 14 games.
New York has high hopes for Jones, who was drafted sixth overall in 2019 to the shock of many. The Duke product had some impressive moments as a rookie, throwing for 24 touchdown passes. He also committed 23 turnovers in 13 games and went 3-9 as a starter.
Pittsburgh managed to go 9-7 with Roethlisberger sidelined for all but six quarters. Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges struggled as Roethlisberger’s replacements, leading the 30th ranked offense. The 38-year-old led the NFL with 5,129 passing yards in 2018.
Denver also played in the second part of the 2019 Week 1 Monday night doubleheader. The Raiders defeated the Broncos 24-16 in Oakland to kick off the season. Denver only won three of its first 11 games and went on to miss the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.
The Broncos finished the season strong with rookie Drew Lock under center. The quarterback is expected to start in Week 1 after he ended last season with four wins in five games.
Tennessee is the only team playing Monday night that made the 2020 playoffs. Derrick Henry led the Titans all the way to the AFC Championship Game, where the team was stopped by the eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Ryan Tannehill is set to start for Tennessee with a new four-year, $118 million contract. The veteran was the Titans’ backup in last year’s season opener. Tannehill started the final 10 regular-season games, leading the NFL with a 117.5 passer rating.
Both of last year’s Week 1 Monday night games were decided by one score.
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